Earthworks will begin on the second stage of Wooloowin’s Youngcare-certified high care housing development this Wednesday. As part of a partnership between the national not-for-profit organisation Youngcare and Queensland’s largest not for profit affordable housing provider, Horizon Housing the aim is to expand the accommodation options available in Brisbane for young people aged 18–65 with high physical-care needs.
Coinciding with the anniversary of the opening of Youngcare’s first fully-accessible share house in Wooloowin, Stage Two of the development builds on the benchmark set by Youngcare’s aspirational accessible accommodation model, taking into consideration the amenities and modernity expected of any contemporary residential development. Youngcare CEO Anthony Ryan said the state-of-the-art development will be vital in setting a standard in the disability housing sector for spacious, modern and centrally-located residences.
“With a deficit of nearly 16,000 suitable accessible dwellings across the country, now is the time to rally together and lift the standard for SDA housing in Queensland, and across Australia. The NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation initiative provides an unparalleled opportunity to improve the housing choices for Australians with disability, while also creating viable investment opportunities for the private sector,” he said.
“By working together with like-minded organisations like Horizon Housing, we can work to build more integrated communities and liveable cities, to generate a more inclusive Australia where everyone feels free to participate, no matter their physical ability.”
The venture is just one project Youngcare has in place this year to work with developers and private investors to see the thousands of Australians eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) gain access to quality housing appropriate for their lifestyle and care needs.
Horizon Housing CEO Jason Cubit said the company is proud to partner with Youngcare to help solve the disability housing crisis in Australia.
“For 25 years Horizon Housing has been providing innovative and affordable housing solutions for all Queenslanders. With our experience in developing Specialist Disability Accommodation, this development will be built to highest architectural and construction standards complementing Wooloowin’s local character and will be fitted with cutting-edge equipment suited to a range of unique care needs.”
Youngcare CEO Anthony Ryan and Horizon Housing CEO Jason Cubit will be joined by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner for the official turning of the sod to kick-off project construction.
Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner said that “this year the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust, chaired by the Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner, is proud to donate $43,519 to Youngcare to help with funding the assistive technology infrastructure in the four-bedroom house to be built at Wooloowin.”
Upon competition in 2020, the development will consist of three two-bedroom townhouses and a four-bedroom home with the flexibility to house a family or be used as a share house for two young people requiring at-home care.
