Chapter 9: Available Help on Housing & Related Issues

For Infomation and Assistance with Housing

The following agencies, individuals, and print and electronic resources may be of assistance for further information on consumer controlled housing.

Organizations

Arc Minnesota

Contact our HomeChoice consultant for information on consumer controlled housing, locating and receiving appropriate services, and for advocacy assistance. Contacts can also be made for workshops on consumer controlled housing to be provided in local communities. Visit the Arc Minnesota Website at www.arcminnesota.com.

770 Transfer Road, Suite 26
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-523-0823 or 800-582-5256
e-mail: mail@arcminnesota.com

County Social Services Agencies

For information on eligibility and for making application for services and case management. Expect considerable variability in knowledge about and support of consumer controlled housing. For assistance with advocacy, contact Arc Minnesota or a local Arc.

See your local telephone directory for the name and address of the agency serving your county.

HUD Area Office

For information on accessing any HUD program, including Section 8 certificates and vouchers.

220 South Second Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-370-3000

Minnesota Disability Law Center

For information and assistance in accessing programs and services and in matters related to discrimination on the basis of disability. This is an excellent source of information and assistance related to the Fair Housing Act and on rights of personal choice and control in the use of publicly-funded services.

430 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1780
612-332-1441 or 800-292-4150
e-mail: lcohen@midmnlegal.org

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

For information on low and moderate income home loans and related programs.

400 Sibley Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-7608 or 800-710-8871
www.mhfa.state.mn.us

Housing and Redevelopment Authorities

For information on local programs and initiatives specifically serving your community. See your local telephone directory for the name and address of the agency serving your community.

Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)

For information on the state programs, laws, and regulations regarding the provision of services to persons with developmental disabilities, including programs described in Chapter 5.

Community Supports for Minnesotans with Developmental Disabilities

444 Lafayette Road, Second Floor
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-582-1998
www.dhs.state.mn.us

Home Ownership Center

For information assisting families to achieve stable, successful home ownership through education, counseling, and forclosure prevention.

1885 University Avenue West, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55104-3469
651-659-9336
e-mail: hocenter@uswest.net

Rural Development (RD)

(Section 502 Rural Housing, Single Family Housing) Housing loans designed for low-income families. Loans may be used to buy, build, improve, or repair rural homes. Information available from:

RD State Office
375 Jackson Street
410 AgriBank Building
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-602-7800
www.usda.gov

Print Resources

Your Place or Mine: A Handbook for Home Ownership
B. Laux and C. Morgan Laux

This handbook provides an overview and basic guidance about the concepts, issues, and decisions involved in persons with developmental disabilities obtaining homes of their own. It's written for the consumer and contains worksheets, checklists, and sets of questions to guide their consideration of factors that must be weighed in housing decisions. Available from:

Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities
100 W. Randolph, Suite 10-600
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-2080

and from:

Creative Management Associates
P.O. Box 5488
Portsmouth, NH 03802-5788

A Home of Your Own Guide
Fannie Mae

This extremely informative and clearly written guide provides general information on a wide range of topics to help potential home buyers obtain affordable housing. It contains worksheets for use by consumers in evaluating available and needed resources, evaluating potential housing, and pulling together needed materials. Available from:

Fannie Mae/Consumer Education Group
3900 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-2899

Impact: Feature Issue on Consumer Controlled Housing
E. Skarnulis and K.C. Lakin, Eds.

This newsletter provides a summary of the key purposes and benefits of the consumer controlled housing movement and issues facing consumers, families, and service providers in the securing and support of homes for people with developmental disabilities; describes some of the major housing programs available to support consumer controlled housing; and identifies resources available to people interested in consumer controlled housing. Available from:

Publications Office
Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
109 Pattee Hall/150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-4512

Co-Housing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves
K. McCamant and C. Durrett: Ten Speed Press

This handbook is an easy-to-read summary of the basic philosophy, development, and operation of co-housing communities. Available from area bookstores and public libraries.

For Information on Supporting Desired Lifestyles

The following agencies and print resources may be useful for further information or assistance on identifying, planning, and providing the supports that people need to live the lifestyles that they desire for themselves.

Organizations

Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

For information on programs, resources and individuals to assist in the development and implementation of person-centered planning and support of individually desired lifestyles.

300 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4018

Research and Training Center on Community Living

For information and assistance on person-centered planning, support of social inclusion in preferred activities, developing and supporting relationship, and about self-determination and self-advocacy involvements.

Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
212 Pattee Hall/150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-6328

Human Services Research and Development Center

For information and assistance on person-centered agency planning and development and in the development and support of friendships.

