#silhomes

Discover our SIL & Respite Home in Box Hill, where comfort and support meet to enhance your well-being.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a type of support that helps people with disability to live as independently as possible in a shared home with other NDIS participants. Finding a suitable SIL home and choosing the right accommodation option can be a challenging and confusing process, but it can also be rewarding and empowering. In this blog post, we will provide some tips and guidance on how to find a SIL home that meets your needs and preferences, and what are the different accommodation options available.

What to consider when looking for a SIL home

Before you start looking for a SIL home, it is important to consider your personal circumstances, goals, and preferences. Some of the factors that you may want to think about are:

Your support needs: How much and what kind of support do you need to live independently? What are your daily routines and activities? What are your health and wellbeing needs?

Your budget: How much can you afford to pay for rent, utilities, and other expenses? How will you manage your NDIS funding and SIL payments?

Your location: Where do you want to live? How close do you want to be to your family, friends, work, or education? How accessible is the public transport, shops, and services in the area?

Your lifestyle: What are your hobbies, interests, and passions? How do you like to spend your free time? What are your social and community connections?

Your compatibility: Who do you want to live with? How many housemates do you prefer? What are their ages, genders, backgrounds, and personalities? How well do you get along with them?

These are some of the questions that can help you to identify your needs and preferences, and to narrow down your options. You can also use the NDIS SIL Tool to assess your eligibility and suitability for SIL, and to get an estimate of your SIL funding.

What are the different accommodation options for SIL

There are different types of accommodation options for SIL, depending on your needs and preferences. Some of the common options are:

Living alone in a self-contained unit: This option is suitable for people who value privacy and independence, and who have low to moderate support needs. You will have your own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area, and you will receive support from SIL providers as needed. You will be responsible for paying rent, utilities, and other expenses, and you will have more choice and control over your living arrangements.

Sharing accommodation with peers: This option is suitable for people who enjoy social interaction and companionship, and who have moderate to high support needs. You will share a house or apartment with other NDIS participants, and you will have your own bedroom and shared facilities. You will receive support from SIL providers who live on-site or visit regularly. You will share the rent, utilities, and other expenses with your housemates, and you will have some choice and control over your living arrangements.

Residing with a host family: This option is suitable for people who prefer a family-like environment and who have high support needs. You will live with a host family who will provide you with a bedroom and access to facilities. You will receive support from the host family and SIL providers who visit regularly. You will pay a board and lodging fee to the host family, and you will have limited choice and control over your living arrangements.

These are some of the common accommodation options for SIL, but there may be other options available in your area.

How to find and apply for a SIL home

Once you have decided on your preferred accommodation option, you can start looking for a SIL home that matches your criteria. You can use the following steps to find and apply for a SIL home:

Contact the NDIS or your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to confirm your eligibility and funding for SIL, and to get a referral to a SIL provider in your area.

Contact the SIL provider and express your interest in their SIL services. They will ask you some questions about your needs and preferences, and they will provide you with information about their SIL homes and vacancies.

Visit the SIL homes that interest you and meet the potential housemates and support workers. Ask questions about the living environment, the support services, the costs and fees, and the service agreement.

Choose the SIL home that best suits you and apply for a vacancy. You will need to provide some documents, such as your NDIS plan, your SIL quote, and your ID, and you will need to sign a service agreement and a tenancy agreement.

Move into your SIL home and start living independently. You will receive ongoing support from your SIL provider and your LAC to ensure that your SIL arrangements are working well for you.