SINGAPORE: For years, Stephen D’Arcy worried about what would happen to his daughter, Chantelle, when he and his wife were gone.
“Our biggest worry was the future – not tomorrow or next week, but 10, 20, and 30 years from now,” he said.
“Chantelle relies on systems, like the NDIS and income support. They are essential, but they can feel fragile and outside of our control.
“As parents, we’re always asking ourselves: what happens when we’re not here anymore to advocate, to push, to fill in those gaps?”
Chantelle is one of the Canberrans with an intellectual disability who recently signed a shareholder equity deed for one of Project Independent’s homes.
The not-for-profit uses the resident’s disability support pension to help them transition from being renters to having a place to call home.
“What we wanted more than anything was for Chantelle to have what every adult wants: a safe home, privacy, stability, and a place where she truly belongs,” Mr D’Arcy said.
“Not a temporary solution, not something dependent on luck or constant intervention, but something solid and enduring.
“[It] means Chantelle’s home is not dependent on who’s in government or which policy changes next year … It gives families like ours something we really [need], and that’s certainty.”
Chantelle has lived at one of Project Independence’s homes since June 2025. In total, 30 people are utilising one of the not-for-profit’s locations in Phillip, Harrison and Latham.
Founder Glenn Keys said it was all about giving people with an intellectual disability a pathway to buying their own homes.
“The demographic we support, people with an intellectual disability, have the lowest rate of home ownership of any sector in Australia,” he said.
“[We help them] get out of social housing, get out of rented housing, and get onto the home-ownership ladder, like the rest of our community seeks to do every single day.”
Another 15 people have managed to move out into their own places.
But the demand has not lessened, with 57 people on the waitlist.
“When we started Project Independence, now coming up to almost 14 years ago, we look at where we are today and we realise that that vision has become even harder,” Mr Keys said.
“[But our residents], despite all the barriers that have been put in front of them, in front of their families, they have overcome them.
“They are living rich and full lives here.”
Disability Minister Suzanne Orr, Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton and independent Kurrajong MLA Thomas Emerson were all on hand to witness the latest deed signings.
But for Mr D’Arcy, his daughter was the guest of honour.
“Since moving into Project Independence, Chantelle has grown in ways that still surprise me,” he said.
“She has her own space, she makes her own choices, she cooks her own meals – sometimes.
“But she lives her life, she’s happier, more confident and quietly proud of herself, and so are we, sweetie.”