State Government grinch to our most vulnerable
It is time for supported residential facilities to be properly recognised as an integral component of the supported accommodation system.
Christmas is fast approaching and my mind always turns to people who cannot look forward to a happy day. State Government has abandoned some of our most vulnerable citizens who are living without the properly funded support they need to live their lives.
Most people probably haven’t even heard of supported residential facilities (SRFs), but they are one of the only providers of supported accommodation for our most vulnerable people, people living with multiple disabilities and complicated behavioural issues who just don’t fit into single disability services and systems and are falling through the gaps.
One of the biggest issues for people living with exceptional needs is that they are often excluded from mainstream housing, health and support options as they do not fit within systems that address single disabilities.
Many people with only intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities for example have access to models of accommodation that have progressed over time to offer suitable homes and supports that are in keeping with community expectations.
The South Australian Housing Trust website states that it “works to enable South Australians to access appropriate housing and plays a fundamental role in supporting South Australians into homes that are secure, safe, and positive for their wellbeing”.
The Housing Trust’s tagline is “housing is a human right”. Unfortunately, people with exceptional needs are often accommodated in prisons, hospitals and mental health facilities, or living on the streets, because of a lack of supported accommodation that enables them to live successfully in the community.
About 600 South Australians are living in SRFs and need support services to live well, but not all of them are eligible for the NDIS. This leaves some residents without adequate support in an inequitable system, which is funded through the generosity of businesses with a for-purpose heart.
A sector that has evolved considerably, SRFs were once open to unscrupulous practices that saw a very dire situation for residents.
The NDIS has brought a level of professionalism to the sector as most SRFs have become providers. Staffing levels have increased, suitable qualifications are a must, and in a recent resident consultation by Shelter SA, all residents who participated reported that “things are much better now” and that they feel safe where they are living.
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The SRF Association is the peak body for owners and contracted Shelter SA to provide an independent consultation with their residents, warts and all. As a group, they are keen to increase the level of outside scrutiny and regulation SRFs receive to continue to pursue quality improvement. This initiative is a reflection of a mature sector that is ready and willing to grow.
The South Australian government is reviewing the legislation governing the SRF sector yet has shown little interest in speaking with residents despite their endorsement of lived experience as an important element of policy and legislation improvement. Neither have they had any interest in filling in the gaps in support funding.
The Shelter SA resident consultation report is now published, publicly available and has been sent directly to stakeholders including the Minister for Human Services and the Department of Human Services, responsible for the legislation and its review.
It is time that SRFs were properly recognised as an integral component of the supported accommodation system but most importantly, that the State Government ceases its abrogation of responsibility for some of our most vulnerable citizens by funding their support needs properly, so that SRFs can remain viable and thrive in their quest to provide high quality supported accommodation.
Dr Alice Clark is the Executive Director of Shelter SA.
