Around 2% of people in New Zealand belong to the autistic community. In numbers, this is around 93,000 individuals. This community should have the right to live a life with equal opportunities, and to live free from exclusion and discrimination.

Recent research completed by Autism NZ, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and the Autism CRC, demonstrated the desperate need for housing that is accessible for Autistic people. Homelessness, housing insecurity and discriminatory housing practices all affect the Autistic community significantly. Further, Autistic people are also all too often trapped in a poverty cycle near-impossible to break, where they cannot own assets worth more than $44,000 or lose access to any government support. However when people are able to access support, most is absorbed into their rental payments, funding significant property portfolios of investors.

Autism NZ, in partnership with Equity House, is launching a new housing initiative this Autism Acceptance Month. Our solution to these issues: custom-built homes designed with neuro-sensory elements, for the Autistic community. As a community housing provider, Equity House can offer these homes to Autistic people on the social housing registry. The residents will be able to build equity in the homes, so that when they leave, they will have the opportunity to fund their own property ownership goals. This is an unprecedented and extraordinary step forward for the Autistic community.

Equity House is seeking to raise $10 million to fund this initiative. With the funds that we receive we plan to initially build 4-5 clusters of suitable accommodation with layouts and designs for our target audience. We will be able to accommodate more than thirty people to live independently and with support. Upon the completion of these, our goal is to build 2-3 new residential villages every year.

The present housing options for autistic people only impede them in accessing these fundamental freedoms. We have a plan to break the cycle, but we need help funding it.