Disability housing provider, DPN Casa Capace aims to build $1bn in innovative homes

Specialist disability housing provider DPN Casa Capace will commence construction of an architecturally designed, resident-centric home for people with disabilities this month. DPN Casa Capace aims to scale the model to more than 700 homes in five years, in partnership with institutional investors and disability care providers. The homes, Australia-wide, will be worth around $1 billion and help meet the growing demand for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) by housing 3,500 residents.

DPN Casa Capace is a registered provider with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and part of the DPN Group, an award-winning property and financial services enterprise. Its semi-detached housing prototype, which it is launching in Sydney, is designed for two to three NDIS participants with a disability (each side), including those with complex needs, who can have each room tailored to their needs.

With each resident’s NDIS SDA payment funding their tenancy, DPN Casa Capace will partner with NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL) care providers, who will choose suitable housing locations, and accommodate residents with disabilities and their careers, in their homes. The Northcott Society is the care provider and design collaborator for the first home, in south-west Sydney’s Oran Park. Construction will commence February 2019 and tenants are expected to move in from August. The $1.5m Oran Park home is fully funded by DPN.

Sam Khalil, DPN Founder and Managing Director, says: “The private sector is best equipped to develop the housing to meet Australia’s growing demand for SDA homes. DPN is sourcing capital from institutional investors – and our supply chain has the capacity to build hundreds of homes each year, at about 70 per cent of the cost of previous Government-built homes and at a higher quality. Further cost efficiencies will be achieved as we scale. We are taking on the responsibility and cost of the homes, allowing the care providers to focus on placing tenants and providing the required support and care.

“Major institutional investors are seeing the benefit and demand for private companies in this sector. Through our advisors, we have already received strong initial interest and are in discussions with both Australian and international investors wishing to place significant capital into this sector.”

Lee Carpenter, deputy CEO at The Northcott Society, says: “We are strong champions of the move away from the institutional image of a traditional disability group home. Partnering with developers like DPN Casa Capace shows that attractive, modern developments should be what the standard should be for disability housing. As one of Australia’s largest disability service providers, including disability accommodation, we will provide support services for the customers in this exciting new development.”

Design and technology features

Featuring architect Aaron Stevens’ simple, clean and elegant design style, the single-level, semi-detached houses at first glance look like a typical family home. Yet the homes are fully compliant with NDIS SDA design requirements, featuring oversized doors and corridors, larger and open-plan spaces to allow for mobility devices, and robust construction. They will be fitted with customisable fittings such as supports in ceilings to accommodate hoists; and adjustable kitchen benches, sinks and basins for wheelchair usage. The homes will also feature the latest in technology using Apple’s Homekit platform for privacy and control. Features include the option for remote-controlled lighting, blinds, doors, heating and cooling for each room, as required, to assist residents.

Disability housing in Australia – Government funding and community demand

The NDIS estimates that 28,000 people will qualify to receive funding for SDA under the NDIS.¹ The Government currently sets a budget of $700 million a year for SDA funding¹ and it is estimated that $5 billion worth of new housing is needed to meet this demand.²

Launch event

DPN Casa Capace is holding a ‘ground breaking’ launch event on the site on Tuesday 26th February 2019 with local MPs and other VIPs expected to attend.