Housing

For over a decade, Pennsylvania's Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has been developing products and supports that address the needs of people with disabilities of all ages. Listen as they discuss rental housing initiatives, developments in tenant-based rental assistance, and home ownership. Representatives discussed cutting edge approaches and unique responses to the challenges of working to build inclusive communities, while steadily improving the state level partnerships and leveraging resources.

South Carolina hired an environmental modifications specialist to improve the quality of home modifications funded by its Medicaid HCBS waivers. The specialist trains case managers to develop specifications for ramps, and develops specifications for other home modifications so contractors can quickly make an informed bid. South Carolina also leveraged a state-funded home modification program to expand the types of modifications available in its waivers.

Housing Within Reach is a project of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. The project included a consumer driven longitudinal evaluation study across the state to document consumer perspectives on consumer housing preferences, and the availability, access and barriers to appropriate housing. The study included face-to-face interviews conducted with each study participant at baseline, and at six- and twelve-months.

This report describes grant activities (accomplishments and progress) in three major LTC systems areas: Access to LTC Services and Supports, Services, Supports, and Housing, Administrative and Monitoring Infrastructure. The report also provides illustrative examples of the challenges Grantees have faced as they implement grant activities, and consumers’ roles in the implementation and evaluation of these activities.

The purpose of this analysis is to assess the relative need for affordable housing with supportive services in Arkansas and to compare this need with the available resources for low-income senior and disabled populations. To conduct this analysis, data was gathered from both direct sources and statistical surveys. The data was analyzed to identify the gaps between needs and resources, as well as other patterns.

The goal of the 2004 Real Choice Systems Change grant is to address the issues and barriers preventing consumers of mental health services from receiving flexible supports in the community housing of their choice. This report identifies the grant outcomes, activities and evaluation including the degree to which supported housing is embraced and practiced by providers on a larger scale and how housing providers know how to work collaboratively.

As part of the 2004 Integrating Long-Term Supports with Affordable Housing Grant, Oregon developed this application for five initial test sites. The goal for test site participation is for providers to know where their program stands in terms of providing supportive housing services and to develop future capacity for supported housing programs. Use the application as a template and to review the criteria necessary to select an agency.

The cost effectiveness calculation spreadsheet allows users to compare four separate locations and multiple scenarios of using state general revenues for rental assistance. In many instances, the net state cost to serve individuals with disabilities in the community is considerably less than the net state cost in an institution.

The 7th CMS New Freedom Initiative Conference was held March 5-7 in Baltimore. Presentations are available in both PDF and text formats. “Choice and Independence” is a key pillar of CMS’ vision for a person-centered long term services and supports system for the future. The 2007 conference focused on the policies, programs, and tools -including opportunities authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act– available to shape and carry out the vision.

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grant awards in FY03–FY04 plus the Family to Family and Systems Transformation Grantees awarded in FY05 and FY06. The Compendium will help Grantees identify others with similar goals and activities. Learn more about how the grants will be used to allow more people of all ages with a disability or long term illness to live and participate in their communities. The sixth edition replaces all previous editions.