Community Housing for People with Disabilities:
Integrating Affordability and Supported Living: A White Paper
By Dale DiLeo
Lack of Affordable Housing is a Barrier to Supported Living
Does The Existence of Affordable Housing in a Neighborhood Lower Property Values?
Keys to Developing Affordable Housing
Overview of an Innovative Affordable Housing Project in Florida
Recommendations for Expanding Local Affordable Housing for People with Disabilities
Resources for Affordable Housing
Appendix
Recommendations for Federal Policy Changes to Increase Affordable Housing
Other State and Local Housing Initiatives
Potential Funding Sources To Assist Local Housing Programs
Developed
by: Center
for Housing and New Community Economics (CHANCE)
Banking Coalitions
Local banks sometimes form coalitions
that provide funds to address the affordable housing needs of the community.
USES:
down payment toward purchase; rental assistance; home modifications; accessibility;
repairs
CONTACT: Contact your personal banker or other banks in your community.
City Housing, Planning & Development
Many communities assume the responsibility for increasing the
availability of affordable housing and do so by establishing programs and
funds to meet the housing needs in their communities.
USES: down payment
toward purchase; new construction; rehabilitation; job counseling; credit
counseling
CONTACT: Contact your city government.
Community Action Programs (CAP)
Local community organizations that provide funding for food, utilities,
or assistance to people who are at risk of being evicted.
USES: rental assistance;
utility payment assistance; food assistance
CONTACT: Contact your city or
county government.
Corporate Donations
Corporations often dedicate funds
for specific causes or purposes. Many
allocate monies for low-income individuals in need of assistance with
affordable housing in their community.
USES: down payment toward purchase;
rental assistance; home modifications; accessibility; repairs
CONTACT: Contact
local corporations.
Developmental Disability Planning Councils
State councils
are funded to support activities that increase opportunities for independence,
productivity, inclusion, and integration into the community. In
some states, councils have supported the promotion and development of
affordable, accessible and integrated housing.
USES: home modifications;
accessibility; training manuals; pilot projects; personal assistance
CONTACT:
Determine the administering agency in your
state.
Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae's has a variety of programs that address the housing
needs of those who have not traditionally been served by standard mortgage
products, including people with disabilities.
CONTACT: www.homepath.com or call the Consumer Resource Center at: 800-732-6643.
Retrofitting Mortgage
This program helps people with disabilities
remain in their homes by providing affordable options to finance the
modification of a home to meet their accessibility needs.
USES:
accessibility
HomeChoice
Mortgages available to qualified low- and moderate-income individuals
who have disabilities or live with family members with disabilities.
USES:
purchase owner-occupied, principal residences, including units in approved
condominiums and planned housing developments.
Community Home Buyer's Program
This is a 5% low-down payment mortgage. When combined with a special
optional mortgage product, the income limit can be removed if the borrower
purchases a home in a designated central city or an eligible minority
or low-income housing tract.
USES: purchase owner-occupied, principal residence
Fannie 97
This program requires only a 3 percent down payment, and is ideal
for a potential home buyer who has enough income to handle monthly mortgage
payments, but has difficulty accumulating cash for the down payment.
USES:
purchase owner-occupied, principal residence
Fannie 3/2
This program makes it easier for low- and moderate-income
borrowers to obtain this mortgage product's required 5% down payment
by requiring that only 3% of the down payment come from the borrower's
own funds. The
other 2% may come from other eligible sources.
USES: purchase owner-occupied, principal residence
Federal Home Loan Banks
The FHL Bank System consists of 12 regional FHL Banks, a fiscal
agent, and the Office of Finance and is the single largest supplier of
home mortgage credit in the United States.
Affordable Housing Program (AHP)
The AHP subsidizes the cost of housing for very low-income and low-
or moderate-income owner-occupied and rental housing that must be used
to fund the purchase, construction or rehabilitation or refinancing of
owner-occupied housing or rental housing.
