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THE JOURNEY TO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTS
Navigating the Systems
Systems of support for long-term care are changing. In the past, individuals’ options were limited to placements in group homes or supervised apartments. While these residential settings continue to exist for those with more intensive support needs, options have and will continue to expand. Today, housing and services are being separated or “unbundled.” Individuals, working with individual budgets, select providers and direct the services that they choose. Increasingly individuals with disabilities, by themselves or through their guardians, are controlling their own housing options and services and living in more community-integrated settings. This is called supportive housing.
There is a tremendous need for residential support as well as housing that is affordable. It is likely that funding for these expenses will come from multiple sources. Given the limitations of government resources, individuals with disabilities need to access mainstream resources that are available to anyone with low income in order to live within their budgets. These mainstream resources, described in the guide, include such things as rental subsidies, food stamps and utility assistance. In most states, including New Jersey, there is no entitlement to residential services. States establish the number of people that they will serve based upon available state appropriations and available federal funding. Regulations define the means to access and maintain such benefits. Supportive housing involves interconnected elements. There must be a readily available supply of affordable housing units. Funds, usually from several government sources, provide the individual with the supports necessary, based upon the person’s level of need. The individual’s personal income from social security and earnings pays for room and board, which may be supplemented by rental assistance or some form of housing subsidy. Many housing models exist and some are described in this guide. Through person-centered planning, the person designs where and with whom he or she wants to live. Working within the scope of an individual budget, it may be a challenge to use the available dollars to cover all of the expenses. The person can select multiple providers or a single entity to address all of one’s needs. For some, technological advances can supplement for assistance previously supplied by direct support personnel. Note: The authors did not vet the quality of service delivery in each of the models described. All individual names and some details about their lives have been altered to protect their
privacy. The authors of this guide made every effort to accurately and completely describe appropriate residential arrangements and services for individuals with a broad range of abilities and needs. We have strived to capture this range in the examples of models and description of individuals in their homes. The intensity of staff support can vary within each model. Multiple funding sources are also described. Each funding source has its own eligibility criteria and regulations. However, services in some models described may not be eligible for public funding, if determined by the state to be congregate in nature or at variance with state or federal regulations. The systems of funding are in transition and corresponding regulations are changing. To obtain the most current information, check the internet links provided. With an understanding of these requirements and some “out of the box” thinking, you can develop an individualized plan to fit within the funding structure. We hope that you use this guide to find models and elements of these models that may be a match for you or your loved one. We welcome your feedback to improve future editions of this guide. We hope that this guide will help individuals and their families as they navigate the road to supported living. Sometimes traveling to a new place can be scary as well as enjoyable. We hope this guide will help you and your loved one to find your way. Note: The authors of this guide made every effort to accurately and completely describe appropriate residential arrangements and services for individuals with a broad range of abilities and needs. We have strived to capture this range in the examples of models and description of individuals in their homes. The intensity of staff support can vary within each model. The authors did not vet the quality of service delivery in each of the models described. All individual names and some details about their lives have been altered to protect their privacy. This guide provides information best known at the time of publication. Much system change is in process and consequently regulations are changing. Refer to the websites for the most up-to-date information.
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