Supported living
Information and advice about the different housing options available to you.
On this page
Small or large, shared or more independent, there are supported living options available to help you live life your way.
Supported living could mean having someone come into your home. It could mean moving into a home with several new friends and support people who visit each day. It could mean a big, shared home, like a retirement village, with support people always on site and a whole lot of other facilities too.
Support in your home
Community Residential Support Services
Community Residential Support Services are funded by Disability Support Services (DSS) and allow disabled people to live in a home-like environment with support available up to 24 hours a day. Staff are there to support people with all aspects of their daily lives.
These services are provided in a range of community settings such as small or large homes, groups of small homes or flats.
Find out more about Community Residential Support Services
Residential Support Subsidy
The Residential Support Subsidy is a Work and Income payment that helps with the cost of residential support. The payment foes to
Learn more about the Residential Support Subsidy
Live-in care
Live-in care support means having a trained carer live with you in your home to help with everyday tasks and sometimes personal care. It’s all about supporting independence and keeping people comfortable in their own space.
What does live-in care support include?
Personal care – Help with dressing, showering, and taking medication
Household tasks – Things like washing up, vacuuming, and making the bed
Getting out and about – Support with social activities and outings
Specialist medical care – If you need extra healthcare support
Diet and nutrition – Help with meals and making sure you're eating well
Companionship – Someone to chat with, listen, or go for a walk with
It’s all about making life easier while maintaining independence.
Visit the Government Help in your home page to see the best option for you.
Sharing a home with permanent support
Community housing is rental housing provided by registered community housing providers, rather than private landlords. Typically, they are not-for-profit groups that meet housing needs by offering emergency housing, affordable rentals, or home ownership assistance.
You'll often share a home with other members of the community and get support from a person permanently-based nearby. They're usually small and the support team do their best to place people with friends they'll get along with.
The Community Housing Association has a list of local community housing providers on their website.
Find your local community housing provider
Regionally-based alternative
If you're in in Auckland, Waikato, the Hutt, Otago and Southland regions you could use Choice in Community Living.
This is an alternative to residential services for disabled people and offers more choice and control over where you live, who you live with and how you are supported. It could be in home, shared home, flatting or a supported facility.
To use Choice in Community Living, you will need to live in one of the regions listed above and talk to you local Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) organisation. They will work with you and your family/whānau to see if Choice in Community Living is right for you.
Visit the Choice in Community Living page on the DSS website.