Award recognizes housing for adults with disabilities
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In Auckland, New Zealand, Te Anua Nua Trust received an Enabling Good Lives leadership award for its care home providing round-the-clock support for adults living with intellectual disabilities.
The trust’s manager, Len Moodley, changed how the home operates a year ago, giving residents more control over daily choices like meals and activities. Monique Collins, a resident of 16 years, described the house as a “whanau home” and praised Moodley’s kindness.
Residents like Ben Taite actively participate in maintaining the home, with Taite tending to the garden. Moodley focused on training staff and updating the home’s systems, resulting in a noticeable improvement in residents’ moods and a desire to engage with life. Currently, the trust has a waiting list of people needing supported housing and plans to rebuild one of its homes to increase capacity. Disability advocate Nick Ruane noted a shortage of accessible social housing in New Zealand.
Official information shows that less than 2.5 percent of nearly 20,000 community housing dwellings are fully modified for accessibility, and the accessibility of over half remains unknown. Disability Connect’s Mike Potter believes the government needs to act faster to address the housing crisis for disabled people, and anticipates a growing need as parents of people with intellectual disabilities age.
