Somewhere to live - ADHC · PDF fileSomewhere to live – 3. About the Accommodation ......

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Somewhere to live

What help can you get?

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2 • Somewhere to live | What help can you get?

Somewhere to live | What help can you get? • 3

How to use this booklet

This information is written in an easy to read way.

We use pictures to explain some ideas.

This booklet has been written by the NSW

Government Department of Family and Community

Services (FACS). When you see the word ‘we’, it

means FACS.

You can ask for help to read this booklet.

A friend, family member or support person may

be able to help you.

Easy Read


What is in this booklet?

What help can you get? 5

Where will you live? 7

Who will you live with? 10

Who can help you decide? 13

Who can help you with day-to-day living? 15

Types of help 16

What’s next? 24

Our contact details 27


What help can you get?

In NSW, there are lots of ways for people with

disability to get help to find somewhere to live.

This booklet is to help you understand the types of

help that are available to you.

We want you to have:

• independence

• flexibility

• control.

We also want to help you do what you want to.


You can think about:

• where you want to live

• who you will live with

• if you need help, and

• who can help you.


Where will you live?

You can choose where you want to live.

You may want to live:

• in the city

• in the country

• in a unit or apartment

• in a house.


Thinking about living in a house you own or someone else owns

Some people live in a home that they own.

Others rent a home from a private owner.

And some people live in public housing.

This is housing that is provided by the government.

Public housing is often a lot cheaper than

private housing.


Public housing is for the people who need it the

most, so you might have to wait for it to become

available. Others rent a home from a private owner.

You can contact FACS to find out if public housing

is right for you.

Our contact details are on page 27.

As it can take a long time to get a place in public

housing, you will need to think about where you will

live if you have to wait.


Who will you live with?

You can choose who you live with.

You may want to live:

• by yourself

• with your family

• with your friends

• with your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband

or wife

• with a flatmate or housemate.


Thinking about share accommodation

You may like to let someone rent a room in your

own home.

You could search online to find someone to share a

home with.

You could share with someone who can help you

sometimes. You could offer them cheaper rent if

they want to do this.

You may like to share with other people

with disability.

You all agree on how your home will be run.

Some people live in a shared home and get help

from time to time from a disability service.


You may also like to think about living with a group

of people who also need help.

This type of help is usually provided 24 hours

a day.

We explain this more on page 22.

You need to register if you want to do this.

We explain the register on page 24.

We explain the types of funding help you can use

from page 16.


Who can help you decide?

When you’re deciding where and how you want to

live, there’s a lot to think about.

You may like to talk to someone you trust.

And you may like to ask someone to help you make

the decisions.

You can talk to:

• your family

• your friends


• your case manager or support planner

• someone from a support service that

you use

• your doctor.


Who can help you with day-to-day living?

Some people need help to get by in everyday life.

There are different types of help that you can get.

You can ask your friends or family for help.

You can use services that are available in your local

area like activities, health and wellbeing or

training services.


Types of help

There are other types of help that you can use:

• individual funding which you can use to pay

someone to help you

• drop-in support

• living in group accommodation.

We can help you find a place to live that is right

for you.


Individual funding

Individual funding is a way of receiving money from

the government to pay for help.

With individual funding, you look after the money

yourself or you can choose for someone to look

after the money for you.

This money pays for people to support you.

This means you can choose to live where and how

you want to.

You may choose to live on your own.


You may choose to live with friends

or flatmates.

Or you may choose to live at home with

your family.

Or, you can use the money to live in a home and

get help from a disability organisation.

If you want to have individual funding, you will need

to make a plan and work out your goals. You can

get someone to help you do this.


Your plan might be for:

• developing skills

• getting out in your local area

• looking after your health

• getting to work or the place where you study

• personal care

• day to day activities like cooking and looking

after your home

• managing budgets and paperwork.


Drop-in support

Drop-in support is very practical.

It is designed to help you with everyday things so

that you can live the life you want to live.

People who use drop-in support can have up to 35

hours a week of support.

You can get help with things like:

• getting ready for the day

• cooking

• cleaning

• taking medicine

• getting to doctor’s appointments

• dealing with paperwork and bills

• getting to work

• staying in touch with family and friends

• doing fun activities

• helping with your tenancy

• talking to your landlord.


This support is designed to help you:

• learn new skills

• be more independent

• achieve your goals

• be healthy

• look after your budget

• get a job, or keep working

• do the things you like to do.

Everyone has different needs, so the level

of help you receive may be different to

someone else.


Living in group accommodation

Group accommodation usually involves between

2 and 5 people sharing a house together.

You will have your own bedroom.

Then you may share the:

• kitchen

• bathroom

• lounge room or living areas

• outdoor areas, such as a garden or courtyard.

Group accommodation is great if you need extra help

for everyday living most of the time.


There are several types of group accommodation,

including:

• single storey homes

• villas

• units

• apartments.

It’s important to note that group home

accommodation is not ideal for people who want to

live independently.

If you want to live more independently, there are lots

of other things to think about. All of these things are

explained in this handbook.


What’s next?

If you want to apply for individual funding,

drop-in support or group accommodation,

you need to register.

The Accommodation Support Register is a list of

people who want to receive help from us.

We explain who can register, and how to do it, in

Somewhere to live – 3. About the Accommodation

Support Register.

We’ve also prepared a booklet for things to think

about once you’ve decided where you will live.

This is called My Life – 1. Things to think about.


This booklet covers:

• help in your local area

• getting around

• staying safe

• your rights for being treated fairly

• getting help and advice.


You will find both of these booklets on our

website at www.facs.nsw.gov.au

If you would like any help or advice, please

contact us.

Our contact details are on the next page.

http://www.facs.nsw.gov.au


Our contact details

You can contact the Information and Pathways team in your district.

The way to contact each of the districts is listed below.

Central Coast

Toll free: 1300 160 096

[email protected]

Far West

Toll free: 1300 134 450

[email protected]

Hunter New England

Toll free: 1300 205 268

[email protected]

Illawarra Shoalhaven

Toll free: 1300 841 566

[email protected]


Mid North Coast

Toll free: 1300 364 563

[email protected]

Murrumbidgee

Toll free: 1300 134 450

[email protected]

Nepean Blue Mountains

(02) 4734 9499

Toll free: 1800 881 901 (Lithgow residents)

[email protected]

Northern NSW

Toll free: 1300 364 563

[email protected]


Northern Sydney Information and Pathways

Toll free: 1800 905 535

[email protected]

South Eastern Sydney

Toll free: 1800 000 201

[email protected]

South Western Sydney

Toll free: 1800 000 201

[email protected]

Southern NSW

Toll free: 1300 841 566

[email protected]


Sydney

Toll free: 1800 000 201

[email protected]

Western NSW

Toll free: 1300 134 450

[email protected]

Western Sydney

(02) 9407 1650

[email protected]


This Easy English document was created by the Information Access Group using PhotoSymbols, stock photography and custom images. The images may not be reused without permission. For any enquiries about the images, please visit www.informationaccessgroup.com.

http://www.informationaccessgroup.com

Family and Community Services

www.facs.nsw.gov.au 3474

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