Queensland Disability Housing Coalition

A Home of Your Own

INTRODUCTION

The Queensland Disability Housing Coalition [QDHC] is an independent community based statewide organisation that currently receives funding for one Project Coordinator and a part time administration. Part of the role of the project officer is to:

Develop and implement projects central to housing and disability issues;
Provide people with information on housing; and
Educate Housing Workers about the needs of people with a disability.

The service is offered through the main Brisbane office yet operates on a statewide level.

BACKGROUND

The QDHC was established following a public forum on the needs of people with a disability in June 1987. In 1989 there was further state wide consultation with people with disabilities, relatives, friends and service providers about housing needs and the associated interests of people with disabilities.

The consultations revealed that:

people with disability have the right to choose the type of housing appropriate to their needs in a desired geographical area and access to adequate support provision
Housing needs to be designed appropriately yet reflect the community norms and standards.
People with disability have limited access to safe and affordable housing options thus a limited range of choices.
The management of housing should be different from the support provision.
Reliance upon one organisation to provide whole of life care, that is manage the residence and assist in daily tasks, situates people with a disability in a vulnerable and potentially powerless position.
Organisations can attain direct control rather than people with a disability maintaining control over their life decisions.
Essentially people with a disability have the right to CHOOSE! Individualised funding is the means for people with a disability to attain this freedom of choice and control over their housing and support options.
A strong commitment to appropriate levels of funding including the provision of support services was required from the government.

From this, the values and policy directions reflected in this booklet were agreed upon at a statewide meeting of regional representatives in 1990. The outcomes of this Queensland Conference have been published as the Queensland Housing Policy for People with Disabilities [available from QDHC].

QDHC important role areas: include providing a process to inform the government of these issues; establish network linkages with people who have a disability and key stakeholders and develop strong policy positions.

QDHC believes that people with disability have the same right as the general community to appropriate and relevant housing options and choices. The living situations of people who have a disability should be equal to the general community. Difference only emerges in areas of support provision and home modification.

This booklet targets:

people with disability;
their families, friends, support networks;
disability and housing service workers;
students; and
professionals.

and aims to provide accessible information about housing options available to people who have a disability. However, QDHC acknowledges that without appropriate support and service provision, it can be difficult for some people to chose their from of housing. Thus, while recognising this need, the information contained in this booklet focuses on housing rather than general support services.

AIMS OF QDHC

The core aims of the QDHC are:

to bring together a diverse group of people with a range of disabilities and others seeking to ensure a choice of affordable housing options of people with disabilities.
to promote the rights of people with disabilities to live as part of the community in housing which suits their individual needs.
to develop policies and strategies to enhance and extend the provision of housing.
to promote the provision of adequate and coordinated support services required by people with a disability living in the community.
to raise community awareness, understanding and knowledge of housing needs of people with disabilities through research, negotiation and community education.

PRIMARY WORK AREAS SUMMARY

QDHC continues to provide a key role in these critical areas:

Identifying and highlighting the housing needs and issues surrounding people with a disability;
Devising strategies to address needs and inequitable access to affordable, secure housing; and
Promote community participation for people with a disability to enable greater choice and options.
Provide strong policy platforms to inform the government and community sectors.

The Coalition's report titled Queensland Housing Policy for People with Disabilities (1990) provided a general framework that underpinned the organisations work. Additionally, the document informed the context and principles underlying the Disability Services Section located within the Queensland Department of Public Works and Housing [previously the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning]. The Department's proactive response contributed to the strengthening of linkages between the government and community sector and enhanced working relations.

The primary focus of the Coalition concerns these specific areas:

Community Education: Production and distribution of newsletters across the State; publications such as this A Home of Your Own and Housing on Your Mind and the Futures Report.

Direct Training Delivery: QDHC is involved in training, program research and development including resource manuals for housing workers and related groups. Other areas include organising and conducting workshops, focus groups and discussion groups; conference presentation and attendance. People from diverse backgrounds have attended sessions developed and facilitated by the QDHC including people with disability; their families and primary supports; advocates, and representatives from the community housing and generic service sectors; industry and government.

Information Provision and Advice: In accordance with its aims, the Coalition provides information on a range of topics for example housing options, improving access and tenancy law. This can be through such means as the telephone, fax, post and e-mail.

Involvement on Other Groups: Important to the Coalition is developing statewide, networks and linkages within the disability and housing sectors. Therefore representatives hold membership on:

working parties;
lobby, advocacy and focus groups;
advisory and reference groups; and
management and steering committees.
regular contact with a diverse range of government departments, non-government organisations and groups is established and maintained.

Library Facilities: QDHC's library provides information in the form of policy documents; reports; journals; books and videos on topics relative to housing and disability. This facility is available to Coalition members, students and interested persons.

QDHC'S CURRENT STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS

The funding QDHC currently receives from the Department of Housing funds the following positions:

1 Project Coordinator (Part-time)
1 Project Worker (Part-time)
1 Bookkeeper (Part-time)

Staff can be contacted at:

Queensland Disability Housing Coalition,
PO Box 440 , STONES CORNER Q 4120
Street Address: 167 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
(Wheelchair access at rear of building from Lewis Street)
Phone: (07) 3391 3433
Fax: (07) 3391 3488
Email: qdhc@qdhc.org.au

A Home of Your Own table of contents