TO INDEPENDENCE�
In June of 2009, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court�s Olmstead decision, President Obama announced the �Year of Community Living�, a year-long effort dedicated to his vigorous commitment to enforcement of civil rights for Americans with disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people in the life of our Nation.
The Olmstead decision, issued in July 1999, requires states to administer services, programs, and activities "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities."��
In support of the president�s efforts, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) jointly announced that they would support and encourage their agencies to begin to work more closely on policies and programs that would increase community living opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Also participating in the announcement was Kelly Buckland of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).� Many of NCIL�s members work closely with Medicaid agencies and public housing authorities to make community living possible for thousands of Americans with disabilities.
Continuing the work of the �Year of Community Living� under the �Community Living Initiative�, on October first of this year HUD awarded forty three hundred (Category I) vouchers, totaling more than $33.5 million dollars, to 20 States and the District of Columbia to help support individuals with disabilities that are at risk of institutionalization to remain in the community.
Today, we are pleased to announce the award of nearly one thousand additional (Category II) vouchers to 15 States to support individuals who are currently institutionalized in long term care settings such as nursing homes and other institutions, to return to the community and receive the necessary supports to live as independently as possible.�
��The Obama administration is committed to helping Americans with disabilities live independent lives. Housing is a critical piece of the equation when it comes to transitioning out of institutions,� said Donovan. �Coordinating this effort with the Department of Health and Human Services is an important step in ensuring that more Americans with disabilities will have the housing and support they need to fully participate in community life.��
As part of the continuing efforts to collaborate to increase community living options for persons with disabilities these awards are tied to states with Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP) programs that have demonstrated relationships with housing authorities. HUD and CMS facilitated these partnerships by conducting an extensive outreach and training program to MFP grantees and PHAs to help each understand the other�s programs and respective needs.
The MFP Demonstration is designed to support States in the identification and reformation of legal, budgetary or other barriers to increase the availability of community services, �balance� their long-term care systems, and help Medicaid enrollees transition from institutions to the community. Now in its fourth year, the MFP program has made it possible for almost 12,000 individuals to live more independent lives by providing necessary supports and services in the community. Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia are currently participating in the MFP program.
�
�This is the first time two federal agencies are offering a combination of rental assistance, health care and other supportive services targeted to this population.� �Through our collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I know that we will be able to dramatically change peoples� lives�. �Individuals with disabilities can have a life in the community that serves their needs and supports them in leading productive, meaningful lives� said Sebelius.
HUD & HHS are excited about this first collaborative effort and look forward to its success as well as other opportunities for collaboration that will increase an individual�s ability to live in the community and receive the supports they need to lead full, independent lives.
Here is a link to the press release: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2011/HUDNo.11-003
Here is a link to the awardees: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=rane2_pr2.pdf ��
Regards,
Janet Miller, MPA
Office of External Affairs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard, S1-05-17
Baltimore, Maryland 21244
410-786-2157
Janet.miller2@cms.hhs.gov
Please forward and post. Cathy
--- On wrote:
From: NCIL
Subject: Good news about housing opportunities for people with
disabilities.
To: "NCIL"
Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 1:09 PM
Good afternoon.
Please feel free to share the following with your colleagues and
partners:
In June of 2009, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Supreme
Court's Olmstead decision, President Obama announced the "Year of
Community Living", a year-long effort dedicated to his vigorous
commitment to enforcement of civil rights for Americans with
disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people in the
life of our Nation.
The Olmstead decision, issued in July 1999, requires states to
administer services, programs, and activities "in the most integrated
setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with
disabilities."
In support of the president's efforts, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary
of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Shaun Donovan,
Secretary of the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
jointly
announced that they would support and encourage their agencies to begin
to work more closely on policies and programs that would increase
community living opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Also participating in the announcement was Kelly Buckland of the
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Many of NCIL's members
work closely with Medicaid agencies and public housing authorities to
make community living possible for thousands of Americans with
disabilities.
Continuing the work of the "Year of Community Living" under the
"Community Living Initiative", on October first of this year HUD
awarded forty three hundred (Category I) vouchers, totaling more than
$33.5 million dollars, to 20 States and the District of Columbia to
help
support individuals with disabilities that are at risk of
institutionalization to remain in the community.
Today, we are pleased to announce the award of nearly one thousand
additional (Category II) vouchers to 15 States to support individuals
who are currently institutionalized in long term care settings such as
nursing homes and other institutions, to return to the community and
receive the necessary supports to live as independently as possible.
"The Obama administration is committed to helping Americans with
disabilities live independent lives. Housing is a critical piece of the
equation when it comes to transitioning out of institutions," said
Donovan. "Coordinating this effort with the Department of Health and
Human Services is an important step in ensuring that more Americans
with
disabilities will have the housing and support they need to fully
participate in community life."
As part of the continuing efforts to collaborate to increase community
living options for persons with disabilities these awards are tied to
states with Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP)
programs that have demonstrated relationships with housing authorities.
HUD and CMS facilitated these partnerships by conducting an extensive
outreach and training program to MFP grantees and PHAs to help each
understand the other's programs and respective needs.
The MFP Demonstration is designed to support States in the
identification and reformation of legal, budgetary or other barriers to
increase the availability of community services, "balance" their
long-term care systems, and help Medicaid enrollees transition from
institutions to the community. Now in its fourth year, the MFP program
has made it possible for almost 12,000 individuals to live more
independent lives by providing necessary supports and services in the
community. Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia are
currently
participating in the MFP program.
"This is the first time two federal agencies are offering a
combination of rental assistance, health care and other supportive
services targeted to this population. "Through our collaboration with
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I know that we will be
able to dramatically change peoples' lives". "Individuals with
disabilities can have a life in the community that serves their needs
and supports them in leading productive, meaningful lives" said
Sebelius.
HUD & HHS are excited about this first collaborative effort and look
forward to its success as well as other opportunities for collaboration
that will increase an individual's ability to live in the community
and receive the supports they need to lead full, independent lives.
Here is a link to the press release:
Here is a link to the awardees:
Regards,
Janet Miller, MPA
Office of External Affairs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard , S1-05-17
Baltimore , Maryland 21244
410-786-2157
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