Specialist Disability Accommodation work begins on Bligh Street

Local NDIS service provider Kirinari Community Services partnered with Independent Living Villages (ILV) to get work underway on a Specialist Disability Accommodation building, that will house eight individuals on Bligh Street.

Kirinari Northern Region Manager Lorraine Legge said the modified housing is an important move away from the “older style” of disability accommodation, which would often see multiple people sharing accommodation. 

“These villas will give the residents a sense of security and independence that they have never had before,” she said.

“Everyone will have their own villa, and there is room to sleep one staff member as well.

“There is a huge need for this in Tamworth and we hope that this is just the first of many houses we can build here.” 

The residents, most of whom are wheelchair bound, have already been selected and will pay a rent of 25 per cent of their Disability Support Pension, “topped up by their Specialist Disability Payment through the NDIS, according to ILV CEO Lindsay Kelly.

“We are not here to build a big balance sheet from property,” he said.

“This is a unique time where two charities have come together to give people with disabilities an opportunity to live to the highest possible level of independence and care that they can.” 

Kirinari CEO Diane Lynch echoed those sentiments, adding that “giving people the best possible accommodation also allows services, like Kirinari, to offer the best possible support.”  

Three future residents, Solomon Noon, Pru Ditchfield and Rodney Butler were all on hand at the sod turning ceremony, and all three of them took centre stage to thank the organisations for their brand new accommodation options.

“This block is perfect, it is close to the hospital, the shops and town as well as TAFE,” Mrs Legge said.