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THE JOURNEY TO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTS
!DVOCACY There are many challenges associated with securing supportive housing. New Jersey NEEDS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 4HE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES !CCORDING TO data, in New Jersey there are approximately 120,000 adults or adult households receiving Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for disabilities and receiving less than $800 per month. Of that total, approximately 40,000 receive housing assistance from the federal or state government in the form of housing units or housing vouchers. Furthermore, these numbers do not reflect people in institutions, prisons and homeless shelters, as well as those living with aging parents, and are a sobering reminder of the many thousands of New Jerseyans living with disabilities on very low incomes in need of independent, safe, decent housing with supports. The surest way to expand opportunities in housing and services for people with disabilities is through good old fashioned advocacy. Families, individuals and providers should regularly communicate with lawmakers to request that resources for support services, affordable housing development, rental vouchers or other subsidies be available for people on very low incomes. Please use the SHA or other disability advocacy organizations’ websites to become aware of federal and state advocacy initiatives. Feel free to contact these organizations to learn more about the most urgent initiatives. You can sign on to help support petition drives, contact public officials and write letters to the editor of local media publications on these issues. Your voice in Trenton and Washington DC is essential to a effective supportive housing industry. The Supportive
FUNDING FOR THE CREATION OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
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FEDERAL STATE
COUNTY MUNICIPAL PRIVATE FUNDING
Housing Association calls for assertiveness, networking and advocacy to achieve these
“The surest way to expand opportunities in housing and services for people with disabilities is through good old fashioned advocacy.”
Given the high cost of housing, funding to support the creation of supportive housing generally comes from multiple sources. These sources may include a mix of federal, state, county, municipal and private funding sources. Individuals and parents have joined in large and small groups to establish their own non-profit organizations to sponsor the development of housing units for people with disabilities. Understanding the intricacies of government funding to creating housing involves a great deal of research. This brief review does not depict the whole range of opportunities. New funding sources are introduced and the regulations are frequently revised. There is much to learn before embarking on housing development. A good place to start is by joining a trade organization such as the Supportive Housing Association (SHA) and collaborating with experienced housing developers.
objectives. Our collective and coordinated efforts can create change. #ONCLUSION
We hope the guide encourages creative thoughts about how people can live more independently despite low incomes, how families can contribute without jeopardizing a loved one’s public entitlements, and the importance of full or part-time employment for those able to work so they can better afford a more robust lifestyle. Resources, both housing and services, exist; finding them and using them productively is what we hope you will achieve, now and in the future, as you use the information compiled for you in these chapters. To secure supported housing for her daughter, one mom describing her journey said, “It is like traveling to the Wild, Wild West.” In many ways, she has been blazing the trails where maps were unavailable. Resources are scarce. Rules and regulations are abundant and cumbersome. The outcome for her daughter will ultimately be worth the effort. We are grateful for all who have shared their experiences and hope that this Housing Resource Guide helps you identify and secure these critical resources to find a place you or your loved one can call home.
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