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HOUSING OPTIONS WITH INNOVATIVE ELEMENTS THE JOURNEY TO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTS
$EAR 2EADERS Welcome! This housing guide, entitled The Journey to Community Housing with Support: A Road Map for Individuals and Their Families In New Jersey, has been designed specifically for individuals with disabilities and their families, providing information, advice and guidance about community housing and supports. Funded by the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, it is written to inspire individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families about the possibilities. Navigating the many complex systems, each with detailed regulations, is challenging. This document can assist you or your loved one in finding your way. This guide recognizes the obstacles associated with securing housing and supports. There is a need for additional affordable housing units, rental subsidies, mainstream resources and funding for supportive services. This housing guide should be read in keeping with its title, as a journey toward establishing a home that enables you or your loved one to live as independently as possible. Written for the layperson, the guide summarizes housing models through the experiences of individuals and families, providing suggestions for your unique housing needs. We must be candid: there are many barriers, and creative thinking, planning, perseverance and advocacy are required. While much of the information is specific to New Jersey and individuals with developmental disabilities, housing with supportive services encompasses many common features. The funding streams, opportunities and obstacles described can benefit people with other special housing needs and those from other states. The content also has value for providers, public officials and advocates. We are grateful to many people who contributed to the development of this important resource. The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities recognized the need for this guide, offered critical input, and generously provided grant funding for its development and dissemination. Grant partner, Autism New Jersey, offered substantial conceptual and practical contributions to the text based on their publication entitled, New Jersey Housing Resource Guide for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2009) and their community’s experiences to date. Many professionals and state officials provided their expertise, and we are grateful for their input. Deborah Wehrlen, consultant to this project, invested countless hours researching and writing this guide. She translated complex subject matter into understandable prose. Most importantly, we appreciate the individuals and their families who candidly shared their personal journeys so that others could benefit from their experiences. As part of your journey I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the many SHA members - developers and supportive services providers - who offer community housing with supports. For more information visit WWWSHANJORGMEMBERSMEMBERS DIRECTORY On behalf of the Supportive Housing Association of NJ, I wish you a successful journey. This booklet will continue to evolve in its content and presentation; therefore, I encourage you to contact us with feedback, recommendations and additional ideas. 4HERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Gail Levinson Executive Director Supportive Housing Association of NJ (SHA)
www.shanj.org
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