Housing and support for people with intellectual disability

1. Housing and support for people with intellectual disability A social and human rights perspective by Michael Bleasdale

2. Paper objectives • Understand the “complexity” of needs • Provide greater clarity regarding “models” • Establish the broader frameworks in which housing and support arrangements take place • Illustrate different approaches seeking similar outcomes

3. Inclusion Outcome Areas • Education • Employment • Decent income • Civic and political participation • Family life • Social life • Close personal relationships • Access to the built environment • Housing

4. Approaches Initiatives Programs Service Delivery Models Housing Arrangements Housing Products Wide-ranging policy and program – attempts to address broad issues Specific attempt by Dept. to address housing or support issues for defined group Mechanisms by which those targeted for initiatives, gain access to housing and support – requires eligibility and priority Specific types of service delivery Type of housing (public, private etc.) including design, tenancy, location etc. Specific options provided by housing agencies to enhance home occupancy “Models”

5. Impacts on “model” variables • Broad policy frameworks (eg. Victorian Homelessness Strategy) • Policy fit or policy conflict across departments and levels of government • Resources • Funding arrangements • Block funding of services • Individualised funding

6. Block-Funded Services

7. Individualised Funding Service Provider Agencies Personal Assistants contracts with employs purchases $$$ The Person Ordinary Community and Commercial Services The State Fund-holder Source: Dowson and Salisbury 2001, 36

8. Independent Living Training Services • 3 pilots, in different regional areas of NSW • Adults with intellectual disability • $160,000 per year DADHC funding • 6-12 months intensive training of people toward independence • Significant exiting from support programs after expiration of period • Variety of service delivery models

9. ILTS – Service Delivery Models • Direct Service Delivery – employed staff, assessing, planning and providing direct support. • Brokered Services – assessment and planning undertaken by agency, but support contracted out. • Mixed service delivery – mixture of both forms, determined by availability of skilled and qualified staff in some regional areas

10. ILTS – Service Statistics • Overall after 2.5 years: -110 people entered program - 22 withdrew - 65 exited (independent) • 36% between ages of 18-25 • 93 people with primary intellectual disability • 93% client satisfaction with program

11. ILTS - Single Site Statistics • 36 clients as at June 2004 - 24 successfully exited - 9 active in program - 3 withdrew • 55 clients as at November 2005 - 36 successfully exited - (12 receiving “maintenance”) - 19 active in program • Average intervention cost: $6,405 • Average duration of intervention: 295 days • Most common housing type: private rental

12. Western Australia • Disability Services Commission • Local Area Coordination • Homeswest - collaborative approach, provision of housing - Community Housing Organisation • Good neighbour scheme - reduced rental for informal support people - strong social bonds – increased independence

13. Analysis of two approaches • Commitment by a housing department/provider toward the goal of independent living • Housing provider assisting an individual to understand housing needs, and offering a range of products to achieve the best solution • Housing provider having the capacity to provide tenancies to individuals without support, based on knowledge of their capabilities • Support service working closely with individuals to understand housing preferences and help to negotiate these • Support service ability to work closely and collaboratively with housing and other providers to address individual’s needs, and as they change • Support service implementing an individualised and planned approach to all aspects of a person’s needs and wishes