Housing and Transportation Resource Bank

This Resource Bank includes information about how you can access housing and non-Medicaid transportation, and the work that is being done to increase available, affordable and accessible housing and transportation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Page Menu

• Breaking News
• Housing and Transportation Sections of MFP Protocol
• Virginia's MFP Housing and Transportation Action Plan
• Housing and Transportation Presentations
• Other Virginia Housing and Transportation Resources
• National MFP Housing Resources
• Other States’ MFP Projects and Related Housing Components
• Special Reports
• Topical Housing Resources
• Topical Transportation Resources

Breaking News!

The Universal Design Seminar previously scheduled for Thursday, January 7th has been changed to Thursday, January 28th from 9:00-3:30 at the Virginia Housing Center.   To register, please see the attached form.   If you have any questions, please contact Gail Braham at 804-343-5512 or you may email her at gail.braham@vhda.com.

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DBHDS Report to General Assembly on Affordable & Accessible Community-Based Housing: The 2008 Virginia General Assembly directed the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to conduct a study and 'report on investment models and best-practices for the development of affordable and accessible community-based housing for persons with intellectual and related developmental disabilities.' The results of that study are now available on the Legislative Services website at http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/h&sdocs.nsf/By+Year/RD3652009/$file/RD365.pdf.

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Search for Apartments on www.VirginiaHousingSearch.com. Landlords advertise free, and there is a detailed information on each apartment, including proximity to public transportation.

• See Flyer
• See Benefits
• See Call Center Information
• See More Information

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Housing Expansion Task Force for People with Disabilities: The Disability Commission Housing Work Group, the Olmstead Implementation Team Housing Group, and the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Housing Task Force Work Group have merged into a new Housing Expansion Task Force. The Task Force:

• Serves as an advisory group to the Virginia Disability Commission, including keeping the Commission apprised of current housing issues and opportunities
• Develops annual updates to the housing components of the Olmstead Community Integration Strategic Plan for submission to the Governor
• Assists in developing semi-annual reports, which describe progress in implementing the housing components of the MFP Annual Housing and Transportation Action Plan, to the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Commerce and Trade and DMAS

This group meets monthly from March through June and from September through November of each year. For information about the meetings, contact Julie Stanley, Office of Community Integration at julie.stanley@governor.virginia.gov.

Housing Expansion Task Force Work Plan

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HUD Non-Elderly Disabilities NOFA includes MFP Vouchers

• View Notice
• View Press Release
  June 22, 2009 Letter to PHAs from HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan
• Former Governor Kaine's July 1, 2009 Letter to PHAs
• DMAS Director Patrick Finnerty Responds to HUD MFP Voucher Notice
• CMS' Overview and Comments on HUD NOFA
• CMS Reminder Regarding HUD NOFA
• Virginia Public Housing Authorities that meet one of the experience criteria included in HUD’s Draft NOFA 2009 Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities
• NEW!!! ACT NOW: “Discussion for MFP grantees and HUD Vouchers, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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Housing and Transportation Sections of MFP Protocol

MFP Operational Protocol: includes many housing and transportation resources currently available to individuals transitioning to the community under the MFP Project. You can access this section and its related appendices here:

B. 9. Housing and Transportation

• Appendix 12
• Appendix 13
• Appendix 14
• Appendix 15
• Appendix 16
• Appendix 9
• Appendix 17
• Appendix 8

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Virginia's MFP Housing and Transportation Action Plan

MFP Annual Housing and Transportation Action Plan: was developed and sent to the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Commerce and Trade in fall 2008. The Plan contains recommendations for increasing housing and transportation opportunities for individuals who participate in the MFP project. Progress implementing the recommendations is being tracked by the Office of Community Integration. Two major groups participated in the development of this Plan:

• The Statewide Independent Living Council and the 16 Centers for Independent Living, through Goal 2 of the 2007 Statewide Plan for Independent Living.
   
• A Task Force comprised of housing, transportation and human services experts, through a report adopted in September 2008.

