HOW GR8 IS TRANSFORMING DISABILITY HOUSING IN THE SOUTH WEST
For years, people with disability in the South West have faced a severe shortage of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
Families were stretched, participants were living in homes that did not meet their needs and providers struggled to plan effective support in environments not designed for modern disability care.
This unmet demand drove GR8 Disability Housing to expand into the region, responding to calls for help from the disability community and sector professionals.
When GR8 examined SDA data for the South West, it was clear many people were funded for SDA but not living in suitable homes.
For some, this meant unsafe or inappropriate living arrangements. For others, it meant long travel distances or waiting indefinitely for a home that worked for their needs.
Support Coordination agencies confirmed the shortage of SDA and SIL housing, and that the gap was pushing the system to breaking point.
GR8 responded by investing early, securing well-located land while it was available and affordable, enabling delivery at scale where others could not.
Over the last three years, GR8 has delivered a significant disability housing program across Treendale, Bunbury, Dalyellup and Busselton.
In total, that is 30 SDA homes and 2 SIL homes purposefully designed for people with complex needs.
The organisation is now exploring opportunities to develop highly accessible homes for Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, helping people move out of housing that no longer works for them.
Beyond the numbers, the real impact lies in the lives of participants who finally have a home that fits them, rather than a home they must fit into. For many families, these homes offer something they have never had before – a safe, modern, thoughtfully designed space that supports their loved one to live well.
The South West community has long deserved disability housing that truly meets its needs. GR8 is proud to be part of the solution.
