Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

My Voice: Bring awareness, help for Huntington's Disease

Excerpt from: Argus Leader (click for full article)

 

May is “Huntington’s Disease (H.D.) Awareness Month,” and appropriate long-term care and housing options are needed now for South Dakota and surrounding states.The lack of appropriate long-term care and housing is not exclusively a local problem. Because our Sioux Valley chapter of HDSA is the only H.D. support group in South Dakota, we regularly support and counsel H.D. families throughout eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The next closest H.D. support groups are in Minneapolis, Iowa City, Fargo, Grand Forks, Denver and soon Omaha. While not every H.D. family attends support meetings, of those we serve, many probably will seek long-term care and housing options as their loved one’s H.D. advances.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides $11 million under Section 811 Program

Excerpt from: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (click for full article)

 

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Secretary Raymond A. Skinner has announced that the State of Maryland will receive approximately $11 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through HUD's Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (PRA Demo).  The PRA Demo program provides rental assistance to extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings or are at high risk of homelessness.

 

"In Maryland, we believe in the dignity of every individual and that there is no such thing as a spare American," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Working together with our local, state and federal partners, we've set out to build a strong, multi-faceted approach to combat homelessness in our State and protect the needs of our most vulnerable Marylanders. Thanks to the support of President Obama and our partners at HUD, Maryland now has additional resources to provide rental assistance to our neighbors with disabilities."

 

"We are pleased to support the Department of Housing and Community Development in its efforts to offer lasting solutions for persons who might otherwise be institutionalized or living on our streets," said Jane C.W. Vincent, Regional Administrator of HUD's Mid-Atlantic Region.  "Through the combined efforts of federal and state agencies, real progress is being made in preventing and ending homelessness."

 

New housing option helps those with disabilities

Excerpt from: Echo Press (click for full article)

 

It’s tough for any parent to let go of their adult child, but it’s especially difficult for parents of an individual with special needs. As they work toward personal goals of independence, people with disabilities have added challenges. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s (LSS) Host Homes, a new option, can offer extra security and peace of mind as these families navigate through one of life’s biggest transitions.

“This is a very unique housing option,” explained Alissa Dott, program director for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “It offers a nurturing and supportive family-style living environment for people with disabilities who are seeking more opportunities to engage in their community and live fuller, more independent lives.

Host Home providers are licensed and trained under Minnesota’s adult foster care guidelines to offer personalized care that supports the individual’s unique needs. In partnership with LSS, the host family works with individuals to build their skills and capacity to participate in all aspects of family and community life. The unique care model promotes personal choice by developing customized support plans based on the interests and personal goals of each person.

Homebuyer Programs: This is a great time to buy a home!

Excerpt from: Community Housing Network (click for full article)

 

Many people think they are unable to buy a home because of limited income or past credit history. If that describes you, Community Housing Network may be able to help you realize your goal of homeownership!

See the programs below for more information.

Schuette Informs National Mortgage Settlement Monitor About Concerns with Banks' Settlement Compliance

Excerpt from:(click for full article)

 

Attorney General Bill Schuette today sent a letter to Joseph A. Smith, Jr. head of the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight to alert him to concerns that certain terms of the National Mortgage Settlement are not being met by the banks that signed on.

"As we continue to sort through the aftermath of the mortgage foreclosure crisis, Michigan homeowners can rest assured that we will hold all five banks accountable to the terms of the national morgtage settlement," said Schuette.

"I take any violations of the requirements of the settlement very seriously, and as a member of the monitoring committee, will work closely with all involved to ensure that the settlement is properly enforced," noted Schuette in the letter to Smith.

HUD ISSUES NOTICE ON ASSISTANCE ANIMALS AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Excerpt from: HUD.gov (click for full article)

 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today issued a Notice reaffirming that housing providers must provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities who require assistance animals.  The “Notice on Service Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing and HUD-Funded Programs” discusses how the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) intersect regarding the use of service or assistance animals by persons with disabilities.

Feds Affirm Right To Service Animals

Excerpt from: Disability Scoop (click for full article)

 

Federal officials are putting housing providers on notice that they must accommodate people with disabilities who rely on service animals.

In a notice posted Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development clarified the responsibilities of landlords under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Under the law, housing providers must provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities who rely on assistance animals. Further, pet restrictions cannot be used to limit or deny housing to individuals relying on such animals, the notice said.

The Fair Housing Act — which governs nearly all types of housing — requires that trained service dogs as well as other assistance animals that perform tasks, provide emotional support or otherwise alleviate the impact of a person’s disability be accommodated.

Fair Housing Month Update: HUD Takes On Discrimination Against People with Disabilities in Mortgage Lending Fair Housing Month Update: HUD Takes On Discrimination Against People with Disabilities in Mortgage Lending

Excerpt from: Disability Blog (click for full article)

 

Happy Fair Housing Month! This year, we celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act.  This would be a happier occasion if we could announce that we had eradicated unlawful housing discrimination. We can at least take this time to acknowledge the progress we have made.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits lenders from requiring extra income documentation from people with disabilities when their receipt of certain benefits already demonstrates a fixed income that is likely to continue. The Fair Housing Act further prohibits lenders from inquiring about the nature or severity of a disability.

For More Information:

If you feel that you have been discriminated against because of your disability in relation to buying or renting a home or apartment, you can file a Housing Discrimination Complaint online at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/housing_discrimination.

A place to call home for those with a disability

Excerpt from: The Reporter (click for full article)

 

GSC Care and other group home companies purchase houses in regular neighborhoods throughout the community where their clients can live.

“We don’t have a big sign in the yard saying home for the handicapped,” Chamblee said. “That’s why many people don’t know we’re here.

“The main thing I want folks to understand about group homes is it’s three individuals that share a home, share expenses and they’re just like everybody else. They’re probably some of the best neighbors you’ll ever have because they are concerned and compassionate about people.”

Accessible Home Design for People With Disabilities

Excerpt from: U.S. News (click for full article)

 

For many, living with a disability or a physical limitation that occurs late in life is a daily struggle. These challenges are magnified if a home's design restricts mobility. In some houses and apartments, every door, hallway or bathroom contains blockades that make the living space dangerous or simply uninhabitable.

Eight out of 10 people ages 45 and older say they want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible, according to a recent survey by AARP. As average life expectancy increases and more baby boomers enter retirement, the desire to "age in place" continues to increase—augmenting the importance of accessible home design. Architect Deborah Pierce says homeowners and architects need to work together to tackle this issue.

Pierce, author of "The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages & Abilities," has practiced architecture in Newton, Mass., for more than 30 years. Today, she uses her specializations of residential remodeling and accessibility of public buildings to design unobstructed homes. U.S. News spoke with Pierce about common flaws in traditional home design, the rewards of working with clients with disabilities, and why accessible renovation isn't only wheelchair-driven.