Earthworks will begin on North Lakes’ first integrated housing development this Wednesday, as part of not-for-profit organisation Youngcare’s partnership with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane to build mixed-use housing for young people with high physical-care needs in the Moreton Bay region.
The development is just one project Youngcare has in place to work with government and private investors to see the 28,000 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.
Youngcare Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ryan said the development at North Lakes is an essential step forward in putting an end to young people with a disability being left behind in inappropriate and unacceptable accommodation due to a lack of suitable housing options.
“There are currently around 2,500 young Queenslanders with high care needs living in inappropriate accommodation like aged care, hospital rooms and institutionalised housing, with more than 200 living in the Moreton Bay Region,” he said.
“By working with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane to build an integrated development at North Lakes, we can make a real difference in the lives of young people in our community who deserve to live where and how they want.”
Upon completion in 2020, the integrated development will include a café, rehabilitation therapy tenancies and retail outlets on the ground floor, with seven two bedroom accessible apartments offering onsite and around-the-clock care to cater to residents’ individual needs.
The North Lakes development follows Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher’s unveiling of a national action plan to reduce the number of young people with a disability in aged care last Friday.
Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher will be joined by Acting Mayor for Moreton Bay Cr Mike Charlton, Youngcare CEO Anthony Ryan and Youngcare Board Chair Paul Mclean to officially commence construction on the project on Wednesday 27 March at 11:30am.
For more information visit www.youngcare.com.au/what-we-do/housing