Today, the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, The Hon Gareth Ward, inspected one of the final new group homes being built for people with a disability as part of the Hunter Residences program.
The purpose-built, five-bedroom home at Morisset will be a new home for residents transferring from the government’s soon to be closed Kanangra centre.
Compass Housing Services is part of the Home4Life consortia which will finance, build and manage 65 purpose-built homes across NSW for 325 residents who are also transferring from the Stockton and Tomaree centres.
Compass Housing Services Group Managing Director, Greg Budworth, accompanied Minister Ward on the inspection.
Mr Budworth said safe, affordable, housing is a fundamental human right.
“We believe people with disabilities have a right to live in a community, rather than an institution, and to participate fully in that community,” Mr Budworth said.
“This is a new way of delivering contemporary, high quality, Specialist Disability Accommodation.” he said.
Compass Housing Services Group Managing Director Greg BudworthWe believe people with disabilities have a right to live in a community, rather than an institution, and to participate fully in that community
Mr Budworth said with more than 200 residents having already transferred to their new home for life, he has seen how living in these purpose-built homes, with highly specialised 24-hour support from Supported Independent Living (SIL) specialists, is changing those residents lives for the better.
Mr Ward said that smaller living arrangements provide opportunities for people with disability to participate more in the community, gain greater choice and control and receive tailored supports.
“Residents who move into this new home will have access to accommodation that meets their individual needs,” Mr Ward said.
“This not only marks the start of the transition into their new home, but the start of the next exciting stage of their life,” he said.
The other Home4Life partners are BlueCHP who has designed and built the homes and LightHouse Infrastructure has helped to finance the program. Compass will manage and maintain the properties. The SIL for the home inspected by the Minister is Disability Services Australia – one of six SILs selected by the Government.
Compass is a Newcastle-based, Tier 1, not for profit community housing provider and an NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation provider. It manages almost 7000 properties in NSW and Queensland, including properties for people with disabilities.
