"It feels like home”: Ian finds the right fit with inhousing

When Ian found out he needed to move out of his previous home, he didn’t have many options - and none that really worked for him. The house he’d been living in wasn’t accessible and didn’t meet his needs as someone who uses either a walker or a power wheelchair. In fact, it had two bathrooms — one where he could use the toilet but not the shower, and another where he could shower but not use the toilet.

After hearing about inhousing through a SKILL SA peer network meeting, he applied for a place in the Brahma Lodge intentional community. He just missed out on that opportunity, but not long after, our team was able to offer him tenancy in one of our Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes in Northfield.

Following his move, Ian says it’s hard to believe how well everything has worked out.

“I love it. It’s basically perfect. I’m waiting for someone to realise they’ve made a horrendous mistake,” Ian joked. “From day one, it’s felt like home.”

His new home is far more accessible than his previous home, which has made a huge difference in Ian’s daily life.

“I can walk in the front door, I can walk out the back door. My bathroom is safe. The kitchen is functional. Everything just works. Rather than moving somewhere and having to make a bunch of modifications, I’ve moved in and it already feels like home.”

While it’s his first time living in Adelaide’s north-east, Ian has quickly found his feet in the community - and he’s already building new local connections.

He credits inhousing staff, particularly Liz, for understanding what’s important when it comes to accessible housing.

“It sounds cliché, but they just get it,” he said. “There are things I need that Liz just knew. It’s common sense if you have that insight, but a lot of people don’t have that lived experience of disability. It’s nice to know that someone does.”

When asked what he’d say to someone looking for specialist disability accommodation, Ian’s advice is clear:

“Have a look at the inhousing website. Reach out and ask questions. Liz was really approachable and got the inspection done properly. It was awesome. Being able to talk directly with people who understand what you're looking for makes a real difference.”

Ian has spent much of his life giving back to the community, including years of volunteer work in hospitals and as a Justice of the Peace. In 2025, he was named Citizen of the Year for the City of West Torrens. As a proud disability advocate, he continues to share his experiences to improve access and equity for others.

We're proud to have supported Ian in finding a home that works for him — and we're here to do the same for others.

If you or someone you support is looking for specialist disability accommodation, have a look at our current vacancies or get in touch with our team. We’re here to help.