Disability group homes waste money and fail residents, research shows
Group homes house 17,000 Australians. They cost more and produce worse results than specialist apartments and host arrangements.
Australia has relied on group homes for decades. Group homes house people with disability who need round-the-clock support.
A 2023 royal commission found residents face high risks of violence, abuse and neglect. Research shows alternative housing works better.
Nearly 3,000 Specialist Disability Accommodation apartments help residents live more independently. They are more included in their communities.
One man moved from a group home to an SDA apartment. In two years, he met more people than in 34 years in the group home.
Host and homeshare arrangements could save the government $51,000 per person yearly compared to group homes. Drop-in and on-call models let people live alone while getting support when needed.
The NDIS was supposed to create competition and innovation. But providers have no reason to help residents move to cheaper options.
- 17,000
- People in group homes
- Nearly 3,000
- SDA apartments available
- $51,000
- Yearly savings per person
- 34 years versus 2 years
- Years in group home vs SDA
Why it mattersBetter housing models could free up billions in disability support spending. They would also improve thousands of lives and make people safer.
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