6 August 2010

Pact has opened a new supported accommodation service for young people with an intellectual disability in Oamaru.

The first two clients moved in last month and the third is transitioning in, spending his first weekend there at the beginning of this month.

There is a possibility of a fourth flatmate moving in. The house has four bedrooms, with the possibility of making it five bedrooms.

The clients, who are aged 17, 22 and 35, do activities with Pact activity support workers during the day. Otago community support, outreach and rural manager Korozaan Fourie says there had not been much available in Oamaru for more able-bodied people with a disability.

"That is why the funders agreed to funding day support."

The flatmates were previously living with family and were initially supported through Pact’s supported independent living service.

"Staff got to know the things they required support with during the day. They do things like pamphlet delivery, working in the Oamaru gardens and going swimming, tramping and fishing."

Korozaan says the clients love the service.

"They’ve all had their families around to visit. They are really enjoying it."

Korozaan says Pact has no more people on the waiting list for supported accommodation in North Otago.

"But the willingness to develop services stands us in good stead with the referral agency."

Korozaan praised the hard work that Pact North Otago manager Mike Mathers and his team put in to get the service up and running.