Action Plan First Semi-Annual Report: May 14, 2009
NEW!!! Action Plan Second Semi-Annual Report: November 13, 2009

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Housing and Transportation Presentations

Housing and transportation presentations made to the following organizations about Virginia’s MFP project:

• MFP Housing and Transportation Task Force, June 2007
• Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials, February 2008
• Statewide Independent Living Council, April 2008
• Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials, May 2008
• Council of State Community Development Agencies, September 2008
• Virginia Disability Commission, October 2008
• Governor’s Housing Conference, November 2008
• Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials, January 2009
• Virginia Disability Commission, June 18, 2009: Centers for Independent Living: Housing Planning and Advocacy
• NEW!!! Virginia Disability Commission Presentation: October 22,2009
• NEW!!! November 19, 2009 Governor's Housing Conference Presentations
  • MFP
  • CILs
  • Smart Homes
  • Universal Design
• NEW!!! CIL Housing Training, Sponsored by the Statewide Independent Living Council–November 2009
  • The Housing Game
  • HUD Section 504, Fair Housing and the ADA, Vantoria Clay, Endependence Center
  • Consolidated Planning:  HUD CPD Programs, Shea Hollifield, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program, Sharon Fairburn and Diana Crosswhite, Virginia Housing Development Authority
  • Expansion of Housing for People with Disabilities, Julie Stanley, Community Integration for People with Disabilities

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Other Virginia Housing and Transportation Resources

• Housing Study Committee Meeting Presentation – April 24, 2009.
   
• Former Governor Kaine’s 2007 letter to Virginia’s public housing agencies.
   
• Public Housing Agencies in Virginia
   
• 2008 Cross-Governmental Strategic Community Integration Plan housing and transportation strategies.
   
• Virginia Easy Access, a secure and confidential connection to community resources for seniors and adults with disabilities and the providers that support them:
   
  • Housing
  • Transportation
     
    • To find accessible housing or transportation in your area, visit VirginiaNavigator, choose “Transportation” or “Accessible Housing” from the drop down menu next to “Topic,” and put in your ZIP code.
    • You can also find accessible housing at http://www.accessva.org/.
       
• Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit and Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit Program Guidelines
   
• Virginia Easy Living Homes Program
   
• VHDA Accessibility Grants
   
• Virginia Disability Commission Housing Work Group
  • NOTE:  In August 2009, this group was merged with two other housing groups.  See Housing Expansion Task Force for People with Disabilities under "Breaking News" above.
     
• 2008 Biennial Assessment of the Disability Service System in Virginia, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
   
  • Community Housing
  • Transportation
     
• Report to the General Assembly on Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Virginia, House Document No. 86, November 2005. To view the full report, click on “View pdf version” at the top right hand side of the page.
   
• DRPT Initiatives on Transportation Services For Older Adults, People With Disabilities and People With Lower Incomes In Virginia, May 30, 2008
   
• Update on New FTA Initiatives on Transportation Services, DRPT, June 2007
   
• Locate Public Transportation in Virginia
   
• Virginia GrandDriver Program
   
• NewWell Vehicle Loans
   
• Virginia Assistive Technology System
   
• Disability License Plates

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National MFP Housing Resources

• Choose, Get, Keep... Integrated Community Housing: A Supplement to ABCs of Nursing Home Transition: An Orientation Manual for New Transition Facilitators, a publication of CIL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance Program, Independent Living Research Utilization.
   
• HUD: Former Secretary Alphonso Jackson of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sent two letters about Money Follows the Person to public housing agencies across the country:
   
  • October 5, 2006
  • July 9, 2007
     
• A Medicaid Primer for Housing Officials --A joint publication of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy and the National Academy for State Health Policy. Published for the Community Living Exchange, and funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
   
• Developing an MFP Housing Strategy (Candace Baldwin of NCB Capital Impact and Diane Dressler of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, September 10, 2008
   
• MFP Toolbox, Rutgers Community Living Exchange (see chapter on Housing Barriers)
   
• New Options to Fund Housing: Capitalizing on New Federal Housing Opportunities, Ann O’Hara, Dr. Lorrie Jones, and Gay LeBlanc (April 16, 2009).
   
