Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We are requesting your support of a proposed initiative that appeared in the Federal Register on December 19, 2000. The notice, released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announces a proposed National Initiative called Access Housing 2000.
This innovative initiative will assist people with disabilities to move from nursing homes into the community by providing improved access to integrated, accessible, and affordable housing and personal assistance and support services. HUD is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire to implement this initiative. This national demonstration has the potential of having a significant long-term impact on people with disabilities residing in nursing homes and other institutional settings.
The IOD, which has a record of success with its National Home of Your Alliance, intends to create a center in partnership with ADAPT to implement its responsibilities under the initiative. The IOD and ADAPT will collaborate with numerous private and public national financial institutions, advocacy organizations, federal and state agencies, foundations, civic and community associations, and others concerned with housing and economic equity.
The number of people with disabilities who live in nursing homes emphasizes the overwhelming need for this initiative. 1990 US Census Bureau figures indicate that 181,270 people younger than 64 years of age live in nursing homes. David Braddock, Richard Hemp, Susan Parish, and Mary Rizzolo reported in July 2000 in the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities 2000 Study Summary that 35,887 persons with developmental disabilities currently reside in nursing homes.
Highlights of the proposed Access Housing 2000 five-year national initiative include:
1) the commitment of 400 Section 8 vouchers by HUD targeted for use by persons with disabilities and families of children with disabilities who currently reside in nursing homes. The goal is to reach 2000 people in about 40 states or territories at full implementation;
2) outreach provided to create and support local coalitions consisting of public, private, and advocacy organizations to build ground-level support for the initiative and to assist in its implementation;
3) the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the design and implementation of a comprehensive, effective plan for assisting individuals to transition from nursing homes, both during and after the grant period;
4) vouchers administered by selected Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in close collaboration with State Medicaid agencies to persons with disabilities for the purpose of renting or owning integrated accessible and affordable housing;
5) the provision of Nursing Home Transition (NHT) grants by HHS that assure persons leaving nursing homes will have adequate personal assistance services and support to meet their needs
7) the assurance that individuals leaving nursing homes have on-going access to personal assistance and support services, separate from housing that will allow them to remain in their communities; and
8) participants in the initiative having maximum control over their funding, assistance, and services;
The complete notice can be downloaded from the National Home of Your Own Alliance website at: http://alliance.unh.edu
The notice states that, "no HUD demonstration program not expressly authorized in law may begin until a description of the program is published in the Federal Register, and that a comment period of 60 calendar days following the date of publication shall be provided, in which the Secretary shall fully consider any public comments submitted with respect to the program."
The IOD and ADAPT request your careful review of the proposed initiative and submission of comments to HUD. We know HUD will receive comments in opposition to this initiative from the nursing home industry and other groups who have a vested interest in maintaining institutionalization of people with disabilities. Therefore, the new administration will need good reason to pursue this proposed demonstration. Comments should praise HUD and HHS for this proposed initiative as well as discuss how important it is that implementation begin soon after the 60 day publication date. Comments are due February 20, 2001.
Comments may be sent by mail only and must reference:Please send copies of comments to Jay or Mike or contact them (details below) if you have any questions. Please send this message to other interested people or post on listserves.
Thank you for continued support and attention. We look forward to working with you in the future to assist people to leave nursing homes and begin new lives in the community.