Wooloowin disability housing plans unveiled

New age-appropriate homes for young people with a disability are now one step closer, with plans unveiled today for Youngcare’s Wooloowin project.

Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis visited the land to view the plans for the Thorrold Street site, which was gifted to Youngcare under the Government Land for Accommodation and Support Services program.

Ms Davis said this was one of the projects the Newman Government had announced that begun to address the shortage of disability housing, left by the Labor government.

“In the past six months, the CanDo government has announced six new projects that will create 43 disability accommodation places,” she said.

“Youngcare’s innovative Wooloowin project will include a house built for four young adults with disabilities in the first stage, and the second stage will build four, family homes.”

Ms Davis said it was important not only to increase the quantity of housing available for people with a disability, but that housing options should also be diverse.

“By building innovative and alternative models of housing we are recognising the needs of people with disabilities are broad and different depending on their family situation and stage of life,” she said.

Youngcare Chairman Nic De Luca said seeing younger people live in aged care was a national tragedy.

He said Youngcare is working on a range of housing options that suit different people’s lives and fit in with families and neighbourhoods. 

“We aim to commence construction of the new share house in the first half of 2014,” Mr De Luca said.

“Both the share house and co-located family homes will be architecturally designed by an award winning Queensland architectural firm and in keeping with the scale and character of housing in Wooloowin.

“The family homes are about creating another housing model to meet the unique needs of people who want to continue living with their loved ones at home, but need extra care support.”

Master Builders Foundation has made the first pledge to the project, promising $300,000 to help Youngcare with the cost of delivering the project.

Carolyn Martin, sister of Youngcare resident Tim Martin, said it was fabulous to see Youngcare being given more land to expand its housing.

“Tim has really benefitted from living in his Youngcare Apartment and it’s a beautiful thing to see my brother so happy and his health improving,” Carolyn said.

Youngcare has worked with Cox Architecture on preliminary plans for the land in Thorrold Street.

For more information about the project visit www.youngcare.com.au

[ENDS] 4 December 2013

Media Contact:           Katherine Fraser (Minister Davis) 0417 172 480   
                                  Chelsea Toomey (Youngcare) 0415 397 304