1195 Juno Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-698-5565
e-mail: amado003@tc.umn.edu

Print Resources

A New Way of Thinking
Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

An overview of the principles and practices leading people with developmental disabilities to greater control our their own lives, including their homes. Available from the Governor's Council (see above).

Essential Lifestyle Planning for Persons with Severe Reputations
M. Smull and S. Harrison

Provides an excellent overview of how person-centered planning and the supported living model can be used to give greater freedom and choice to all persons with developmental disabilities, including those with long histories of institutionalization and/or challenging behaviors. Available from:

National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
113 Oronoco Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-684-1395

It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late: A Booklet About Personal Futures Planning
B. Mount and K. Zwernik

Provides an introduction to the purpose, principles, and practices in "Personal Futures Planning," for families, consumers, and advocates. Provides some guidance on how person-centered plans and formal Individual Habilitation Plans can be integrated to support people's living in the ways they wish. Available from:

Metropolitan Council
230 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-602-1000

Framework for Accomplishment
J. O'Brien and C. Lyle O'Brien

Provides guidelines for a workshop to assist human services agency managers and staff in understanding and evaluating their services from the perspective of the desires, interests, qualities, and experiences of their service recipients, and then to identify and develop actions around a commitment to the individual as the focus of quality for the agency. Available from:

Responsive Systems Associates
58 Willock Drive
Lithonia, GA 30038
404-987-9785

For Information and Assistance on Technology and Home Modifications

The following organizations and print resources may be useful for further information or assistance on assessing need and alternatives, securing and financing technologies and physical adaptations to permit access to a home of one's own.

Organizations

Assistive Technology of Minnesota (ATMN)

An initiative of the STAR Program, ATMN is a nonprofit organzation helping people with disabilities acquire the assistive technology they need to reach their full potential. ATMN has a low-interest financial loan program people can use to pay for their assistive technology. Additionally, businesses can get a loan to develop access to employment.

Attn: Low Interest Program
360 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-2771 or 800-657-3862
e-mail: star.program@state.mn.us

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

In a cooperative arrangement with MHFA, MCIL maintains for free review a small library of books and other resource materials on building and remodeling homes for persons with a disability. Additionally, free services include site visit, layout and design for the construction of ramps or special steps.

1600 University Avenue West, Suite 16
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-646-8342
email: mcil2@aol.com

The Center for Universal Design

The national resource on accessibility modifications and universal design. The center has many publications available on the subject and provides technical assistance/consulting over the phone.

North Carolina State University
School of Design
Box 8613
Raleigh, NC 27695-8613
800-647-6777

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

For assistance and information on designing, reviewing and financing plans for home modifications.

400 Sibley Street, Suite 300
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-7608 or 800-710-8871

Print Resources

Impact: Feature Issue on Assistive Technology
R. Wobschall and K.C. Lakin, Eds.

Provides descriptions of the evolving state of knowledge and best practice regarding applications of assistive technology. Describes programs assisting persons with disabilities of all ages to obtain and use technologies that provide them opportunities for living with greater independence and dignity. Available from:

Publications Office
Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
109 Pattee Hall /150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-4512

Home Accessibility Information

The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) is distributing the following materials to households interested in building or remodeling a home for accessibility:

Home Accessibility Information Series. A set of 10 bulletins that describe how modifications
can be made in various areas of the home.

The Cost of Accessibility in the Construction of New Single-Family Homes. A report analyzing costs involved in building a home with various accessibility features.

MHFA Homes Division
400 Sibley Street, Suite 300
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-7608

For Information and Assistance on Long-Term Planning

The following organizations may be useful for further information and assistance on long-term and estate planning.

Organizations

Life Planning for Persons with a Disability and Their Families

Provides comprehensive life planning services for families who have loved ones with disabilities. It also provides seminars to organizations who serve people with disabilities and their families.

1609 West Wayzata Boulevard
Long Lake, MN 55356
612-249-9193 or 800-487-5310

Richard D. Bunin Law Offices

Law offices providing services to individuals and families in the areas of estate planning, real estate law, and Medical Assistance and long-term care planning. Richard Bunin speaks regularly to business and civic groups.

Interchange Tower, Suite 1670
600 Highway 169
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952-544-2345

Return to Table of Contents / Previous Chapter / Appendix A

_________

A Guidebook on Consumer Controlled Housing for Minnesotans with Developmental Disabilities, a joint publication of Arc Minnesota and the Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration (UAP), University of Minnesota.