Regional Housing Collaboratives
Grantee: New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance)
Project Goal:
This project aims to assist in developing non-certified housing options available to people with developmental disabilities through establishing regional collaboratives, Statewide communities of practice and educational programs for stakeholders.
Project Summary:
The New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance) was awarded funding to develop Regional Housing Collaboratives (RHCs) in each of the 5 NYS OPWDD’s Regions. RHCs are groups of diverse housing related professionals interested in helping people with developmental disabilities and their families to identify and create creative housing solutions.
This project aims to facilitate learning on a statewide basis by developing, creating and implementing individualized housing plans for people with developmental disabilities that builds upon community resources. These supports aim to help people with developmental disabilities who live in OPWDD-certified group homes but desire to live in their own residence to achieve that goal. The RHCs together with experts in the OPWDD service system and trained Master Housing Navigators, will assist identified individuals in fulfilling their desire to live more independently. The learning that takes place as a result of these efforts will be broadly shared at the systems level.
Key Terms:
Regional Housing Collaboratives
Regional Housing Collaboratives bring together housing related professionals interested in helping people with developmental disabilities by creating housing solutions.
Housing Navigation
Housing Navigation is a service that helps people with developmental disabilities find housing in the community.
Master Housing Navigators
Master Housing Navigators were selected, one for each OPWDD region, to provide the most “local” ability to work with providers and other stakeholders on this project. Over the five years that followed, the Master Housing Navigators worked with people seeking to find their own person-driven, housing solution.
Project Impacts:
Housing Navigation Report
The Housing Navigation Report developed by NY Alliance explains the impact of Housing Navigation services. These impacts include improved quality of life for the people with DD in housing that is more independent and the potentially significant cost-savings associated.
Housing Solutions for People with Developmental Disabilities: A Success Story
Housing Solutions for People with Developmental Disabilities: A Success Story looks at a Long Island development named Riverview Lofts. With the assistance of Long Islands Master Housing Navigator, this development integrated ten units of affordable housing that were set aside for people with disabilities.
Housing Solutions for People with Developmental Disabilities: The Role of the Housing Navigator
This video explores the journeys of Dan and Dave, two people with disabilities from Rochester, New York who found their own apartments with the help of a Housing Navigator.
Project Details
Funding Amount: $1,250,000
Project Length: 5 years
Contract Start: January 1, 2019
Geographic Reach: Statewide
Grant Status: Concluded