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Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C., and seeking to further the goal of that decision that persons with disabilities have meaningful choices to live and participate in the community, President Barack Obama this week launched "The Year of Community Living."
"The Olmstead ruling was a critical step forward for our nation, articulating one of the most fundamental rights of Americans with disabilities: having the choice to live independently," said President Obama. "I am proud to launch this initiative to reaffirm my Administration's commitment to vigorous enforcement of civil rights for Americans with disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people in the life of our nation."
President Obama directed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to have their departments work together to identify ways to improve access to housing, community supports, and independent living arrangements. In keeping with that direction and funding made available in the FY 2009 appropriation, HUD announced this week that it will allocate funding for up to 4000 housing choice vouchers for non-elderly families with disabilities, including 1,000 vouchers specifically targeted to those transitioning out of nursing homes and other care facilities. The 1,000 vouchers are intended to fill a gap identified in an HHS initiative which is helping persons who reside in health care settings move to community-based living. While HHS' Money Follows the Person (MFP) program offers health care, case management and other services to qualified families, it does not include funding for housing. HUD's funding initiative is designed to fill that gap.
"As individuals with disabilities leave institutional care, it is essential that they have housing options that will allow them to live independently," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "As we prepare to launch this initiative, we also want to make certain that we get input from local housing experts, disability rights advocates and others who can help us target this assistance to those who need it most. We also recognize how important it is for HUD and HHS to coordinate our resources to enable community-living for those individuals that live with disabilities." The Proposed Notice of Funding Availability for these resources as well as the Request for Comments appears in the June 22nd Federal Register. Comments are due by July 13.
At HHS, Secretary Sebelius also made an announcement of new resources intended to help achieve the goal of enabling “individuals of all ages to live in the most integrated community setting suited to their medical needs, have meaningful choices about their living arrangements, and exercise more control over the services they receive.” Since 2003, HHS’ Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have jointly funded Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) pilot programs in 45 states and territories. $10 million in new funding is being made available to build on and expand the existing pilots and ensure that every state can offer this program and its services to their citizens. Read more about ADRCs and view the AoA funding opportunity. Additionally, CMS is offering an opportunity to programs in California, Hawaii, Maryland and North Carolina to strengthen ADRC partnerships with hospitals so that more people who are being discharged and need post- acute care will be able to receive that care at home rather than in a nursing home. Read More about HHS "Year of Community Living" efforts.
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