Construction has commenced on 12 Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments which will help address the disability housing crisis in Toowoomba.
The SDA apartments located in Hume Street in South Toowoomba will help to tackle the shortfall of 90 critical SDA homes in Toowoomba, identified in a report released by Summer Foundation and Social Ventures Australia.
As part of MS Queensland’s Best Life Project, the organisation is taking on the role as both developer and Supported Independent Living (SIL) service provider, to provide an accessible solution to people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), other neurological conditions or high support needs.
MS Queensland Chief Executive Officer David Curd said the Toowoomba apartments are a step towards maximising the independence and quality of life for people living with high support needs as well as providing a tailored supported accommodation service.
“MS Queensland has housed over 60 people through SDA across the state and Toowoomba marks our 10th project,” Mr Curd said.
“In addition to building these purpose-built apartments, MS Queensland will provide the Supported Independent Living services including 24-hour care as part of our commitment to providing services to the disability community, enabling the residents to live independently.”
“The apartments offer a new lifestyle that residents may never have experienced. Each unit is professionally designed to cater for each individual resident’s changing needs, while being homely and modern, and having direct access to services in the community,” Mr Curd said.
Toowoomba and District MS Support Group member and advocate Joanna Leane said the apartments will be life-changing for 12 residents seeking suitable housing.
Mrs Leane was diagnosed with a neurological disease in 2001 called Neuromyelitis Optica (a variant of Multiple Sclerosis affecting the optical nerves and spine predominantly) and is encouraging those in the Toowoomba community who require high support needs to submit their expressions of interest so they can move into the apartments when they open in mid-2021.
“As a person with a lived experience, I understand the challenges of not having access to appropriate housing or care. There is a dire need for Supported Disability Accommodation like Hume Street in our community and projects like this will make such a positive impact for those who can call it home and more easily become a part of the community,” Mrs Leane said.
“MS Queensland has already changed the lives of many people through service coordination, and I think this project, along with the funding from donors, will continue to make significant changes in the lives of those living with disabilities in our community.”
The two-bedroom units are uniquely built to fit the resident, while offering a warm and inviting place to live. The units include a second guest bedroom and bathroom as well as a community area which features tea and coffee amenities for residents to share with guests and other community members.
As part of MS Queensland’s mission and Best Life Project, the organisation intends to continue opening additional housing across Queensland to accommodate people living with MS, other neurological conditions and high support needs, who are eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation and Supported Independent Living under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.