Addressing Housing Accessibility through 

Cross-Sector Partnerships: 

A Closer Look at Home Modification 

Collaborations at Work

June 9, 2022

Webinar
Welcome

Webinar is hosted by the 

Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC)

Facilitator

Sherri Clark, Aging Services Program Specialist,

Administration for Community Living

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Instructions for Zoom

Audio Options

• Use your computer speakers, OR dial in using 

the phone number in your registration email.

• All participants are muted.

Questions and Comments

• Please actively use chat throughout the meeting, 

especially for your comments.

• To ask a presenter a question, please use the 

Q&A function.

Or, send your question or comment via email to 

HSRC@ACL.HHS.GOV

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This event is being recorded.
Poll: Who Is with Us?

What sector is your organization in?

• Housing or Homelessness Services

• Aging and Disability Networks

• Health Care or Public Health

• Community Development or Civic Organization

• Association, Research, or Advocacy Organization

• Consumer

• Other

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Poll Results

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National Presenters

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

• Jon Pynoos, PhD, Professor of Gerontology, UPS Foundation 

Chair in Gerontology, Policy and Planning

• Emily Nabors, MSG, Program Manager, Fall Prevention Center 

of Excellence

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A Closer Look at Home Modification 

Collaborations at Work

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More People Are Living in the 

Community with Disabilities

• 28% Of 65+ Households Have At 

Least 1 Person Who Has Difficulty 

Using Some Element Of The Home 

(e.g., climbing stairs, using bathtub)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 (Data from American Housing Survey, 2011) 

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“Peter Pan” Homes

• Only 10% Of U.S. Housing Units Have:

– Step-Free Entryway

– First Floor Bedroom and Bath

– And At Least One Bathroom

Accessibility Feature

• Unmet Housing Needs Are Especially

Common Among Older, Low-income

Households

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 (Data from American Housing Survey, 2011) 

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Home Modification is Changing the Home

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Remove Fall Hazards

• Remove clutter, throw rugs

• Rearrange furniture

• Anti-skid strips on stairs

Add Supports

• Improve lighting, night lights

• Grab bars and handrails

• Shower seat or bench

Change Behavior

• Keep frequently used items in easy-to-reach places

• Sit rather than stand while preparing food

Benefits • Make daily activities easier

• Reduces falls, injuries

• Supports caregivers

• Cost effective/Save $
Types of Home Modifications

• Major Home Modifications

• Minor Home Modifications

• Repairs

• Assistive Technology

• Durable Medical Equipment

Barb Mueller, Designs Anew Houston LLC

Eskaton, Sacramento, CA Affordable Living for the Aging, Los Angeles, CA

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Why Are Partnerships Important In Home Modification?

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Home Modification Funding Sources

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Home Modification Process

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Patchwork Service Delivery System, 

Many Providers Involved

• Architects

• Area Agency on Aging staff

• Case managers

• City/County department staff 

(housing/ community 

development, social services,

planning, rehabilitation)

• Churches, religious groups 

• Fair Housing Act, ADA 

implementation staff

• Family members

• Habitat for Humanity chapters

• Hardware store personnel

• Home builders and contractors

• Home health care aides/agencies

• Home modification & repair 

program staff

• Hospital discharge planners

• Housing developers

• Independent Living Center staff

• Information and Assistance 

providers

• Interior designers

• Nurses 

• Older Americans Act service 

providers 

• Physicians

• Product manufacturers

• Realtors

• Rebuilding Together affiliates

• Rehabilitation professionals 

(occupational

and physical therapists)

• Remodelers and contractors

• Senior center staff

• Social workers

• State Assistive Technology Act 

program staff

• State Unit on Aging staff 

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The Power of Partnerships for Home Modification Services

