Megan Spindler-Smith

Homelessness is not equal — and neither is the response for people with disability

Every night, thousands of people across Australia experience homelessness. But for people with disability, the risk is significantly higher, and the pathways out are far more limited.

As a person with disability and CEO of a disability representative organisation, I am very aware that in Australia, people with disability are around 1.6 times more likely to experience housing stress than those without disability, meaning people with disability are overrepresented in homelessness and under-supported in responses to it.

This year, I’m taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise funds for this, and to highlight the inequity.

For many people with disability in Australia, homelessness is not just about not having a roof. It is about: A severe lack of accessible and affordable housing options; Limited supports to enter and maintain housing;  Service systems that are often not inclusive or accessible; and being locked out of what most people would call an ordinary life

So I’m asking for your support. A donation, whether it’s $50, $100, or whatever you can give, contributes to practical support for people who deserve access to a home, and helps build momentum for the systemic change we urgently need.

Most importantly, it reinforces a simple truth; in Australia, accessible housing, safety, and dignity should be a right, not a privilege. So please support this campaign and not have anyone left behind for this basic right.