DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
"DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services focuses on housing initiatives and support services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Rental Choice VA program provides rental assistance and support coordinators to help individuals secure suitable housing. Learn more about their role in assisting individuals in finding and maintaining housing."
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DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Developmental Services DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Settlement Agreement- Independent and Integrated Housing Initiatives Eric Leabough Housing Specialist Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Page 1
Agenda DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services DevelopmentalServices DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Rental Choice VA HCVP Admissions Preference VHDA LIHTC QAP Changes Independent Housing Interest List Commonwealth s Housing and Supportive Services Summit Page 2
Rental Choice VA DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Consists primarily of two components: Rental Assistance subsidy provided to help an eligible individual afford housing and is the difference between the tenant s share of the rent (i.e. 30%-40% of individual s income) and the total rent amount, including utilities, up to the HUD Fair Market Rent. Rent-up Assistance limited funds intended to assist the recipient when he or she first rents an apartment. Rent- up assistance may cover such things as paying a security deposit. (To be used as an option of last resort) Page 3
DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Rental Assistance- Target Areas All program participants must live within the jurisdictional limits/service areas of either the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB or the Virginia Beach CSB. The program doesn t allow porting (i. e., use of rental assistance in non-target locality). Participants are not able to transfer from one Rental Choice VA locality to another, unless the transfer is approved by both CSB s and DBHDS. Participants are not able to continue to receive Rental Choice VA rental assistance if they move out of either target locality/service area. Page 4
DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Role of Support Coordinators Help individuals apply for Rental Choice VA and guide individuals through the search process to find housing that meets Rental Choice VA standards. Link individuals to community services that support individuals in their new home. Individuals will develop person-centered plans that includes a housing needs profile and a household budget, and outlines the services and resources needed for the initial transition to new housing and to maintain this housing. Support Coordinators will connect individuals to providers who deliver a variety of services, including in-home support, personal assistance, companion care, therapeutic consultation, assistive technology, and environmental modifications. Page 5
Rental Choice VA- Program Status Update DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Number of Number of Total Total 7 24 15 4 Inquiries Individuals Referred Individuals that Applied Individuals currently looking for units Individuals in units 5 Page 6
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has been notified by the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) that it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement a special admissions preference for the DOJ target population within its Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly known as Section 8). VHDA has set aside 32 housing choice vouchers for eligible individuals in Virginia. A rental housing subsidy is paid to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Page 7
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services DBHDS is currently accepting referrals from ID or DD Support Coordinators, Community Integration Managers or Centers for Independent Living for individuals who are included in the DOJ target population and who can move into their own rental housing within 120 days of receiving a voucher. DBHDS allocated referral slots on a first come, first serve basis across each of the Commonwealth s Health Planning Regions as outlined below. Health Planning Region 1: 7 slots Health Planning Region 2: 6 slots Health Planning Region 3: 7 slots Health Planning Region 4: 6 slots Health Planning Region 5: 6 slots Page 8
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services After January 16, 2015, all referrals to VHDA will be made statewide based on the preference structure below: Priority #1- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, reside at any of the Commonwealth s training centers and who choose to live in a more integrated, less restrictive, community setting. Priority #2- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, reside in a nursing home or non-state ICF-IDD and who choose to live in a more integrated, less restrictive, community setting. Priority #3- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, have participated in the Rental Choice VA pilot program for no fewer than 12 months, are in good standing with the program, and state funding for Rental Choice VA is time limited. Page 9
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Priority #4- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, receive ID waiver services in a congregate residential setting, such as a group home or a sponsored residential setting, and choose to live in a more integrated, less restrictive, community setting. Priority #5- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, meet the criteria for the wait list for the ID waiver, or meet the criteria for the wait list for the DD waiver, and who choose to live in a more integrated, less restrictive, community setting. Priority #6- eligible individuals who, at the time of referral, currently receive ID or DD waiver services in all other settings and choose to live in a more integrated, less restrictive, community setting. Page 10
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Number of Number of Total Total 147 Referrals received by DBHDS Referrals made to VHDA Referrals to be made to VHDA 44 2 As of 10:44 AM on February 24, 2015 Page 11
VHDA LIHTC QAP Changes DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services VHDA changed the 2015 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan 1) Reduce number of units to qualify for the Non- Competitive Disability Pool from 50%, to from 15% to 25%; and 2) Added an additional 25-point category to give 1st preference for ID/DD population on wait list in projects with project-based rental assistance, subject to federal approval. Page 12
Independent Housing Interest List DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services On November 21, 2014, DBHDS began accepting referrals for individuals in the DOJ Target Population who want to live in their own homes. To date, 147 referrals have been received. DBHDS will use this list to make referrals to appropriate agencies and to demonstrate that there is an effective demand for this resource in the community, as evidenced by an expeditious transition/lease-up process. By demonstrating that there is an effective demand, we hope that local voucher programs will also seek HUD approval and implement the admissions preference for the DOJ target population, as VHDA has done Page 13
Housing and Supportive Services Consortium DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services On January 7, 2015 the HSS Consortium Leadership and Implementation Planning teams invited local and regional stakeholders from three highly impacted regions-Hampton Roads, Central Virginia / Richmond Metropolitan and the Northern Virginia regions to participate in an information- sharing and planning kick-off meeting. Invited representative include local residential providers, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Community Services Boards (CSBs), housing developers, and public housing authorities (PHAs), etc. Page 14
Housing and Supportive Services Consortium DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services The goal of the Kick-off Planning Meeting was two- fold: to engage regional representatives and encourage them to join the consortium, and to begin a dialog around collaborative efforts that can be formed in each region to develop short term (e.g., 6-12 months) action plans to connect individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to integrated, independent housing opportunities. Page 15
Housing and Supportive Services Consortium DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services For purposes of aligning with Virginia s Plan to Increase Access to Independent Living Options, integrated, independent housing is expected to provide all of the following features: the individual is not residing with a parent(s) or legal guardian; integrated into the community (i.e., offers the full participation in community life); affordable to an individual with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (i.e., the individual pays no more than 30%-40% of his/her adjusted gross income towards the rent or mortgage); Page 16
Housing and Supportive Services Consortium DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services accessible (i.e., units that are barrier free and meet the needs of an individual with a physical disability); and leased or owned by a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. Page 17
Housing and Supportive Services Consortium DBHDS Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services The January 7th meeting was the first step in a longer term planning process for initiating regional collaborations and establishing meaningful outcomes in the three regions. Follow-up regional planning meetings were held in both February and March. February 19th Northern Virginia February 20th Hampton Roads March 3rd Richmond Metropolitan Page 18
