Got Housing?

1. Got Housing? Mary Scott Transition Resource Teacher Baltimore County Public Schools & Annie’s mom Diane Dressler Program Director for Adult Training and Services Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute

2. Vision People with disabilities control where and with whom they live. All people live in inclusive communities. People with disabilities choose the persons who will best support them to meet their goals and needs. Environments support the person.

3. Steps towards the vision Step #1: Apply for SSI upon young adult’s 18th birthday • Include copies of all evaluations, assessments, school records related to disability. Make sure that the diagnosis is clear. • Describe the young adult on his or her WORST day. Benefits Information/Counseling: - Local Center for Independent Living (CIL) - Maryland Department of Disabilities www.mdod.maryland.gov/Disability%20Benefits%20Home.aspx

4. Steps towards the vision Step #2: Apply for Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) when young adult is 18. • Apply at the public housing agency where the young adult lives and/or works: www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html • Provide a secondary contact: family member, resource coordinator. • Identify applicant as a person with a disability. • Notify housing office if you move.

5. And more about Section 8 housing Prepare to wait!

6. Steps towards the vision Step #3: Establish credit • Open a checking and savings account. • Not reported to credit bureaus but vital for lender consideration • Apply for credit card, personal loans. • Apply for unsecured credit first • Don’t apply for several credit cards at one time • Use credit card for small purchases and pay off each month • If denied, apply for secured credit • Designate young adult as an authorized user on the parent’s account. • Put utilities in young adult’s name. • Open a separate cell phone account for young adult. • Have young adult pay for room and board with a check, provide a receipt and track payments.

7. Steps towards the vision Step #4: Make a budget - List all income • List all expenses • Include savings • Be careful not to exceed the asset and resource limit for SSI eligibility. Wells Fargo Budget Sheet www.wellsfargo.com/pdf/credit_center/ccr_creditworksheet.pdf

8. Steps towards the vision Step #6: Determine your housing strategy • Family home • Group home • Individual family care • Rented room, apartment or house • Purchase home

9. Steps toward the vision Step #6: Determine your housing strategy • Shared home • Informal arrangement with family or friends • Residential supports through MHA

10. Family home • In-home supports • DDA: www.ddamaryland.org • Medicaid Personal Care Program: www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/longtermcare/html/Medicaid%20Personal%20Care.htm • Environmental modifications • MD Technical Assistance Program: www.mdtap.org • Dept. of Rehabilitation Services: www.dors.state.md.us • Dept. of Housing and Community Development: www.dhcd.maryland.gov/Website/Default.aspx Local governments

11. Group home • Also called Alternative Living Unit (3 or fewer unrelated persons). • Services are funded by DDA – housing is NOT. • Controlled by service provider (owned or leased). • Choice limitations • Where to live • With whom to live. • DDA: www.ddamaryland.org

12. Individual Family Care (IFC) • Residential service through DDA. • Person lives with a caregiver in the caregiver’s home. • Caregiver is trained to provide supports. • Similar to adult foster care. • DDA: www.ddamaryland.org

13. Renting • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) • Will provide an extra bedroom (no additional rent) for a live-in care giver if medical documentation supports the need. • Section 8 Made Simple: www.tacinc.org/downloads/Sect8_2ndEd.pdf • Public Housing through local public housing agency • Some counties have this, some don’t. • Project-based rental assistance

14. Finding affordable rental housing • MD Housing Search www.mdhousingsearch.org • Go Section 8 www.gosection8.com • Realtors, newspapers, Craig’s List • Local housing office (if you have received a voucher)

15. Renter’s insurance • Most landlords require a tenant to have renter’s insurance. This is for tenant’s and landlord’s protection. • Covers household contents. • Typical cost is $5-40 per month depending on coverage amount, deductible and location. • Ask family and friends for recommendations. Explanation of renter’s insurance: www.geico.com/information/aboutinsurance/renters

16. Home ownership • Owning a home does not affect Medicaid, SSI or SSDI benefits!! • Paying roommate is allowable – roommate contribution cannot be more than 50% of expenses (mortgage, utilities and food). • Homeownership for Individuals with Disabilities Program www.dhcd.maryland.gov/Website/programs/hidp/Default.aspx

17. House sharing • Paying roommate. • Supports in lieu of rent. • Live-in caregiver • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) • DDA Waiver – pays additional rent incurred for care giver bedroom at Fair Market Rent value. Fair Market Rent Information (also useful for Housing Choice Voucher program) www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html

18. Informal arrangements • Some families create their own in-home support system using family and community resources. • Use personal resources, friends, faith-based community – whatever it takes.

19. Residential supports through Mental Hygiene Administration • Anyone accessing MHA resources needs to have Medical Assistance. • Each county has a Core Service Agency that helps people find resources. MHA Website http://dhmh.maryland.gov/mha

20. If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become your next problem. Dr. Robert Anthony

21. Finding Support Staff • Write a job description which includes information about your interests and activities as well as what you need from a support person. • Expect your support person to pass a criminal background check and drug test and to have a good driving record, if driving is included in the job. • Ask for personal references.

22. More about finding support staff…. • Send the job description to everyone you know! • Look first in your own community (colleges – friends - schools attended –churches -social groups - fraternal organizations) before advertising on the Internet or in the paper.

23. And still more…. • Ask a trusted person to screen calls from interested persons. • Interview interested persons in a public place; invite a friend or family member to join you. • Consider spending time with job applicants before committing to hiring.

24. And now the fun part! • If you receive DDA-funded services, ask about start-up funds for furnishing your home. • Ask family and friends to help you gather furniture, kitchen items, linens and accessories. • Check thrift stores, consignment shops and auctions for great deals.

25. Make your space beautiful! Your home should reflect your personality. Choose the colors you like best. Hang your favorite pictures. Enjoy your new space! Furnishing a home: www.indobase.com Supplying a kitchen: www.chefhome.com

26. A furniture and life lesson…. Arrange whatever pieces come your way! Virginia Woolf

27. Resources On the Web • Kennedy Krieger Resource Finder http://resourcefinder.kennedykrieger.org • Maryland Community Services Locator www.mdcsl.org • Assistive Technology www.mdod.maryland.gov/MTAP%20Home.aspx • Housing and Disability Services Resource Guide http://dhmh.maryland.gov/mha/Miscellaneous/what'snew/Resource%20Guide%20Update%202011%20final_online.pdf

28. Contact Information Mary E. Scott Diane Dressler Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute 443-923-9555 dressler@kennedykrieger.org Baltimore County Public Schools 410-821-1082 mscott3@bcps.org

29. At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope that it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago. Frances Hodgson Burnett