The units will be a first for not-for-profit community organisation Amicus, which is building on the former site of its support services. But the housing project is unlikely to be its last, with the organisation's chair teasing further announcements.

Amicus is bracing for strong demand for the two new units, which are expected to become available in early 2022.

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The Bendigo-based disability service provider highlighted the "desperate need" for more specialist disability accommodation as it turned the sod on the project, which it has partnered with Bevnol Homes and Haven; Home, Safe to bring to fruition.

"Just prior to the NDIS starting there were over 100 people in the region with disabilities registered as having a critical and urgent need for housing support, and with only a limited increase in the number of properties available, this number has risen." Ann-Maree Davis, the chief executive of Amicus, said.

She believed some of the unmet need for specialist disability accommodation in Bendigo was also masked by the fact housing was not yet funded or articulated in some people's NDIS plans.

"It's important these conversations are happening in people's planning meetings, so that's what we want to see happen and that's what we're going to be encouraging," Ms Davis said.

She said many people who needed urgent support had been identified as living at home with an ageing carer, which was one of the organisation's biggest concerns.

"If more specialist accommodation isn't built locally, what will happen to those people when their carer is no longer able to support them as they once did?" Ms Davis said.

Amicus was aware some young people had prematurely entered nursing homes because of a lack of housing with appropriate supports.

"Our priority is to create specialist accommodation to ensure people are able to remain living in their community, which is why commencement of this build is so exciting," Ms Davis said.

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Proceeds from the subdivision and sale of the land surrounding the new two-bedroom units is part of what has made the $850,000 project possible.

An almost $300,000 bequest from the estate of the late Gordon Alexander Webster also contributed to the initiative.

"It's a really proud day for us," Ms Davis said.

The two units in North Bendigo are the first for Amicus in its more than 30-year history in Bendigo.

One of the units is designed for high physical support, while the other is designed for improved liveability, with consideration given to the differing needs of people with disability.

"The demand, we expect, will be significant," Amicus chair Paul Somerville said.

He expected to be making announcements for more specialist disability accommodation projects within months.

Mr Somerville said there was a chronic shortage of affordable housing generally in Bendigo, and especially housing for people with disability.

He said it was "pretty useless" to have been allocated funding for specialist disability accommodation without housing in which to live.

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Not all people with a disability need specialist accommodation.

Specialist disability accommodation is primarily designed for people with very high support needs or a high level of functional impairment.

"We are not the only ones providing into this market but we expect there will be some additional units from Amicus as well," Mr Somerville said.

Amicus has encouraged people interested in applying to live in the two new units to contact its pathways capacity and engagement manager, Melissa Zera, on 5441 2666.

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