Friday 22 April 2011

DISABLED SET TO LOSETHEIR HOME

Saturday Telegraph 23rd April 2011: By: Gemma Jones. (NEWS)
Disabled residents of s historic Sydney home are to be moved on, with a not-for-profit organization planning to develop a complex of seven-storey unit blocks on the site. Some of the residents have lived at the Crowle House at Ryde for almost 50 years - and families signed bonds believing their relatives would have a haven for life. The historic home on 2ha was donated to people with a disability by the family of a philanthropist who had allowed disadvantaged children to live there. Two years ago it was taken over by Achieve Australia, a private service provider for the disabled which boasts Olympian Duncan Armstrong as the ambassador. A spokeswoman confirmed Achieve would move 31 residents into supported housing and there were plans with council for seven-storey buildings with hundreds of units. She claimed some residents might be able to move back after the development, but she said other units would be sold to fund Achieve programs and to protect Crowle House from debt. Families have been complaining to the Department of Disabilities.
Joanne Glissan, whose aunts have lived at Crowle House for 40 years said families were devastated. Our biggest concern is nobody has asked the residents what they want, they don't know anything other than Crowle House, Ms Glissan said. Achieve can't give us any information. What happens when they're put out into the community? There's no guarantee the care they have there will be kept up. She claimed one family had been so unhappy with the level of community care provided that an elderly mother had been forced to remove her disabled adult son and care for him herself.The Achieve spokeswoman and the day programs, transport to work and in-home care would continue in community housing. Crowle House's facilities were ageing and, under a government 'devolution' policy, residents of dormitory-style homes were being moved into community housing. The spokeswoman said the organisation was looking at development to get the 'best return' to fund better care, Mr Armstrong did not return an email but the spokeswoman said he was supporting Achieve's actions. Disability Services Minister Andrew Constance said he wanted to ensure people had appropriate care:'In light of these concerns that have been raised, I am happy to be working with the families and Achieve to make sure people's needs are being properly met.'

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