THE WESTERN suburbs will get two of 22 new homes that will be built for young people with disabilities.

In a $60.2 million state and federal government-funded initiative, the “my future my choice” program will set up 22 new developments, over the next five years, for 104 young people who are living in residential aged care.

In the West, Gellibrand Support Services will run a development in St Albans, and Yooralla will run a service in Altona.

Each development will house six people, a total of 12 places for those in the West.

Williamstown resident Jason Anderson said the “numbers just don’t add up”.

The 38-year-old was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 14 years ago and lives in supported accommodation.

He considers himself one of the lucky ones.

Mr Anderson said there were so many people stuck in nursing homes who were unable to communicate their needs.

“I love doof doof music. Do you think that’s compatible with 85-year-olds? No,” he said.

“We’ve got to get those young people out of there. Everyone deserves dignity.”

Di Winkler is CEO of Summer Foundation, which aims to change policy and practice relating to young people in nursing homes.

Ms Winkler said the government program was a good start, but there were not enough places for people who were newly diagnosed, or future demand.

“There’s still no change to stop people going into nursing homes. Seventy people each year are going into aged care,” she said.

Ms Winkler said the program would make a tremendous difference for those people who move in.

According to research from the Summer Foundation, 53 per cent of young people are visited by friends less than once a year in a nursing home.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten said the government would continue to move young people with disabilities out of aged care, to stop them entering it in the first place and to provide better support for young people who remained in aged care.