Getting Assistance with Thinking Through Housing Options and Applying for Rent Subsidy Programs
When you want to move into your own home, there are a lot of things to think about. It’s good to get help with this from your family and friends. It’s also good to get help from someone who is an expert in housing for people with disabilities. Below are some resources that can help.
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Waiver Housing Support SERVICES
The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration has started a new waiver service called Housing Support Services. People using a DDA waiver can get help with thinking through their housing options, applying to housing programs, looking for affordable housing, understanding their rights and responsibilities as a tenant or homeowner and having continued success as a renter or homeowner.
Housing Support Services are time-limited supports to help participants navigate housing opportunities; address or overcome barriers to housing; and secure and retain their own home.
Housing Support Services include:
- Housing Information and Assistance to obtain and retain independent housing.
- Housing Transition Services to assess housing needs and develop individualized housing support plans.
- Housing Tenancy Sustaining Services which assist the individual to maintain living in their rented or owned home.
Housing Support Services professionals have received specialized training in understanding affordable housing programs and in assisting people with disabilities to achieve their housing goals. Common services provided by a Housing Support Services professional can include:
· Working with the individual to create a person-centered housing plan based on the wants, needs and resources of the individual. This plan becomes a component of the overall PCP.
· Assistance with applying for financial assistance with rent or for affordable mortgage programs
· Assisting with responding to offers for a rent subsidy, including gathering required documentation and completing the application process
· Assisting with creating a household budget
· Assistance with identifying strategies for timely payment of bills, including rent and utilities, and oversight to ensure payments have been made
· Monitoring to prevent, identify and respond to possible financial exploitation
· Assistance with maintaining successful tenancy or homeownership, including complying with lease or HOA provisions and having good relationships with property management and maintenance staff
· Assistance with resolving disputes that may arise, including those with housing providers and neighbors
· Assistance with applying for additional financial assistance related to housing, including utility assistance, food stamps/SNAP benefits and internet/cell phone assistance
· Assistance with creating emergency preparedness plans
· Assistance with identifying the need for and requesting reasonable accommodations or modifications as required under Fair Housing, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Maryland Centers for Independent Living (CIL):
Maryland has seven (7) CILs that are regional non-profit organizations working to provide services that promote independent living for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of age, type of disability or income. They are governed and managed largely by individuals with disabilities. CILs are partially federally funded in every state. Assistance with housing related questions and needs can be obtained from the Maryland CILs.
CILs provide 5 core services:
- Advocacy.
- Peer counseling, support, and mentoring.
- Idependent Living Skills Training.
- Information and Referral.
- Transition services for youth, people living in institutions and services that prevent institutionalization.
Maryland’s CILs
Accessible Resources for Independence (ARI)
Counties Served: Anne Arundel and Howard Counties
1406-B Crain Highway South, Suite 206
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Phone number: (410) 636-2274
Bay Area CIL
Counties Served: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worchester Counties
31516 Winterplace Parkway
Salisbury, MD 21804
Phone number: (443)-260-0822
The Freedom Center
Counties Served: Carroll and Frederick Counties
1890 North Market Street, Suite 203
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone number: (301)-846-7811
The IMAGE Center
Counties Served: Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County
300 East Joppa Road, Suite 312
Towson, Maryland 21286
(410)-982-6311
Independence Now
Counties Served: Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties
Montgomery County Office
12301 Old Columbia Pike
Suite 101
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Prince George’s County Office
1300 Caraway Court
Suite 200
Largo, MD 20774
Phone number: (301)-277-2839
Resources for Independence
Counties Served: Serves Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties
735 East Oldtown Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone number: (301)-784-1774
Southern Maryland CIL
Counties Served: Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties
38588 Brett Way Suite 1 Mechanicsville, MD 20659
Phone number: (301)-884-4498
Case Management Services in Maryland
Case managers can also help you think through your goal of having your own home. There are different types of case management services in Maryland and each type helps a particular group of people. Information about case management services and the population they support is below.
Supports Planning
Supports planning programs provide case management services to the participants of the Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS), Community First Choice (CFC), Increased Community Services (ICS) and the Community Options (CO) programs. Supports Planning Services include assisting applicants and participants with accessing Medicaid and non-Medicaid funded home and community-based services and supports (personal care, nurse monitoring, necessary medical supplies, etc.).
The supports planner also assists participants with maintaining Medicaid eligibility. Eligible Community Options (CO) Waiver applicants in nursing homes receiving Long-Term Care Medicaid are provided with assistance to develop a plan to safely transition to the community with supportive services. Supports Planners also assist people with transitioning to independent renting.
Behavioral Health Case Management
Behavioral health case management is a voluntary, community-based service helping individuals who receive services through the public behavioral health system identify, access, develop and coordinate available services and resources, including housing resources.
How it Works:
- A case manager meets with an individual approved to receive this service to conduct a needs assessment. Together, they develop an individual service plan.
- After a plan is developed, case managers meet with participants at least once a month to help them reach their goals by connecting them with needed resources, providing care coordination and advocacy.
Eligibility:
- Available to adults 18 years of age or older.
- Must meet medical necessity criteria as determined by the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration.
- Must have a mental health diagnosis, medical assistance and be referred by a treating mental health professional.
Finding a Behavioral Health Case Manager
Assistance can also be found by dialing 988