Introduction to Housing & Living Options for disabled people
Disability Housing Information Service
Finding a home for a disabled person and their families is often daunting and challenging.
The Disability Housing Information Service was launched in 2025, the first of its kind, here in Auckland. Led and staffed by disabled people and their parents, the free service provides an advisor to support disabled people and their families by giving information and supporting them to research widely, increasing their capacity to navigate their current and future housing needs.
For enquiries:
Email: admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz with the word “housing” in the subject line or phone 09 636 0351
Housing Newsletter
Tūhono Kāinga is the name of our new housing newsletter, dedicated to strengthening connections between disabled people and their families and whānau, communities we live in, developers and community housing providers. We will be sharing stories, updates, and opportunities that support inclusive, accessible, and culturally grounded housing primarily with a focus on Auckland with a national footprint. We plan to send 2 to 3 of these per year.
To sign up email: admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz with the word “housing newsletter” in the subject line
Getting started on your housing journey
There are a variety of housing, living options and pathways for disabled adults to move from living at home with family to living in the Community or more independently. The level of support and financial position of the disabled person, their family situation and the supports required will help determine what options may be available to you.
Establishing goals is key to starting the journey into independent living. To create your goals, consider the following questions:
- Who do you want to live with?
- In which area/s would you consider living?
- What services are important to you? Think about community and access.
- Do you have a pet? Do you have a mobility or therapy animal?
- Does the home need to be accessible? Will you need funding for that?
- What is your financial status?
- What are your current carer or support worker needs (their travel)?
- Do you need parking, storage, number of bedrooms?
Housing & Living options include:
- Living with family or extended family in the family home (rented/owned)
- Living in a self-contained unit or tiny home on a family property (rented/owned)
- Boarding
- Private renting or owning a home on your own
- Private renting or owning a home with a group of flatmates (disabled, non-disabled)
- Renting or owning a home with a sibling
- Renting under social housing or through a community housing provider (CHP)
- Rent to own with social or community housing
- Living in a home using Supported Independent Living options
- Living in a home using Choices in Community Living
- Living in a group home under Residential Care on your own or with other disabled people
- Living in a house within a Residential Care complex on your own or with other disabled people
Once a decision is made around what type of accommodation/housing you would like, the next step is to investigate whether you will need disability supports around you to transition from the family home or your existing living arrangement.
Disability Support funding options:
To apply for Disability Support Services funding you will need to contact your local Auckland Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordinator (NASC), Kaikaranga.
You may have been receiving either Flexible Support (Individualised Funding) or Contracted Support (Care and services via providers/agencies) while living in the family home. It is possible that you may also be receiving either ACC, or Long Term Supports-Chronic Health Conditions (LTS-CHC) or Mental Health support funding if your disability is related to an accident, a chronic long term health condition or mental impairment. Those with very high needs, may also be receiving Very High Needs support via the Ministry of Social Development.
When you are looking to live away from the family home it is the Disability NASC, who will co-ordinate your disability support package in conjunction with other needs assessment agencies. If you have ACC support only, you will be eligible to use the Way Finder service.
There are a variety of funding models for living independently. These are relative to the degree of your disability support needs. Some options are only available for those who require 24/7 care and support. Others, such as Individualised Funding, can be used for someone with a mild disability through to Very high needs.
The disability support options include:
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- Supported Independent Living
- Choice in Community Living
- Residential Care & Support
- Individualised Funding
Community Housing Collective
Disabled people, their families and whānau are frustrated and hurt that their voices are not being heard. If we don’t listen to them, we run the risk of missing a once in a lifetime opportunity to build homes that address true social and economic poverty in our country. Disability Connect is providing leadership on this issue through the Community Housing Collective with the purpose of giving a voice to disabled people their families and whānau, raising awareness of the issue with housing stakeholders and advocating for change with government.
In May 2019 Disability Connect met with two community organisation’s – Otara Health Charitable Trust and ME Family Services – as well as likeminded disability organisations, with a view to progressing the needs of disabled people and their families within the community.
In 2020 our Collective organised a Housing Hui in Otahuhu (click here to view the video) attended by over 200 people including Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Hon Jenny Salesa, raised questions raised by the hui with various government agencies and met with Ministers Fa’afoi and Sepuloni to advance the voice of disabled people and their parents for their unmet housing needs and conducted research to be published in May 2021.
Our Community Housing Collective is becoming even better placed to advocate for the needs for disabled people and their families including central and local government agencies and housing stakeholders.
Community Housing Collective Members:
Disability Connect, ME Family Services, Otara Health Charitable Trust, Complex Care Group, Yes Disability, Autism New Zealand, IHC, Cerebral Palsy Association, Te Manawa Respite Care, Spectrum Foundation, Level-up Aotearoa Charitable Trust, Te Ora Puawai, and Aotearoa Disability Law.
Published Research
Our research project was conducted throughout 2020 with the support of Alan Johnson from the Child Poverty Action Group. The report gives a voice to disabled people’s concerns about the perilous nature of their housing tenure and living arrangements and parents’ “anxiety and desperation” with respect to the future of their adult disabled children.
Where Will We Live in The Future – Research into the Unmet Needs of People with Disabilities, their Family and Whānau – Published 11 May 2021
Where Will We Live in The Future – Disabled People and Their Families.pdf
Where Will We Live in The Future – Easy Read.pdf
Where Will We Live in The Future – Easy Read text only.docx
Media Reaction to our report
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/housing-crisis-leaving-people-disabilities-shower-floor