Housing and Homelessness

Finding appropriate housing following brain injury can be challenging. Issues such as reduced income, costs associated with housing modifications, and considerations such as access to supports and services can limit housing options. Depending on financial resources and support needs people with brain injury can be unable to live independently, and may need to consider other options such as living with friends or family, supported housing options or residential care.

Housing can be especially challenging for people with high care needs. A lack of supported housing options means close to 6000 younger Australians (under 65) with disability are forced to live in residential aged care (AIHW, 2019). Aged care is not an appropriate option for younger people, and is an isolating and lonely environment. 53% per cent of young people in residential aged care receive a visit from a friend less than once a year, 82% seldom or never visit their friends, and 45% seldom or never participating in leisure activities in the community (Winkler et al., 2007).

People with brain injury can be at greater risk of losing housing tenancy if rental payments are missed due to financial pressures and/or inability to organise or memory difficulties, which increases risks of homelessness. For homeless people with brain injury associated chronic illness, mental health, and/or addiction problems create highly complex support needs (Burra, Stergiopoulos, & Rourke, 2009). Poor understandings about brain injury and a lack of assessment tools mean that homeless services can struggle to effectively support people with brain injury and complex co-occurring conditions.