USES: owner-occupied housing;
rental housing
Community Investment Program (CIP)
The CIP is a lending program in which member banks borrow money, at
a discounted rate of interest, to fund the purchase, construction, rehabilitation,
refinancing, or predevelopment financing of qualified housing.
USES: owner-occupied
housing; rental housing; manufactured housing
CONTACT: http://www.fhfb.gov/FHLB/FHLBS_banks.htm
Foundations (Local)
Many foundations award funds to specific geographic areas to promote
affordable housing and community development.
USES: community resource development;
workforce development; economic development; homeownership; rental assistance;
accessibility; repairs
CONTACT: Check foundations in your area at: www.communityfoundationlocator.org
Developed
by: Council on Foundations, 1828 Second Street, Washington, DC 20036 (202)
466-6512 (voice), (202) 785-2936 (fax)
Foundations (National)
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation's goals are to: strengthen democratic values,
reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance
human achievement.
USES: community resource development; workforce development;
economic development
CONTACT: Ford Foundation (Headquarters), 320 East 43rd
Street, New York, NY 10017 USA (212) 573-5000 (voice), (212) 351-3677 (fax), http://www.fordfound.org
Home Depot Foundation
Supports organizations that work to create and rehabilitate affordable
housing making the dream of home ownership a reality for many people.
Examples of organizations supported include: Habitat for Humanity affiliates,
Rebuilding Together affiliates, Development Corporations, and Neighborhood
Housing Initiatives.
USES: homeownership; rental assistance; home modifications;
accessibility; repairs
CONTACT: The Home Depot Foundation, 2455 Paces
Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339, (866) 593-7019 (toll free voice), (866)
593-7027 (toll free fax), http://www.homedepotfoundation.org
Housing Trusts
Dedicated capital pool established by legislation, ordinance,
or resolution to receive specific on-going revenues from sources such as
taxes, fees, or loan repayments that supplies funding for affordable housing.
USES:
rental assistance; home modifications; accessibility; repairs
CONTACT: Contact
your state, county, or city government, or public housing agency.
HUD Funds
HOME Investments Partnerships Program
(HOME)
The program was created to help expand the supply of decent, affordable
housing for low and very low-income families by providing grants to States
and local governments. HOME's flexibility empowers communities to design
and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
USES:
build or renovate rental housing; finance homeownership; repair homes,
including accessibility; rental assistance
Self-Help Ownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
Funds are provided to eligible non-profit organizations to assist
in the purchase of home sites that are developed or improved with sweat
equity and volunteering based on the principals of this homeownership
program for low-income persons and families.
USES: land acquisitions; infrastructure
improvements
CONTACT: www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/shop/index.cfm or 202-708-2684 or 800-877-8339
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
This program was created to help states and local communities meet
the basic shelter and supportive services needs of homeless people in the
area.
USES: renovation, major rehabilitation, and conversion; essential
services such as housing counseling, employment, mental health, substance
abuse, education; homeless prevention activities
CONTACT: www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm.
Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
The Supportive Housing Program is designed to promote the development
of supportive housing and supportive services to assist homeless persons
in the transition from homelessness and to enable them to live as independently
as possible.
USES: acquisition, rehabilitation, and conversion; new construction;
supportive services; operating costs; leasing costs; administrative expenses
CONTACT: www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
This program was created to develop viable communities by providing
decent housing and suitable living environment by expanding economic
opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income levels.
USES:
rental housing; homeownership activities; homeowner repair; public services;
accessibility modifications
CONTACT: www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/contacts/index.cfm.
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
Program addresses the needs of persons with AIDS and their families
and provides housing assistance.
USES: tenant-based rental assistance; short-term
payments to prevent homelessness; rental assistance and related supportive
services
CONTACT: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/contacts/index.cfm.
Individual Development Accounts (IDA)
A program to enable
low-income families to save, build assets, and enter the financial mainstream,
where savings funds can be matched by a variety of private and public
sources. Programs funded solely by private
sources can be more flexible.
