Relates to housing navigation services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Democratic4
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

Appropriate housing is necessary for people to live stable, healthy lives. For people 1.4,%th disabilities. the right housing opportunity can lead to the overall well-being and success of a person and allows that individual to become an active part of their community. New York's Medicaid Redesign Team has found that stable, sustainable housing leads to improved health outcomes. Unfortunately, there are obstacles to finding appropriate housing for people with disabilities. Identifying the right housing can oftentimes be complex. Finding affordable and appropriate housing for a person with a disability in a state that is as diverse as New York can oftentimes be a challenge In 2015, the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies organized a Housing Task Force to study impediments to housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities_ Funded through a Balancing Incentive Program (SIP) grant, the task force was comprised of state and county officials. affordable housing developers, educators, bankers, attorneys and service providers_ One key finding of the task force is that housing plays a critical role in a person's development. The task force also determined that stability is key to improving an individual's outcomes. New York is a state that is geographically diverse and comprises vast rural areas, large urban centers and sprawling suburbs I/DD providers are located in all regions of the diverse state and deliver supports and services to the over 130,000 people with liDD in many communities. Not-for-profit provider agencies actively seek housing options for the people they provide supports to. Unfortunately, the degree to which agencies explore non-OPWDD funding sources varies. Seeking such housing outside of the system is a specialty service and one that's not current- ly funded. The task force also found that funding for housing is limited and typically available for the more traditional housing opportunities some of which are not always the best fit for a person seeking individ- ualized opportunities. Non-OPWDD housing resources are available but such funding sources are not easily identifiable, the various systems are not easy to navigate, and knowing how to put the pieces of the hous- ing puzzle together is complex and requires ample time, resources and specialized experts to understand the nuances. Additionally, people with disabilities, parents and family member are oftentimes unfamiliar with the range of housing options and require assistance to identify appro- priate settings. Therefore, a growing need exists for housing counseling services to assist people with disabilities the opportunity to assess their housing needs and options, provide assistance to secure housing, and foster the establishment of procedures and contacts to create and retain housing.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.