Disability Sector Housing Research

You are invited to register your interest in participating in a study about disabled people’s experiences of housing in New Zealand. The study is being carried out by a research team from the Donald Beasley Institute (DBI), and is sponsored by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI).

As an organisation, Complex Care Group has agreed to help DBI advertise the research, as well as share any opportunities for our community and networks to be involved.

What is this study about?

In Aotearoa New Zealand, disabled people are homeowners, renters, boarders, and residents. But sometimes disabled people don’t have access to safe or adequate housing.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international agreement. It sets out what countries have to do to make sure disabled people have the same rights as everybody else. This includes the right to choose where and how they live, and the right to an adequate standard of living. It is important to understand how well this is happening, by asking disabled people to share their experiences, thoughts and ideas.

In 2019 we interviewed 61 disabled people about their housing experiences. In this next phase of research we want to talk to 10 family members and close supporters of disabled people about their experiences of housing in New Zealand.

We want to know what family members and close supporters think and feel about the houses the disabled person they support lives in, and what types of houses they would like to see them live in in the future.

At the end of the study we will be able to give the New Zealand Government and the United Nations some good information about disabled people’s current housing experiences, and suggestions on how to meet the housing needs of disabled people in the future.

Who can be in this study?

If you support a disabled person who cannot provide their own informed consent to participate in this study, are over the age of 18, you can take part in the study.

How will the research be conducted?

Due to the COVID-19 situation, we are conducting the interviews over a phone call or online video conference tool called Zoom.

Where can you find out more information?

If you are interested in taking part in this study and would like to know more, please contact the DBI research team and we will send you more information so you can decide if you want to register your interest or not.

Note, DBI does not have your contact details, and Complex Care Group will not give them your details under any circumstances. It is your choice whether you register your interest or not.

If you would like to talk to someone from the DBI about this research, or register your interest, you can contact Umi Asaka (Research Assistant) on:

Free phone: 0211093218

Email: uasaka@donaldbeasley.org.nz