USES: purchase of first home; post-secondary
education; training; small business capitalization. Some private programs
expand uses to include: transportation, assistive technology, and home
repair and modifications.
CONTACT: Corporation for Economic Development's
(CFED): http://www.idanetwork.org/index.php?section=state&page=state_pages.html.
Medicaid Waivers
Some Medicaid Waivers can be used for home modifications, security
deposits, and obtaining assistance for other housing needs.
USES: home modifications;
security deposits; other housing needs
CONTACT: Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web Site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid.
Neighborhood Revitalization Programs
Neighborhood revitalization efforts are occurring in many city
neighborhoods, making them better places to live, work, learn and play
by creating affordable housing opportunities.
USES: new construction of
multi-family housing; rehabilitation of existing dwellings
CONTACT: Local
public housing agency or city or county government
State Disability Agencies
Many State Disability Agencies
have dedicated programs or other funds that provide housing and other
assistance to people with disabilities.
USES: home modifications; accessibility; personal assistance; transportation
needs
CONTACT: To locate the government offices in your state
go to: http://www.statelocalgov.net/state-hi.htm.
Home of Your Own Program
Promotes homeownership based
on the belief that non-traditional income streams and federal, state,
and local subsidies could be structured and blended to support homeownership
for people historically excluded from the housing market.
USES: homeownership
CONTACT: chance.unh.edu/nhoyo.html or
write dv01@comcast.com or nehockor@cisunix.unh.edu
State Housing Finance Agencies and Authorities
Many
State Housing Finance Agencies and Public Housing Authorities use bond
proceeds and other funds to create innovative programs that provide supplements
or funds for those who may need assistance.
USES: rental
assistance; home modifications; accessibility; low-interest loans; repairs
CONTACT:
Local Public Housing Authority for available funds and/or programs in your
area.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
The
agencies' mission is to help persons whose disabilities create barriers
to employment or independent living to enter, reenter, or maintain employment
and enhance skills necessary for living independently. State Vocational
Rehabilitation programs are funded through the Rehabilitation Services
Administration.
USES: training; transportation; job placement; home modifications
CONTACT: www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/Programs/
Religious Community Donations
Some churches and other
religious organizations have funds set aside to address the affordable
housing needs of their community.
USES: down payment toward purchase;
rental assistance; home modifications; accessibility; repairs
CONTACT: Churches
or other religious organizations in your community
Rural Housing Funds
Rural Housing Direct Loans
Available for low- and very low-income households to obtain homeownership
providing financing at reasonable rates and terms with no down payment.
USES:
purchase an existing dwelling; purchase a site and construct a dwelling;
purchase a newly constructed dwelling located in rural areas
Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans
Available for low- and very low-income rural residents who own and
occupy a dwelling in need of repairs.
USES: repairs to improve or modernize
a home; remove health and safety hazards
Mutual Self-Help Loans
Primarily used to help very low- and low-income households to construct
their own homes. Families participating in a mutual self-help
project perform approximately 65 percent of the construction labor on
one another's homes under qualified supervision.
USES: construction of home
CONTACT: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Weatherization/Energy Conservation Programs
Weatherization
Assistance for Low-Income Persons
To insulate the dwellings of low-income
persons, particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, families
with children, high residential energy users, and households with a high
energy burden, in order to conserve needed energy and to aid those persons
least able to afford higher utility costs.
USES: installation of weatherization
materials furnace efficiency modifications, certain mechanical measures
to heating and cooling systems, and replacement furnaces, boilers, and
air-conditioners.
CONTACT: http://www.eere.energy.gov.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Grants are made to States and other jurisdictions to assist eligible
households to meet the costs of home energy.
USES: assist in meeting the
cost of home energy; may be used for low-cost residential weatherization
CONTACT: http://www.eere.energy.gov