Groundbreaking disability housing project opens in Tea Tree Gully

St John’s Lutheran Church congregation is today launching a special disability housing development on surplus church land to address the growing need for high-demand NDIS accommodation through community support.

With assistance from LLL Australia, an Adelaide-based philanthropic financial institution, St John’s and Lutheran Disability Services (LDS) have partnered to build three specially-designed dwellings to house six high-needs NDIS participants, with room for a carer in each.

It is hoped the disability housing project will serve as a model for congregations across Australia, where land no longer used – a car park and adjoining block in this case - can be developed to support growing social needs with a charitable intent.

A 20-year projection model released by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) earlier this year estimated that by 2042 an extra 36,684 Specialist Disability Accommodation places would be required to meet demand.

St John’s congregation members Stephen Pfeiffer and Carey Noack have been key figures in the groundbreaking development that was first raised in 2014, with construction starting last year following various approvals and permits needed to meet council requirements and NDIA housing specifications.

“There is an immense sense of relief and satisfaction after such a long process to be able to provide homes for six people living with a disability,” Mr Pfeiffer said.

“These are modern, comfortable homes that will also provide comfort for tenants’ families knowing they are being well cared for. We believe we have made the very best use of the assets we have been blessed with.

“There is also huge gratitude for those who helped and supported in many ways. We now look forward to Lutheran Disability Services providing their excellent care to those living in the homes.”

Lutheran Disability Services CEO Michael Kromwyk said his organisation and its clients had been blessed by the generosity of the St Johns congregation.

“To have a mission heart to provide housing for people living with disability during a housing crisis demonstrates real passion for the mission,” Mr Kromwyk said.

“With the support of LLL to make this a reality, we all can’t wait to create even more happy homes for our clients in partnership with congregations.” LLL provides loans and grants to Lutheran organisations. Over the 2023-24 financial year, LLL provided $2.6 million in grants, offered $125,000 in annual Mission Outreach Grants to support initiatives such as church renovations, youth ministries, and equipment upgrades, and has committed to $1m in School Bursary Grants between 2021 and 2027.

LLL Chief Relationship Officer Scott Ross said LLL had a rich history of lending to Lutheran organisations such as schools, retirement living/aged care facilities, and congregations, as a way of supporting the Lutheran Church.

“This is a truly inspiring project - I call it a ‘win-win-win’ situation,” Mr Ross said.

“It’s a win for the congregation, that has taken great strides forward in its missional work and delivered a wonderful outcome for the community, with an income to be derived from what was an under-utilised piece of land.

“It’s a win for LDS and their clients, who now have access to much-needed NDIA-approved housing. And it’s a win for us at LLL.

“We have been so proud to support this missionally-minded project with a tailored loan, with the interest on that loan helping us to continue to support the Lutheran Church of Australia and similar community-based projects.”

LLL sets interest rates on loans that are lower than what they would cost borrowers relying on normal commercial rates.

LLL estimates that its borrowers collectively benefit by more than $5m each year, with total loans outstanding as at 30 June 2023 of $319.9m.