Support an Integrated Housing Pilot
The growing workforce crisis and increasing costs for certified housing as well as demand for more flexible housing options necessitates new and sustainable approaches to the delivery of housing and residential supports for people of all ability levels. The framework for flexible housing supports needs to be revised, strengthened, and enhanced.
OPWDD will invest a portion of enhanced FMAP funding to expand access to affordable, accessible, non-certified housing options for HCBS waiver participants, including people who are seeking to transition from certified settings. Qualified grantees will promote more independent housing options and address barriers to people transitioning to a more integrated setting of their choosing. After the grant period, grantees will be able to continue providing the integrated supports and services through existing funding and service models.
Grants are available in all areas of New York State. Additional resources may be allocated where applicants demonstrate effective strategies to meet the needs of individuals with varied racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, gender, sexual identity backgrounds.
Examples of how funds may be used include:
- Leveraging new tools and technologies to maximize available DSP staffing that will contribute to housing support sustainability for the growing and aging developmental disabilities population
- Investments in community-based resources (e.g., Independent Living Centers, housing navigators, etc.) to broaden, incorporate, and promote self-direction and skill acquisition for people who want to learn about more independent housing options
- Establishing revolving loan funds that will provide for initial payment of qualified transition expenses
- Investments in property and start-up costs associated with staffing “hubs” to support people living in non-certified settings
- Development planning and staffing of housing navigators and associated services
- Staff training and certification
- Development of protocols to train, hire, and identify a paid neighbor or live-in caregiver
- Development of a 24-hour emergency support process to assist people with managing and triaging issues and concerns
Develop More Integrated Residential Services
The growing workforce shortage and increasing costs for certified housing, as well as increasing demand for more flexible housing options, necessitates new and sustainable approaches to the delivery of housing and residential supports for people of all ability levels. OPWDD is establishing a transformation grant opportunity for providers that are committed to expanding Supportive Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) Residential Habilitation and Family Care opportunities within their certified residential program. The goal of this investment is to enhance person-centered service delivery and further incentivize the provision of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities to live in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs. OPWDD will use a portion of its FMAP funding to award grants.
The grant resources are available for start-up funding and other initial investments. Grantees will be able to continue to provide on-going services after the grant period using existing funding and service models.
Examples of ways grant funds may be used include:
- Acquiring new tools and technologies to maximize available direct support staffing that will contribute to housing support sustainability for the growing and aging developmental disabilities population in New York. Examples of tools and technology include ‘smart home’ technology, remote monitoring and ‘on-call’ 24-hour access to DSPs for individuals.
- Investments in property and start-up costs associated with staffing “hubs” to support people living in supportive certified settings
- Consultant costs for planning and development of service delivery options that increase access to supportive residential services
- Development of protocols to train, hire, and identify paid neighbor, live-in caregiver and other staffing models that support DSPs and address staffing shortages
- Creation of clinical infrastructures to support people with high clinical support needs
Grants are available in all areas of NYS. Additional resources may be allocated where applicants demonstrate effective strategies to meet the needs of individuals with varied racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, gender, sexual identity backgrounds.