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The key aim of the Summer Foundation is to resolve the issue of young people living in nursing homes.

In Victoria, approximately 70 people under 50 are admitted to aged care nursing homes each year. Young people with disability want a range of creative and innovative "next generation" solutions to enable them to actively participate in the community, maximise their independence, and have a real choice about where they live. Only systemic change and a dramatic increase in the number of supported housing options will stem the flow of young people into aged care. The Summer Foundation draws on a range of strategies to influence health, housing and disability services policy and practice related to this target group.

In 2009, the Building Better Lives campaign was launched by the Summer Foundation to increase public awareness of the issue of young people in nursing homes, and seek donations to build Australia's first truly integrated housing model, where young people with disability can start to re-build their lives. In other countries such as Canada, integrated models of housing have been operating successfully for over 15 years. To find out how you can help make this a reality, please click here to visit the campaign website.