Housing

The brief make the case that supportive housing should be the primary housing option available though mental disability service systems. The point is based on data showing that stable, independent housing is what people with mental disabilities want and is a necessary condition for the success of other services, such as case management and addiction treatments. Further, the Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that services be provided in the most integrated setting possible.

Use the resources on this site for evaluating and making housing policies and strategies. It contains examples of proven solutions, easily accessible information on state and local policy tools, and guidance on how to put them together to form a comprehensive, effective housing strategy. The site is run by the Center for Housing Policy.

Here are resources used to educate consumers about MN’s Consumer Directed Community Supports, Personal Care Assistance, and Road to Independence programs. The first handbook gives guidance on the processes and protections of consumer direction and also provides sample care plans and assessments. The handbook on personal care assistance is available in English, Somali and Vietnamese and reviews eligibility, management, and use of services. The last guide assists in moving out of an institution.

The National Council on Disability is required by law to annually submit a report on the status of the nation in achieving policies that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities and empower them to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. The 2009 report focuses on current quality of life indicators and emerging trends that should be factored into future policies and programs.

March 2-4, 2009 state program staff, CMS staff, and technical assistance providers met in Baltimore to discuss Money Follows the Person and other strategies for helping people move out of nursing homes. Speakers presented on topics ranging from service integration, housing finance strategies, mentoring, quality, and many others.

The Veterans Health Administration plans to partner with the Aging Network in order to be serving over 109,000 veterans using HCBS by 2011. February 25 and 26, 2009, these organizations met in Boston to develop the partnership, work out next steps, and identify challenges. Presentations provide details on existing infrastructure, Nursing Home Diversion, financial management services, and existing research on HCBS and self-direction.

The presenters relate information and an Illinois case study on this affordable housing funding strategy. TBRA is tied directly to a MFP recipient’s income level, thereby overcoming limitations of other strategies such as development subsidies and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). Similar to a voucher, TBRA covers the gab between fair market rent and a percentage of a recipient’s income.

First given during a teleconference for Money Follows the Person (MFP) grantees, this presentation reviews the current housing market and challenges to creating new affordable, accessible, and integrated housing units. Also provided is a case study from Maryland and the key areas of housing strategy: assessment of finance and policy; partnerships; and short- and long-term goals.

This report is the first product of the newly launched Caregiving Project for Older Americans, a multiyear, joint project of the International Longevity Center-USA (ILC) and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education (SCSHE). The report focuses on integrating what is known about both the paid and the family caregiving worlds.

The second in a series focused on affordable housing, this issue brief focuses on developing partnerships with state finance agencies and other stakeholders. It showcases successful strategies that have expanded integrated community living for workers with disabilities. While MIG grantees, who are the main audience of this brief, are unable to use grant funds to provide housing services, they can create linkages with other programs to support the individuals they serve.