57
FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
!BOUT THE !UTHOR DEBORAH WEHRLEN
While there were many contributing writers for the Housing Resource Guide, Deborah Wehrlen served as the primary author. Deborah Wehrlen has over forty years of experience in establishing innovative residential supports and developing affordable housing in New Jersey. Prior to establishing her consulting business in 2002, Deborah Wehrlen was the director of the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). In this policy-making position, she advanced efforts to develop in home supports, fund deinstitutionalization and downsize the state operated developmental centers. Deborah Wehrlen was also employed as the residential director and then the executive director with The Arc of Monmouth, establishing housing for over 85 people. Currently as a consultant in DTW Consulting Group LLC, Deborah Wehrlen has worked with several organizations to obtain funding, implement supported housing and residential supports for persons with disabilities needing permanent supported housing. She has secured millions of dollars of capital and operating funds from various governmental funding sources, grants, capital campaigns and private foundations. During her entire career, Deborah Wehrlen has strongly advocated for quality services and best practices to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Further Acknowledgements The following individuals providing ongoing advice and management to the development and finalization of this guide:
s Gail Levinson, Executive Director, SHA s Ed Murphy, Director of Operations, SHA
s Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director, Autism New Jersey s Jessica Barkosky, Manager of Communications & Marketing, Autism New Jersey s Deborah Charette, Coordinator of Public Policy, Autism New Jersey s Amy Smith, Director of Information Services, Autism New Jersey
We would like to thank the many stakeholders including the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of New Jersey, Disability Rights New Jersey, the NJ Department of Human Services, the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency and several parents and consumers for their review and feedback on the guide before its final publication.
We also express appreciation to Maria Fischer, Esq., a partner in the firm of Hinkle, Fingles, Prior & Fischer, P.C., Attorneys at Law, who contributed considerable information regarding legal and regulatory issues within this guide.
Thank you to Joan Migton for her attention to detail by providing copy editing.
State Agencies, organizations and individuals reviewing the guide have provided much appreciated feedback but have not endorsed its content.
Finally, thanks are due to members of the SHA Family and Consumer Housing Workgroup whose voices gave rise to this publication.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker