A Technical Assistance Center at the Institute on Disability/UAP, University of New Hampshire
March 1998
Introduction
April will bring Alliance participants, state
coalition members, staff, and friends together in Washington,
D.C., for a national conference called "Homeownership: A
Dream, A Challenge, A Reality." Over the last five years, the
Alliance has brought people together on several occasions to
learn from one another. These events have always been
exciting, but this conference is the most ambitious and has
the broadest scope.
The conference kicks off on Sunday afternoon,
with speakers from the federal agencies and national
organizations that were the driving force behind the formation of
the Alliance. Sunday night features a housing fair with
states demonstrating their unique activities in creative,
multimedia formats. Some states have hinted that their exhibits
are going to knock people's socks off!
The conference continues Monday and Tuesday,
with workshops and keynotes guaranteed to challenge and
to inspire. On Tuesday, the focus is on policy. State
delegations are visiting Capitol Hill to confer with their legislators
about the exciting opportunities homeownership presents
for individuals with disabilities, as well as for their communities.
The Advisory Board is meeting twice between
conference events to discuss issues in their states, as well as
the participation of people with disabilities in state and
national initiatives.
Wednesday, the conference is devoted to the issue of
"where do we go from here?" It's hard to believe that some of
us have been working together for five years. Watching
the Alliance grow from an idea on paper to a 23-state
network has been a rewarding experience. We hope that people
will return to their states energized to continue their efforts
to promote homeownership for people with disabilities.
Building New Roads to Homeownership
The road to homeownership is seldom a smooth one,
and that is especially true for people with disabilities.
Along the way, there may be jungles of bureaucracy, deserts
of scarce funding, and potholes of poor accessibility.
For example, a potential homebuyer can be brought to a
halt by an absence of personal assistance resources, just like
a traveler who has found the bridge is washed out.
One solution may be found by approaching a
legislator and explaining how a policy or program impacts a
person's life. If you are traveling to Washington, D.C. (as many
of us will be in April), we encourage you to
arrange appointments with your senators and representatives
while you are there.
Timing is important. It is best to avoid Mondays
and Fridays since many lawmakers try to go home for
the weekend. Also, be sure to avoid holidays, and days
when it's unlikely that legislators will be on the Hill, such as
the day after Thanksgiving.
The key is to start early! Send a letter approximately
six weeks in advance, giving an approximate time you
would like to meet (for example, between noon and 4:00 p.m.
on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28, 1998). Briefly
describe your issue, and enclose relevant materials. Be sure to
send your letter both to the Washington office and to
the Congressperson's office in your state. Two weeks
before you plan to meet, call both offices to confirm
the appointment. You may have received a letter with a
set time, but it is still necessary to call and follow up.
Again, call the day before the appointment to confirm.
When the day arrives, be punctual, and bring additional copies of your materials. That way, you will
be ready to discuss them with your legislator even if he or she doesn't have them handy. Your meeting may
be fairly brief so prepare to use the time well.
Meeting with your Congressional representatives can have a positive impact on important policy issues.
The meeting also can be fun and educational, both for them and for you!
Oregon
Oregon Home of Your Own is pleased
to announce that ten program participants have become
home owners. Having met this goal, the Oregon coalition anticipates another ten to twenty home
purchases during 1998 and 1999. The coalition has learned a great deal over the last
several months about fundraising and obtaining contractor bids to make homes accessible.
The program has applied for $65,000 in down payment assistance from the Oregon Housing
and Community Services Department and is seeking additional sources of assistance. The coalition
is applying for funds from the Fannie Mae Foundation to pay for staff assistance with
closings across the state. In November, the
initiative's program director spoke at the Fannie
Mae HomeChoice conference. Fannie Mae is purchasing Oregon State Bonds that can be
used in conjunction with the HomeChoice product.
In addition, the Oregon coalition is working in several ways to increase affordable housing
options for people with developmental disabilities.
One focus is the establishment of a fund to assist
people who want to rent with their security
deposits. Another is participation in a grass roots effort
to create a real estate transfer fund that would increase the money available for
affordable housing. The coalition is providing
technical assistance to ten "Housing Task Forces"
statewide which are developing pilot programs
involving supported living. Oregon Home of Your Own
is also updating its resource guide and writing
about the experience of its ten homeowners.
Illinois
The Illinois coalition continues to build on its
six-year effort, Project Ground Floor. With funding
always being sought to support the continuation of efforts, the future looks promising. The
state Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities has allocated over $250,000 for
a project consultant and five housing specialists statewide. These positions are intended
to bring expertise to organizations that assist people with developmental disabilities.
Over 50 homeowners with disabilities have participated in this homeownership
initiative. The coalition was recently awarded
$500,000 from the Trust Fund of the Illinois
Housing Development Authority. In addition, the Chicago Department of Housing has
allocated $175,000 in assistance to homebuyers.
Finally, the Planning Council, in collaboration
with member banks, is preparing to apply to the Affordable Housing Program,
Set Aside, sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank.
Michigan
Michigan has been very busy as a result of the
HomeChoice program. A second homebuyer recently celebrated a closing,
another participant is on the verge of closing, and several other individuals
and families are at various stages in the homebuying process. The
coalition continues to work on increasing a pool of cash reserves and on nurturing
local communities to assist wherever possible. Michigan has also
been encouraging more local agencies to assist people as they go through
the steps of buying a home. Unfortunately, people who live in outlying areas
have not received the attention the coalition would like to provide. Efforts are
being made to address this issue and reach people in outlying areas.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has received approval for a $240,000
grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank. The grant supports continuing
Home of Your Own activities and rehabilitation for homes previously purchased through
the program. In addition, the grant supports homeownership opportunities for a
diverse population opening the door for people in New Hampshire who do not
have developmental disabilities. In addition, the New Hampshire Housing Finance
Authority has created a new product called the
Mortgage Assistance Program. This program provides
an upfront subsidy, allowing families to pay approximately $11,000 to $14,000
more toward a home than they would ordinarily be qualified for. This is not exclusively a Home
of Your Own product, and is therefore available to any eligible purchaser. Home of Your
Own plans to use this new product for families having a child with a disability. A second
buyer recently closed on a home using HOPE 3 funding for accessibility rehabilitation.
HOPE 3 will be used to make the entrance and first floor wheelchair accessible, and to install a
lift to the basement where the homeowner's washer, dryer, and gym equipment are
located. The local housing authority purchased the building and then sold it to
the homebuyer. More homeownership opportunities like this one
are expected in the future.
Arizona
After three years of operation, the Arizona Home of Your Own Program has assisted 23 individuals in purchasing their homes. The first two closings of 1998 took place in the towns of Benson and Lake Havasu. The coalition is in the process of applying for Federal Home Loan monies and for other grants from major banks in Arizona. The project has committed its first $90,000 to homebuyers for down payment assistance and closing costs. The program continues its partnership with four nonprofit housing counseling agencies, and also is involved with several banks who have specialized programs for people with low incomes. The Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Commerce will be conducting a strategic planning meeting to promote rental assistance for people with disabilities throughout the state. The steering committee which directs the Arizona Home of Your Own meets twice a year, and is committed to continuing the efforts of the program.
Idaho
The Idaho Home of Your Own coalition, sponsored by the Council on Developmental Disabilities, has demonstrated its success by assisting 21 people to purchase homes of their own. After administering the initial pilot, the Council identified a community agency to continue the program. Community Partnerships of Idaho, Inc., began contracting with the Council in May of 1997 to assist Home of Your Own applicants and to participate in the daily operations of the program. A formal transition began at that time, and was completed in January of 1998. For a short time, the Council and Community Partnerships administered the program together, while the Council completed its five remaining loan closures and funding was being secured. Community Partnerships will assist 26 additional homebuyers over the next two years. An application submitted by the organization to the Idaho Housing and Finance Associationšs HOME program is still pending. In December, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattlešs Affordable Housing Program notified the Council on Developmental Disabilities and Community Partnerships of Idaho that their application was selected for funding. The application, totaling $140,400, was for $130,000 in down payment assistance and $10,400 for administrative costs. D.I. Evans Bank of Burley, Idaho, sponsored the application to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. The Council on Developmental Disabilities has written a publication describing the Idaho Home of Your Own program. The publication addresses many issues, including program administration, eligibility requirements, the application process, securing a mortgage loan, homeownership counseling, identifying and building supports, identifying properties, finalizing financing commitments, post closing considerations, and stories by homeowners. Idaho is looking forward to the National Home of Your Own conference in April, as an opportunity to share ideas and network with the other Alliance states.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Home of Your Own Initiative is
celebrating with a single mother who recently purchased a duplex
unit. Another participant has prequalified for a mortgage and is presently
negotiating on the price of a house. The Connecticut coalition
has been busy this spring, especially in the areas
of education, funding, and policy change. On the
policy front, efforts are being made to expand the rental
subsidy available through the Department of Mental
Retardation to use toward a mortgage. A proposal to
provide $100,000 in funding for an accessible housing registry
is included in the Governor's budget and will be
discussed in the Legislature this year. In addition, the initiative
has received a HOME grant for $550,000. Although this
is great news, deciding how to allocate the money has
been unexpectedly complicated. Unfortunately, when
working with people on extremely tight budgets, sometimes
even the possibility of receiving a home for free doesn't
solve the problem of how to pay the ongoing costs such
as maintenance and property taxes. In the arena of education, a training is scheduled for bankers who
use the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority homeownership program, which is the primary
mortgage source for Home of Your Own participants. The
training will be conducted by members of the
steering committee, including a person with a disability, a
banker, and a realtor. It will cover both technical aspects
of CHFA mortgages and personal perspectives about
why homeownership is important to people with
disabilities. The comprehensive Homebuyers' Resource
Packet, prepared by the coalition last fall, has been distributed
to Connecticut's Independent Living Centers and to advocacy offices. The packet includes all of
the paperwork needed to apply to Home of Your Own,
as well as background materials, and books on homeownership and personal assistance. The packet
has been well received, and trainings and feedback
sessions are now being scheduled. Members of the
Connecticut Steering Committee are looking forward to the
April conference, "Homeownership: A Dream, A Challenge,
A Reality," in Washington D.C. Travel plans are
underway, and everyone's excited about this opportunity to
share with others and to learn.
New York
The New York Home of Your Own
Project welcomes a new state contact person. Patti Maher is already on the job handling the
75 calls that the program receives regarding homeownership; this is on-the-job training
in the fast lane. All loan moneys from the State of New York Mortgage Agency
(SONYMA) have been used. It appears SONYMA will commit an additional annual amount of
$1 million for the foreseeable future. These 4% funds will only be used for persons with
the lowest incomes. With the assistance of the Fannie Mae New York Partnership Office,
the program is expanding HomeChoice into the New York City Metropolitan area and
adding Long Island Savings Bank to its pool of lenders. A meeting on February 10th
kicked off the expansion activities. Long Island Savings is exploring the possibility of
setting aside a portion of its foreclosed properties
for Home of Your Own participants. Four participants recently closed in the Albany
area using HomeChoice. With increased flexibility on the part of Fannie Mae and the addition
of new coalition members, a large number of referrals is expected. A new round of
HOME funds is available throughout the state. The coalition will request another allocation
while providing technical assistance to several
other nonprofit agencies. One agency, Onondaga Community Living, is proposing to close
a group home by assisting the individuals who reside there to become homeowners.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Home of Your Own
Alliance congratulates 18 individuals and families on the purchase of
their homes. The new homeowners span the state
from Berkshire County to Cape Cod, have a variety
of disabilities, and have varying household compositions. Some new homeowners
bought condominiums, while others bought single or multi-family homes; still others became
members of housing cooperatives. The 18 purchasers used
a variety and combination of funding sources: 10 used Fannie Mae's HomeChoice
mortgage product; 12 accessed down payment and
closing cost assistance through a program sponsored
by Massachusetts Home of Your Own, BankBoston, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston;
and 14 individuals worked with the Massachusetts Alliance's primary lender, BankBoston, and
its mortgage subsidiary, Homeside Lending. All individuals have received education
on homeownership and post-ownership issues through a statewide network of community-based
nonprofit housing agencies. In October 1997,
Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA),
the lead agency in the Massachusetts initiative,
was awarded Federal HOME funds through the state Department of Housing and
Community Development to provide down payment and closing cost assistance of $7,500 each for
an additional 15 households in 1998. During late 1997, CHAPA and the Massachusetts Home
of Your Own sponsored five regional trainings on increasing self-determination in housing.
Each training included presentations by people
with disabilities about ways that they have been able
to improve their housing situations and their
lives. Over 250 people with disabilities,
advocates, housing organizations, service providers, and
others attended the trainings. The Selection
Committee reconvened in March to select new participants
for the program. The committee includes several successful homebuyers from the 1997 Home
of Your Own Program.
Georgia
The Georgia Home of Your Own Alliance held a spring training
event on February 25th in Macon. The goal of the training was
to increase skills in the area of homeownership for people
with disabilities and to provide a forum for the Expertise Teams to
share their experiences. Marcie Brost, a Supported
Living Specialist from Wisconsin, provided
consultation on the content of the event, and offered
a presentation on "How to Develop a
Comprehensive Housing Plan." Members of the Expertise
Teams presented their experiences, highlighting
both triumphs and disappointments. Participants left
the training with the basics of how to formulate a housing plan, and knowledge of the major issues
in pursuing homeownership for people with disabilities. In other news, the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs has nearly completed
the development of a mortgage product similar to Fannie Mae's HomeChoice. The Expertise
Teams coordinate the efforts of the Georgia Alliance in
five areas of the state. Presently, the teams are
referring individuals for person-centered planning,
and assisting them to be ready to access the new mortgages when they become available.
The Expertise Team in Athens assisted with a closing
on New Year's Eve. Dorothy purchased a 2-bedroom townhouse with 1 1/2 baths. Her single
income source is a Social Security payment of $552 and
this will cover her mortgage of $191 (taxes and insurance included). This was made possible
by accessing $7000 in downpayment assistance through H.E.L.P. (a Community
Housing Development Organization) and a 6%
adjustable rate mortgage through Athens First Bank.
The home was tailored to Dorothy's needs, with a
rail on the steps and a new storm door she can
easily lock. Dorothy is delighted with her new townhouse, and is spreading the word that
people with disabilities can and do become homeowners.
New Mexico
HOME-New Mexico, Inc., had a great year in 1997,
assisting and celebrating with 20 families completing the
homebuying process. The program continues to operate in the
Albuquerque area, and there are pilots taking place in Santa Fe, Socorro, and
Las Cruces. The coalition is presently developing a
model to enable HOME-New Mexico to expand fully
into these cities and other regions around the state. A
recent newspaper article focused on a family that
participated in the HOME Team Program, successfully
combining resources, including a HomeChoice loan, to have
a home built. The article created tremendous interest
in the program and the HomeChoice product with
over 100 calls to date. The call volume is increasing
daily. HOME-New Mexico has monthly orientation meetings open to all who want to know more
about the program and about HomeChoice. By the end
of January, approximately 90 people were already scheduled for orientation meetings through
April 1998. It is going to be a busy year for
HOME-New Mexico, its steering committee, and staff.
Texas
During 1997, the Texas Home of Your
Own coalition assisted eight individuals to purchase
homes using the Fannie Mae HomeChoice product and one individual purchased
a home using Rural Development funds. Three additional people closed in January 1998 and
three are actively shopping for homes. In
addition, HOME funds are available for modifications
to newly purchased homes. These funds, used in partnership with the down payment
assistance, have been used by ten new homeowners. Two
of these homeowners successfully worked with a builder to construct new homes that were
fully wheelchair accessible and individualized to
meet their needs. A press conference with the
theme "There's No Place Like Home for the
Holidays" was held in December to showcase these
two homes just days before the closings. In the
Austin/Central Texas area, the entire amount of
HOME funds for down payment assistance and barrier removal has been committed nine months
before the contract expires! The coalition will be submitting requests for additional funding in
the coming months. Interest continues to be high, with 225 application packets being sent out. In
the Gulf Coast (Houston) area, interest is on the
rise with over 300 requests for information. The statewide coalition has submitted requests to
the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to
support capacity building activities and develop
the necessary resources. In El Paso, the Home of
Your Own Project Committee continues to petition
the city to design its homebuyer assistance and
barrier removal programs to meet the needs of people
with disabilities. Unfortunately, the response has
not been positive, leaving the committee to
implement the program without funding from the city.
There is definite interest in El Paso, with nearly
100 requests for applications from interested homebuyers.
Missouri
The Missouri coalition recently celebrated its success, with
nine participants who have become homeowners and another ten
in the process. Members of the coalition found last fall's
Fannie Mae conference to be extremely helpful by showing how far their project had
come and how much further they have to go. Putting
the Missouri effort into a national perspective
was motivating, as well as a great opportunity to
learn from others. The statewide Home of Your Own
team is consulting with three groups that are interested
in starting local teams. Currently, there are five
active teams assisting people to become homeowners.
This spring, the coalition hopes to hear from the
Housing Trust Fund of the Missouri Housing Development Commission regarding
its application for a maintenance reserve fund. The original application
also requested down payment assistance through the Trust Fund, but the legal department
of MHDC deemed this a non-allowable expense for Trust Fund monies. The Missouri coalition
has initiated conversations with lawmakers about changing MHDC's statute to allow Trust
Fund money to be used for down payment assistance
in the future.
Washington
1997 saw an advance in homeownership opportunities
for people with disabilities in Washington State. Nine out of
ten participants had successful closings, with four
individuals using conventional loans from local banks. One recent
closing was the result of Fannie Mae's new waiver of its 70%
occupancy rule. The coalition's awareness campaign raised interest
around the state, but resulted in fewer community teams than
expected. The program will be strengthened by taking trainers into
local areas to facilitate an actual sale whenever possible.
The maintenance program benefited from a property
manager's connection with Sears to replace outdated appliances in the
older properties. Seafirst Bank and the Washington State
Housing Finance Commission each donated $1,500 to assist
homeowners with moving costs up to $300 per household.
Louisiana
A Home of My Own began a new year
with the selection of 11 individuals to assist to
become homeowners. Louisiana's goals for 1998 include: (1) assisting 13
people with significant disabilities to become homeowners, (2)
developing homeownership initiatives in two additional communities,
(3) increasing awareness of opportunities for homeownership through
training and dissemination of information, (4) increasing funding for down
payment and closing cost assistance, as well as for second mortgages, (5)
increasing participation of people with disabilities in the Louisiana
coalition, and (6) increasing participation from the Louisiana Housing
Finance Agency. With the continued commitment of coalition
members and members of individual support teams, these goals will be met.
A rewarding moment came in November, when the
Human Development Center, sponsoring agency for A Home of My
Own, received the Mayor of New Orleans Golden Hammer Award for
Public Service. This award is presented to individuals, financial institutions,
and nonprofit agencies for their commitment to
rebuilding neighborhoods. The award acknowledged the
accomplishments of the Home of My Own project, and increased the visibility
outside the disability community. This recognition will assist in
obtaining future homeownership subsidy and operating funds.
Alabama
The Alabama Home of Your Own is forging
ahead on many fronts. A main focus this spring has
been Alabama's Third Annual Supported Living Conference, which was held March 23-25
at the Bryant Conference Center on the campus of the University of Alabama. The
conference was sponsored by the University
Affiliated Program, the state Developmental
Disabilities Planning Council, the Alabama
Community Living coalition, and five other organizations. This year,
the conference theme was "Embracing the Community."
Norman Kunc gave the kickoff presentation, and speakers included
Marcie Goldstein of the National Home of Your Own Alliance and
Tom Nerney from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's
Self-Determination Project. There were more than 25 breakout
sessions by presenters from Alabama and from other states, each of
whom focused on a topic relevant to community living for persons
with disabilities. Additional Home of Your Own activities include a
class in person-centered planning which is being offered at
the University of Alabama. This semester, 12 students are
participating in this experimental course. They include both college students
and professionals working in the field who wish to learn more
about planning to meet the needs of individuals. A project to
disseminate information about community living to a wide range of
individuals has been undertaken in a four-county area of central
Alabama. Statewide expansion of the program is anticipated. A
new mortgage/rental program using a community service provider
is being initiated in a 13-county area. The Alabama coalition
hopes that 10 families or individuals will be in their new homes by
the end of September. Person-centered planning has now
become available to all Access Alabama (HomeChoice) applicants.
Indiana
The Back Home in Indiana Alliance is continuing
to disseminate information throughout the state by conducting locally
based seminars. Initially, outreach seemed to bring
in only people who lacked financial resources, but who had few, if any, personal assistance
needs. Over time, the seminars have reached a more diverse audience, including people who live
in group homes and a state institution. The seminars have been a way to start
building community efforts by pulling together stakeholders to plan events and
identify prospective homeowners and local
resources. The Indiana Alliance has worked with community organizations (an
Independent Living Center and a local housing
organization) to develop homeownership resource
packets geared toward people in a specific location.
One seminar this winter focused on people residing in a soon-to-be-closed state institution and
their family members. Efforts to work with community development corporations
are continuing in additional areas of the state.
Back Home in Indiana will contribute up to $5000 each to four nonprofit housing organizations
to assist program participants to become homeowners. The selection committee
is identifying individuals to receive assistance
in the homeownership process. The committee is composed of people with disabilities
who represent Independent Living Centers, self-advocacy organizations, and Partners in
Policy Making. In areas where a collaborative relationship exists with a housing
organization, a local team identifies the individuals
to participate in the program with the involvement of a committee member representing
the Indiana Alliance. This is intended to assure
that people with significant financial or personal assistance barriers have opportunities to have
a home of their own. The steering committee met in January to develop an action plan for
1998 and a strategic plan for statewide efforts at
the end of the three-year initiative.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania coalition has
continued to make great progress in several areas. Over 135
people attended a conference entitled "Your
Home and Mine '97," held in Harrisburg on November 24 and
25. The purpose of the conference was to highlight
11 demonstration projects taking place across the
state. Energizing plenary sessions were presented and
20 workshops were offered. Speakers provided inspiration and a real sense that the goal
of homeownership is attainable by people with disabilities. Karen Burrison,
Pennsylvania's representative to the National Home of Your
Own Alliance Advisory Board, was one of the presenters
at the conference. She commented, "I was really
happy to participate in the workshop on Personal Assistance. It's something I have a great deal
of experience with." Marcie Goldstein,
National Alliance Project Coordinator, delivered a
keynote speech on barriers and creative ways of
overcoming them. On February 4 and 5, the
Pennsylvania coalition held a Leadership Training Program
in Harrisburg. The goal of the program was to
train persons with disabilities and family members
from throughout the state in leadership and
presentation skills. These individuals, in turn,
become ambassadors for the project, meeting with
groups and individuals who are interested in
self-controlled housing options. The Pennsylvania coalition
is pursuing nonprofit status, and has submitted an application for funding to the Department
of Community and Economic Development. It is expected that the organization will be
incorporated during 1998.
Mississippi
The Mississippi coalition has
identified five prospective homebuyers, and is sending each
potential participant forms to solicit the
information necessary to develop a person-centered
plan and to identify loan options. The application process is being
publicized in several newsletters and requests are being received on a regular
basis. Whitney Bank of New Orleans recently attended a committee
meeting to discuss becoming a lender for the Home of Your Own project. The
bank has a pilot product that may be a good fit for program
participants. Mississippi is also moving forward with the "Individual and
Family Support" Bill. A group of individuals with disabilities and advocates
testified at a Public Health and Welfare hearing to demonstrate concern about the
lack of community services in the state. Without an increase in the
availability of community services, people will
not be able to get the personal assistance they will need to live in their
own homes. A course on independent living is being taught for the second
time during the spring semester at the University of Southern
Mississippi. This course is designed to introduce students to the concept of
independent living. Self-determination is approached both from the
perspective of people with disabilities and from
the perspective of service providers.
Arkansas
The Arkansas coalition meets on a regular basis, and is developing
an informational campaign which will culminate with a
statewide homeownership conference in June. The conference will formally kick-off Arkansas's Home of
Your Own effort. Applications from potential participants
from across the state will go to the steering committee in order
to assure continuity and consistency. The coalition is
planning to promote local involvement by sponsoring at least
four regional training groups. In these groups, anyone will be
able to learn about the Arkansas Home of Your Own and how
to assist people in their area to become homeowners.
The steering committee is in the process of updating
its homeownership resource manual for use by people
with disabilities, family members, and service providers. On
the funding front, the Arkansas coalition has applied
to participate in HomeChoice, and is working to increase
its connections in the banking field. Five program
participants have submitted applications for down payment and
closing cost assistance to the Federal Home Loan Bank.
District of Columbia
The D.C. Alliance is currently assisting 15 individuals
who are at various stages of the homebuying process. At
least one has completed homeownership education and has
been pre-approved for a loan. He is working with a Realtor
to find a home in the neighborhood of his choice. Others
are establishing credit and accumulating savings for
their purchase. The D.C. Alliance is working closely with
the Developmental Disabilities Council in two areas. First,
the Council will hire a half-time employee to staff the Home
of Your Own initiative. Later in the spring, the Council
will issue a Request for Proposals for a "one-stop"
resource center on homeownership for people with disabilities.
The D.C. Housing Finance Agency (HFA) continues to
provide financial counseling, credit reports, and low-interest
loans to interested individuals.
New Jersey
Last year, the New Jersey
coalition commissioned a study to analyze issues and
make recommendations regarding homeownership for people with disabilities.
The final report was submitted on November 30, 1997, and contains many suggestions which
are now being considered by the steering
committee. A public information campaign is
receiving priority. It will include brochures, press
releases, and a homeownership issue of the New
Jersey Planning Council on Developmental
Disabilities' monthly magazine. The magazine will describe
the steps the state coalition is taking to
increase opportunities for people with disabilities to
own and control their homes. The coalition is
working with the state Home Mortgage Finance Agency
to hire a staff person to focus on developing applications and mortgage opportunities
for people with disabilities. The person selected
will work with the New Jersey steering committee
and with people with disabilities to identify and eliminate policy barriers. The New
Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council will
continue to play an advocacy role as the steering
committee promotes systems change. A major goal of
the steering committee is to increase its
membership to include more people with disabilities, as well
as more private housing and finance professionals. The New Jersey coalition is planning to send
a cross-section of the steering committee to the April national conference in DC.
West Virginia
West Virginia's first Home of Your Own purchasers
are enjoying their new, accessible home in Clarksburg.
Initially, there were minor problems with lawn
mowing, snow removal, mail delivery, maintenance,
and repair. All have now been resolved, thanks to
the assistance of a strong support group and the Arc
of Harrison County. Another Clarksburg couple, whose income was above the West Virginia
Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) limit, was
referred to a home that was built as part of a program
to improve neighborhoods. An affordable price was negotiated and the new owners are delighted
with their 3-bedroom ranch. The City of Parkersburg
is assisting two families using HOME funds and closings are expected by July 1998. Another
family, whose income exceeds Home of Your Own guidelines, has been referred to an
Early-Ownership program financed by WVHDF. Five applicants
may receive funding through a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program. The WVHDF
is assisting individuals to access this FHA program.
In Charleston, the state capitol, city housing
officials are processing the initiative's first purchase
involving a guardian. The staff lawyer for the West
Virginia Advocate has offered a favorable opinion and
the city attorney is investigating the risk factors.
This will allow the mother to execute a contract on
behalf of her son, making it possible for him to move
from a group home to his own home. People in
similar situations are awaiting the outcome of this effort.
Subcontractors
Co-op Initiatives
The Alliance's National Advisory Board consists of people
with disabilities representing the Alliance states. The Board and
its subcommittees, which include both present and former
Board members, is a crucial component in the structure of
the Alliance. The voice of people with disabilities needs to be
heard on all levels, otherwise the idea of empowerment,
even empowerment through homeownership, has a hollow ring.
The role of Co-op Initiatives is to coordinate the activities of
the Advisory Board. The organization has been working with
the subcommittees to assist with outreach efforts,
monitoring legislation, and planning for the April conference in
Washington D.C. In addition to the usual telephone meetings and
related mailings, this has recently involved working one-on-one or
one-on-two to draft letters and materials the Board wants
to distribute. Assuring that Board members receive the
assistance they need to participate fully in meetings is another aspect
of Co-op Initiatives' work. Staff continue to be in touch
with Board members, state contact people, and local support
people to assist in problem solving.
Center for Universal Design
The Center for Universal Design operates the Alliance's
toll-free information and referral hotline. The nature and volume
of questions that come in to the hotline tend to reflect
Alliance activities. For example, new national initiatives, increases
in state homeownership efforts, press releases, and the
availability of new publications all bring in related calls. As growth in
each of these areas has increased over the last four years, the
call volume of the toll-free information hotline has
expanded accordingly. Since September, the Center has distributed
62 copies of Supports and Personal Planning and 84 copies of
Early Examples of Homeownership, the Alliance's most
recent publications. While the number of calls has been somewhat
less in recent months, the most frequent topics this year have
been Fannie Mae's HomeChoice program and the national
housing conference taking place this spring in Washington, D.C.
Temple University's Institute on Disabilities/UAP
Home seekers and homeowners continue to be
interviewed about their experiences in the Home of Your Own project
in their states. To date, 120 interviews have been
conducted. People have been excited to discuss what it is like to be
a homeowner. Some individuals have now been homeowners
for six months. These indviduals have been asked to describe
how their lives have changed as a result of homeownership.
The information gathered from these interviews is very important
as it will be used to demonstrate that people with disabilities
do own their own homes and are participating members
of communities.
The National Advisory Board, consisting of people
with disabilities from Alliance states, continues its work
of outreach, legislative monitoring, and planning. On
the planning side, the Leadership Subcommittee has
been involved in the preparations for the Alliance conference
in Washington, D.C. The subcommittee gave input on topics, speakers, and scheduling of events, as well
as developing the agenda for the Board meeting to be
held during the conference. The Legislative Subcommittee
has been following issues relevant to
homeownership, including the latest developments with Section 8,
HUD, Social Security, and MiCASA, the national bill
on personal assistance. The subcommittee also assisted
in planning the trip to Capitol Hill for the April
national conference. The Outreach Subcommittee has continued
to be very active, drafting a letter to Realtors and
following up on its earlier letter to Independent Living Centers.
Human Services Research Institute
The Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)
completed its Year-4 External Evaluation of the National Home of
Your Own Alliance last fall. The evaluation was developed
from interviews with state contact people, Advisory
Board members, and Alliance subcontractors, and included
several recommendations. One recommendation was that, since
the steering committees were intended as a vehicle to
promote leadership as well as homeownership, states which no
longer have an active steering committee should work in
other ways to develop leadership among people with
disabilities. Another recommendation was that states and
consultants which had successfully achieved racial and ethnic
diversity on their steering committees and boards be encouraged
to share their strategies. The evaluation also reports that
the majority of home purchases during the previous year
were by individuals and families, and not by unrelated groups
of people. The resulting recommendation was that the
Alliance not change its position or public communication about
the importance of individual homeownership. The
final recommendation concerned the future of the Alliance
and suggested that project staff begin to share with
Alliance members what preparations for the future have taken
place or will be taking place. HSRI, the University of
New Hampshire, and the National Advisory Board are in
the process of developing the Year-5 Evaluation, which will
be somewhat different from previous years. Since this is
the culminating year of the project, the evaluation
considers accomplishments over the entire five-year period.
UNH Update
Alliance staff have distributed a survey designed to
obtain comprehensive financial information pertaining
to homeownership that state coalitions have been
requesting for some time. Many thanks are extended to Russ
Spearman from Idaho and John Gillum from Alabama who
field tested the survey. Wherever possible, their suggestions
have been incorporated. The goal is to compile a final report
by August that is complete, informative, easily accessible,
and useful to a wide range of people and organizations
including individuals interested in homeownership, their
families, lenders, Realtors, legislators, HUD, Fannie Mae,
and additional policymakers. It is critical that the
information reported is as complete and accurate as possible.
Therefore, the Alliance will need the assistance, the patience, and
the willingness of many people involved in
homeownership initiatives nationwide to invest a significant amount of
time and energy to achieve this far reaching goal.
Upcoming Events
April 26-29, National Home of Your Own Alliance
1998 Housing
Conference* Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
(800) 233-1234 for reservations
(800) 220-8770 for information
May 13-17, National Council on Independent
1998 Living Annual Meeting
Washington, DC
Call the NCIL office at
(703) 525-3406 for information
Homeownership: A Dream, A Challenge, A Reality
A National Housing Conference
at the Hyatt Regency Maryland, Bethesda
The conference is being sponsored by the National Home of Your Own Alliance to bring together housing,
finance, and disability innovators and leaders. The National Home of Your Own Alliance is a technical assistance center
on homeownership and control located at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. The
technical assistance center was created in September of 1993, by a five year cooperative agreement with the Administration
on Developmental Disabilities. The Alliance is working with coalitions of housing finance and disability organizations
to develop pilot projects of homeownership and control in twenty-three states. By assembling a diverse group
of individuals who represent both public and private organizations, we identify barriers and opportunities,
share information, collaborate effectively on initiatives, and influence public policy. The format of the conference
changes each day. The conference kicks off Sunday
afternoon with keynotes from leaders in federal and national agencies
that have been the impetus for a national agenda on homeownership. A Sunday evening housing fair features
state initiatives that focus on homeownership.
Monday, individuals from across the country and Canada conduct a full
day of workshops. Tuesday morning is dedicated to discussion and interaction around policy issues relating
to homeownership. Tuesday afternoon a visit to legislative offices on Capitol Hill is scheduled to discuss a policy
agenda on homeownership for people with disabilities.
Wednesday morning the conference concludes with a
facilitated discussion on applying concepts learned to create an agenda for action in your community.
Sunday, April 26, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Keynote Speakers
Ron Mace
Director
Center for Universal Design
North Carolina State University
Bob Williams
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Disability, Aging & Longterm Care
US Dept of Health and Human Services
Judy Heumann
Assistant Secretary
Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services
US Dept of Education
Susan M. Daniels
Associate Commissioner
Office of Disability
Social Security Administration
Jay Klein
Director
National Home of Your Own Alliance
Institute on Disability/UAP
University of New Hampshire
Marcie B. Goldstein
Project Coordinator
National Home of Your Own Alliance
Institute on Disability/UAP
University of New Hampshire
Housing Fair
States are invited to showcase their homeownership initiatives for people with disabilities at a "Housing Fair."
Creative presentations using models, slide shows, videos, and/or Web site demonstrations will describe homeownership
activities nationwide. This is an opportunity for participants to share ideas and network. The Housing Fair is from 5:30 to 7:30
pm on Sunday evening, April 26th with a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres held on site. Everyone is welcome! Join state
coalitions and homeowners to celebrate and network.
Monday, April 27th, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Workshops
National Initiatives on Self-Determination
Managed Care and Its Effects
Utilizing Creative Financing
Applying the Live-in Care Provision of the Medicaid Waiver
Designing for Accessibility
Using PASS Plans for Homeownership
Utilizing Flexible Underwriting Criteria
Legislation on Personal Assistance Services (MiCASA)
Raising Funds for Homeownership Efforts
Using the Media to Spread the Word
Fair Housing Lawsuits
Welfare Reform and Its Impact
Using Section 8 Certificates Toward Homeownership
Creating Reserves for Home Maintenance
Collaborative Actions of State Coalitions
A Look At Homeseekers: A National Study
Initiatives on Personal Assistance
Engaging in Successful Public/Private Collaborations
Conducting Home Maintenance Training
Social Security & Medicaid Reform
Tuesday, April 28th, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Housing Policy Issues Forum
Tuesday will kickoff with a panel discussion addressing major policy issues on housing and homeownership.
Workshop on Legislative Issues
A workshop addressing current policy issues that relate to creating a national agenda on homeownership for people with
disabilities will be held. Information will be shared on:
· The role of advocacy in the legislative process
· Briefing on housing issues and how to define messages for your representative
· Etiquette for meeting with congressional representatives and their aides
· Follow-up contacts and how to develop ongoing relationships
Visiting Legislators
Participants from the same state will have an opportunity to team up for midmorning and afternoon Capitol Hill visits.Wednesday, April 29th, 9:00 am - NoonTuesday, April 28th, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, April 29th, 9:00 am - Noon
Creating an Agenda for Action
The conference concludes with a discussion facilitated by John O'Brien from Responsive Systems Associates on an
action agenda incorporating resources acquired during the conference.
Don't miss this opportunity to create an agenda for
Action.
Stay in Touch
Alliance Toll-Free Information line:
800-220-8770
World Wide Web:
http://alliance.unh.edu