# Presentation: 891528

## SYMPOSIUM ON HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIESUnderstanding Universal Design and Access ModificationLocal and State Level Activities

**June 30, 2004  ********  Washington, D.C.  **
**Developed by:**
**Richard Duncan****	****	****	****Michael Morris**
**The Center for Universal Design****	****National Disability Institute**
**Raleigh, NC****	****	****	****	****Washington, D.C.****	****	**

## HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE ON DISABILITYCo-Sponsored with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Fannie Mae Corporation, NCB Development Corporation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development 

## ACCESS MODIFICATION

**Action Steps**

## Organizational Support

**Take a leadership role in creating  a State-level Home Modifications Work Group that includes all key stakeholders:**

## State Level Home Modification Work GroupKey Stakeholders

- Housing Developer/Builders
- Housing Finance Agency
- Architects/Designers
- Centers for Independent Living (CIL)
- Public Housing Agency Representatives
- State Legislator or Staff
- Lenders/Appraisers/Realtors/Inspectors
- Aging and Disability-Related Organization Representatives
- State Medicaid Agency Representative

## Organizational Support

**Take a leadership role in creating an Action Plan that responds to challenges and leverages opportunities:**

## Action Plan

- Consumer and Professional Education
- Funding and Financing
- Service Delivery
- Policy Development

## Home Modification Coalition

- Create a Local Community Home Modification
- Coalition. This Coalition can focus on local
- issues to complement the work of a state level
- Work Group. For example, local coalitions can
- work to add home modification services to
- other local programs that already provide
- services to homes, e.g., weatherization, home
- repair, and chore services.

## Sample Action Steps

## 1. Education

- Create annual home modification design/construction awards program to educate multiple stakeholders and public. This will reward exemplary programs and encourage others.
- Produce/host professional and trades education – access existing training opportunities: CAPS, USC’s certificate program, etc.

## 2. Funding and Financing

- Publish annually updated Resource Directory/Funding Guide possibly linked with Directories from Tech Act Projects or State Housing Finance Agencies. Include funding and financing sources, local providers including nonprofits, community action agencies, remodelers, designers, allied health professionals.
- Participate in Consolidated Plan Development to allocate CDBG and HOME funds for home modification purposes.

## 2. Funding and Financing, cont

- Increase lender's knowledge of access modifications as a business opportunity and thereby funding more of it through loan products.
**Medicaid**:  Lobby for inclusion of home modifications in any 1915c home and community-based waivers.
**Housing and Finance Agencies**:  Housing Finance Agencies may be in a good position to promote home modification programs for low and moderate-income households.

## 2. Funding and Financing, cont

**Trust Funds**:  Advocate for the creation of community and county housing bonds and trust funds with home modifications as an identified priority activity.
**Tech Act Loan Programs and State Independent Living Services**: Support loan programs with public funding in partnership with financial institutions. Under the Rehabilitation Act, all states receive state independent living service dollars that may also support home modification.

## 2. Funding and Financing, cont

**Promote Existing Private Sources**: Fannie Mae and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) are among the few institutions that offer home mortgages that allow rehabilitation expenses to be rolled into a first mortgage. FHA’s 203(K) program is available nationally as is Fannie Mae’s program, Community Home Choice.

## 3. Service Delivery

**Promote the Widespread Use of Quality Home Assessments**: Support educational programs to spread the use of validated instruments and procedures.
**Develop Centralized Referral Systems**: Refer consumers to experienced and qualified remodelers, designers, allied health professionals, local agencies, and funding and financing sources.

## 3. Service Delivery, cont

**Seek out Private and Non Profits**:  Encourage local groups such as Habitat for Humanity or energy related organizations to add access modifications to their construction activities. Form Rebuilding Together affiliates.

## 3. Service Delivery, cont

**Start Community Housing Development Organizations**:  Create Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) with a home modification/home repair focus. The CHDO can seek funding from a variety of sources including designated HOME funds.

## 4. Policy and Pilot Programs

- Use CMS Real Choice Systems Change Grants to build support for home modification benefits.
- Consider collaboration options for expanding support for home modification with funding from state housing, Medicaid, rehabilitation, and aging agencies.

## Contact Information

**Richard Duncan, MRP, Senior Project Manager**
**The Center for Universal Design**
**College of Design**
**North Carolina State University**
**50 Pullen Road, Brooks Hall Rm. 104**
**Campus Box 8613**
**Raleigh, NC  27695-8613**
**Phone:  919-515-8557**
**Information Line: 800-647-6777**
**Fax:  919-515-7330**
**Email:  **_[rc_duncan@ncsu.edu](mailto:rc_duncan@ncsu.edu)__ _
- _[http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/](http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/)__ _

## Contact Information

**Michael Morris, Director**
**National Disability Institute**
**NCB Development Corporation**
**1725 Eye Street, N.W.  Suite 600**
**Washington, D.C.  20006**
**Phone:  202-521-2930**
**Fax:  202-218-7297**
**E-mail:  **_[mmorris@ncbdc.org](mailto:mmorris@ncbdc.org)_
- _[http://www.ncbdc.org/](http://www.ncbdc.org/)__ _