• An On-Line Guide to State and Local Housing Policy
   
• Independent Living Network Housing for Nursing Home Transition

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Other States’ MFP Projects and Related Housing Components

• Arkansas
• Kentucky
• North Carolina
• Maryland
• Missouri
  • Missouri Guide to Housing
• Ohio
• Texas

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Special Reports

• Supporting Integrated Planning and Decision Making by Joining-Up Housing and Transportation: Congressional Testimony of Robert Puentes Senior Fellow and Director, Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative, Brookings Institution. March 19, 2009.
   
• Coordinating and Leveraging Long-Term Supports with Affordable and Accessible Housing for Persons with Disabilities: Maryland Case Study
   
• Assessing the Barriers to Community Living: Accessible Housing in a Rural State
   
• Priced Out in 2008–helps measure the gap between HUD's Fair Market Rents and the incomes of individuals who receive SSI benefits. Previous editions are available at http://www.tacinc.org/Pubs/PricedOut.htm.
   
• Public Housing: Distressed Conditions in Developments for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities and Strategies Used for Improvement
   
• The Hidden Housing Crisis: Worst Case Housing Needs Among Adults with Disabilities

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Topical Housing Resources

• Universal Design, Design and Contracting Assistance
   
  • The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University, College of Design
  • Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, University of Buffalo, School of Architecture
  • AARP Resources
     
    • Home Improvement Contractors AARP Fact Sheet
       
  • National Association of Homebuilders (includes information on the NAHB Remodelors Council, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS)
  • Survey Results from the 2006 Livable Lifetime ShowHouse
     
• Housing Financing
   
  • NEW!!! Administration Calls on Congress to Approve Key Housing Measures, including funds for the Federal Housing Trust Fund
    
    
  • Housing Solutions for People with Disabilities, the Disability Opportunity Fund.
     
  • Note: Due to the recent and historic turmoil in the credit markets, many previously viable financing tools may no longer be feasible or may require substantial adjustments. The following resources were developed prior to these events, and you are advised to check with the program administrator to determine whether there have been any changes.
     
    • Funding Sources Successfully Used by States to Support Development of Integrated, Affordable, and Accessible Community Housing
    • Regional Housing Forum: A Technical Assistance Guide for Housing Resources and Strategies
    • Financing Home Improvements--the Basics, AARP
    • Tennessee Creating and Expanding Housing Options that Promote Recovery Opportunities
    • Financing Community Supports in Partnership with Permanent Supportive Housing: Medicaid Combined with Other Funding Sources, Stephen Day, Technical Assistance Center, September 2008
    • HUD Title I Home Improvement Loans
    • HUD 203K Rehabilitation Loans
    • HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgages
    • USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service: Section 504 Very Low-Income Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans (and Grants if 62+)
       
• Pending Legislation
   
  • Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Trust Fund Act of 2009 (HR 1675)
     
    • Testimony of Ann O’Hara, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force
    • Written Testimony of Mark H. Shelburne, Counsel & Policy Coordinator, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
    • Virginia Disability Commission Letter in Support
       
  • Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2009 (HR 1205), which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the establishment of tax deferred accounts for the future use of family members with disabilities to promote independent living and other support needs.

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Topical Transportation Resources

• Coordinated Transportation Planning
   
  • Preparing Coordinated Transportation Plans, A Guidebook for State Departments of Transportation
     
• Accessible Community Transportation
   
  • FTA New Freedom Program
  • FTA Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
  • FTA Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities
  • Enhancing Mobility for People: Transportation and Long-Term Care,  Mary A. Leary, Ph.D., Senior Director, Easter Seals Project ACTION, the National Center on Senior Transportation & Other Transportation Initiatives
  • Expanding Access to Transportation in south-western South Carolina, Lynnda Basham, Director, Human Services, Lower Savannah Council of Governments
  • Easter Seals Project Action
     
• Driver Education
   
  • AARP
     
• Volunteer Drivers
   
  • Volunteer Driver Liability Resources

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