For a lot of people, this is the question that matters most about shared living. Not the funding, not the building but the people. Who will I actually live with? What if we don’t get along? And can I choose to live with someone I already know and love?
These worries are completely understandable. Who you share a home can shape your daily life more than almost anything else. The good news is that with the right provider, you are not handed a stranger and told to make it work. You have a real say, there is a proper process and there are options if things do not go to plan.
This guide walks through how housemate matching works, what happens if a living arrangement isn’t working out and whether you can live with a partner or friend.
You choose who you live with. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) doesn’t place you in a home and a good housing provider does not simply fill an empty room with whoever is next on a list. Where you live and who you live with is your decision.
At Enliven Housing, this is built into our approach. Our compatibility framework recognises you as the decision-maker in determining who you live with. It shapes the entire process, from the first conversation to the day you move in and beyond.
At Enliven Housing, the shared living vacancy and compatibility process runs across four clear phases.
Before anyone is introduced, we take time to understand the home and the people already in it. Their routines, interests, communication styles and what kind of household it is. This is how we work out who might genuinely fit, rather than who simply needs a room.
This is where you come in. You get to learn about the property, see the home and meet the people you might live with. Introductions are tenant-led, meaning they happen at a pace that suits everyone. Meeting people face to face is often the moment things click or the moment you realise it’s not the right fit and both outcomes are useful.
If everyone feels good about the match, this is where it becomes real. Applications are completed and planning begins for the move, including support arrangements, any home modifications and how the household will work day to day.
Matching does not end at the front door. This phase is about a smooth move and making sure you settle in well, with check-ins to catch anything early and help everyone adjust.
Alongside these phases, our compatibility process includes structured compatibility conversations, tenant-led introductions, shared living preference assessments, stakeholder consultation and supported decision-making. In plain terms, that means we ask the right questions, we bring people together properly, we take your preferences seriously, we involve the people who matter to you and we support you to make the decision yourself. You can start exploring homes and housemates through our Find a Housemate process.
Shared living works best when everyone feels comfortable, respected and at home. That’s why we carefully consider compatibility before anyone moves in. If circumstances change or concerns arise after you’ve settled in, we’ll work with you to find the best way forward.
At Enliven Housing, we encourage you to raise concerns early, before small issues become bigger ones. That might mean having an honest conversation with your housemate, organising a house meeting or involving your support network to help work through the issue together.
If you need extra support, you can raise a concern through Enliven Speak Up!. It’s a simple, safe and accessible way for tenants and their support network to share feedback, ask for help or let us know when something isn’t right. You can use it with your name or anonymously, and it’s designed to help us respond early so problems don’t have the chance to grow.
Most challenges can be worked through with open communication and the right support. But if a living arrangement genuinely isn’t the right fit, we’ll work with you to explore other options. Our goal is never to leave someone feeling stuck—we want everyone to live in a home where they feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
Yes. Living with your partner is often possible and it’s a completely reasonable thing to want.
If you and your partner both have SDA funding, our two-bedroom SDA houses have been designed to support couples who want to live together while accessing the supports they need.
If your partner doesn’t have SDA funding, living together may still be possible. Depending on your individual circumstances, one of our villas or apartments may be a more suitable option, allowing you to enjoy your own home together without sharing the space with another housemate.
Every situation is different, so the best option will depend on your support needs, funding and the type of home that’s right for you. We’re happy to talk through your circumstances and help you explore the options available.
Yes, in many cases you can.
If you and your friend or family member both have SDA funding, our two-bedroom SDA houses have been designed to support people who want to live together while maintaining their independence.
If only one of you has SDA funding, sharing one of our SDA houses isn’t always possible. However, one of our two-bedroom apartments may be a better option, depending on your circumstances and support needs.
Every situation is different, so we’re always happy to talk through your options. Our team can help you find the home that best suits your needs and explain what may be possible based on your funding and living arrangements.
A well-matched home is the single biggest factor in whether shared living works long term. It affects your wellbeing, your sense of safety, your independence and whether your house actually feels like a home. Get the fit right and everything else is easier. Get it wrong and even the nicest building will not feel right.
This is why Enliven Housing puts so much thought into compatibility, rather than treating a vacancy as a room to fill. It’s also why we believe finding the right housemate matters more than lining up matching funding. You can read more about how funding works between housemates if you are weighing that up.
If you want the bigger picture of how shared living works overall, start with our complete guide to shared living.
Yes. Meeting people is a core part of the process. You can see the home and meet the people you might live with before any decision is made, so you can judge the fit for yourself.
You can speak with your Enliven Housing Tenancy Officer, raise a concern through Enliven Speak Up!, or ask someone you trust – such as a family member, friend, Support Coordinator or support worker—to contact us on your behalf.
The important thing is that you feel comfortable speaking up so we can work with you to find the best way forward. If a living arrangement genuinely isn’t the right fit, we’ll help you explore other housing options.
Yes, in many cases you can. If only one of you has SDA funding, one of our villas or apartments may be a better option, allowing you to live together without sharing the home with another housemate. Our team can talk through your circumstances and help you find the option that’s right for you.
Yes, this is often possible. If you’d like to live with a friend in a shared SDA home, they would also need to be an NDIS participant with SDA funding. If you don’t already have someone in mind, we’ll take the time to get to know you and carefully match you with a compatible housemate. Before anyone moves in, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and get to know each other, so you can feel comfortable and confident with the arrangement.
Finding the right housemates is important for everyone involved. Sometimes a match simply isn’t the right fit – and that’s okay. It’s not a reflection on you, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong. We’ll continue introducing you to compatible households until we find the right match.
If suitable matches continue to be declined, we’ll review the situation with everyone involved to understand what’s happening. In some cases, we may explore other home and living options to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to find a home that’s right for them.
If you have been searching for a disability group home, you have probably noticed the term pops up everywhere, often
You can read all the guides in the world about shared living but the question underneath most of them is
For many Australians with disability, home has traditionally meant fitting into systems that already existed – rather than choosing a
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