I have SDA funding, how do I find a home?

We are excited to continue our SDA Blog series with our next topic: "Now That You Have SDA Funding, How to Find a Home." This blog will guide you through the process of finding suitable housing once you have secured Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding. We will cover key considerations, useful resources, and practical tips to help you find a home that meets your needs. Stay tuned for expert advice and valuable insights to support you in your housing journey.

I have been approved for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Funding; now what?

Firstly, congratulations! You are on your way to living in a beautiful, purpose-built forever home. Your plan will say what design category, building type, and location the NDIS has determined will meet your needs. You can choose which SDA you want to live in as long as it's within your SDA budget.  

The NDIS uses the 'Specialist Disability Accommodation pricing arrangements' to work out your SDA budget based on the type of SDA in your plan.

Your SDA budget will fall into one of five design categories set out in the SDA Rules. The five Design Categories are Basic, Improved Livability, Fully Accessible, Robust, and High Physical Support

Further explanation of the design categories

• Basic - Housing without specialist design features but with a location or other features that cater for the needs of people with disability and assist with the delivery of support services. Generally, the Basic design category only applies to existing or legacy stock.
• Improved Liveability - Housing designed to improve 'liveability' by incorporating a reasonable level of physical access and enhanced provision for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment.
• Fully Accessible - Housing is designed to incorporate a high level of physical access for people with significant physical impairment.
• Robust—Housing is designed to incorporate a high level of physical access provision and be very resilient while reducing the likelihood of reactive maintenance and the risk to the participant and the community.
• High Physical Support—Housing is designed to incorporate a high level of physical access for people with significant physical impairment who require very high levels of support.

Once you have identified which design category you have been funded for, you can start looking for a suitable SDA property.

How do I find the right SDA property for me?

All SDA Providers must be registered with the NDIS, and the SDA properties must be enrolled with the NDIS. There are many options for finding an SDA property. The NDIS has the SDA finder that lists registered SDA properties. However, not all properties are advertised on this platform.

Where to look for vacancies

NDIS SDA Finder: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/home-and-living/specialist-disability-accommodation-explained/sda-finder#finder

Housing Hub: https://www.housinghub.org.au/

Disability Housing: https://www.disabilityhousing.com.au/listing-category/ndis_sda/

Speak to your support provider or the team at Barossa SDA about vacancies in your area.

Do I have to manage paying the SDA Funding to the SDA provider?

The provider will claim the specialist disability accommodation funding directly from the NDIS when they provide the home to you. The SDA provider will document the payment in the service agreement.

How do I get support for living in an SDA?

The NDIS will explore your support needs to determine the kind of home and living support you will need in your chosen SDA property. The NDIS is responsible for some home and living support that you may require because of your disability. These include.

• Supports to help you live independently in the community. For example, to build:
  • your daily living skills to manage your household
  • your capacity to manage money and keep a rental agreement
  • your social and communication skills including behaviour supports.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is one type of support that helps you live in your home. It includes help or supervision with daily tasks, like personal care or cooking meals. It enables you to live as independently as possible while building your skills. SIL is for people with higher support needs, who need some level of help at home all the time, which is likely to fall into line with SDA funding requirements.

Our next SDA blog......................

More about Supported Independent Living (SIL)