A new Homeshare Program is matching up people with disability who want to live independently with housemates looking for affordable housing in Canberra.
They get cheaper rent by agreeing to spend a certain number of hours each week assisting their housemate with chores and tasks that they need assistance with.
ACT Minister for Disability, Children and Young People Joy Burch said nine people had been matched since the Program began in January this year, with a further five being arranged.
“The ACT Government has committed $198,635 over two years for this program because it promoted choice and control for people with disability,” Ms Burch said.
“This is a fantastic initiative run by Community Connections that offers a simple but effective way to meet the housing and support needs of people with disability in our community.
“Homeshare is a community partnership in the true sense of the term and is operating effectively in states across Australia so I’m thrilled the ACT is now able to offer this service.”
For example, homesharing enables David, a young man with autism, to live in a private house where he is supported by Aaron who was looking for accommodation but didn’t want to spend a lot of money on rent.
Aaron pays a small amount of rent and provides six hours of support to David a week doing household chores and social activities together.
