Group disability homes on outer

Group homes for people with disability are a dying model, even though they suit governments.

Disability discrimination minister Graeme Innes says group homes are a “legacy model of accommodation slowly fading out”. Picture: Ray Strange

Group homes for people with disability are a dying model even though they suit governments that save money through the agglomeration of supports, former disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes says.

As the disability royal commission begins a week-long sitting in Melbourne to examine the appropriateness of group homes for people with disability, Dr Innes said group homes were a “legacy model of accommodation slowly fading out”. “People with disability are like any other person. They want to live in the accommodation of their choosing, maybe with family, with friends or by themselves,” he said.

“But it will take a long time because governments are saving money with the group home model. Having a number of people in the same place means the per person cost of support is lower.”

Group homes are supported accommodation for up to six people with disability. After the deinstitutionalisation of people with disability in the late 1970s, group homes were the main ­accommodation for those moving out of institutions.