The Power of Partnerships for Home Modification Services

Housing

• Remodelers

• Contractors

• Fair Housing Offices

• Home Modification

Businesses

• Service

Coordinators

• Housing and

Community

Development Depts

Health Care

• Occupational and

Physical Therapists

• Case Managers

• Home Health Care

Agencies

• Durable Medical

Equipment

Suppliers

• Emergency Medical

Services

Aging

• Area Agencies on

Aging

• Senior Centers

• State Units on Aging

• Title VI Native

American Aging

Programs

• Villages

• Aging and Disability

Resource Centers

Disability

• Centers for

Independent Living

• Rehabilitation

Centers

• Assistive

Technology

programs

• Non-Profit and

Other Organizations

Rebuilding Together * Habitat for Humanity * Rotary Clubs 

*Churches/Religious Organizations * Meals on Wheels

Voluntary Groups

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Home Modification Partnership Panel

• Kent Ohms, Community Living Director, Iowa Dept. on Aging

• Brendalyn Shird, Director of Global Engagement, Greater Des 

Moines Habitat for Humanity

• Tracy Keninger, Iowa AT Program Director, Easterseals Iowa

• Sherrie McDonald, Lifelong Links Director, Connections AAA

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Iowa Home 

Modification Efforts

Cross-Sector

Partnerships

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Community Aging in 

Place – Advancing 

Better Living for Elders 

(CAPABLE) Pilots

Funded by 2020 ACL 

Falls Prevention Grant

Western Iowa Project

• Connections Area 

Agency on Aging 

Central Iowa Project

• Happy at Home 

Consulting

• Greater Des Moines 

Habitat

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Assistive 

Technology & 

Durable Medical 

Equipment Grant

Funded through 

Coronavirus Relief 

Funds (CRF)

Consumers accessed 

Easterseals directly 

and referrals came 

from Iowa’s six AAAs

Served 90 Consumers 

and 359 Devices

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More Area Agency 

on Aging Partnerships 

for Home Modifications 

& Other Home 

Modification Initiatives

CRF | Smart Home Pilot

HUD CDBG & AAA 

Partnership

HUD Older Adult Home 

Modification Program

• City of Dubuque

• East Central Intergovernmental 

Association (ECIA, Rural Dubuque 

Area)

HUD Healthy Homes 

Program

• Four projects in Iowa

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Home Modification Resources

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Find Home Modification Programs and 

Funding in Your State

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Home Modification Information Network

Listings of home modification programs, providers, and funding sources by state

www.homemods.org/hmin
Home Modification and Housing Resources 

Fall Prevention Center of Excellence

Home modification resources for consumers and professionals

• www.homemods.org

Housing and Services Resource Center

Resources on housing, mental health, and independent living

• https://acl.gov/HousingAndServices

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Assistive Technology and Centers for 

Independent Living

Find Your State AT Programs

• https://at3center.net/explore-at/

Find Your Centers for Independent Living

• https://www.ilru.org/home

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Area Agencies on Aging, 

State Units on Aging, and 

Title VI Grantee Programs

Find State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging:

• https://eldercare.gov/

Find Title VI Grantee Programs:

• https://olderindians.acl.gov/directors/

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For More Information

Jon Pynoos, PhD

USC Leonard Davis School of 

Gerontology

pynoos@usc.edu

Emily Nabors, MSG

USC Leonard Davis School of 

Gerontology 

emily.nabors@usc.edu

Kent Ohms

Iowa Department on Aging

kenneth.ohms@iowa.gov

Brendalyn Shird

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity 

bshird@gdmhabitat.org

Tracy Keninger

Easterseals Iowa 

tkeninger@eastersealsia.org

Sherrie McDonald

Connections AAA 

smcdonald@connectionsaaa.org

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HSRC Website

acl.gov/HousingAndServices

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Save the Date!

HSRC Office Hour on July 6

Home Modification Collaborations

All webinar registrants will receive the link to sign up.

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Help Us Improve

Please complete our short feedback form:

https://bit.ly/390jwtY

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We want to hear from you! 

Please email us at hsrc@acl.hhs.gov

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Acknowledgment

This presentation was supported in part by the U.S. Administration for Community 

Living through a contract with Mission Analytics Group, Inc. (Contract number 

HHSP233201500060I) which subcontracted the work to USAging. The views 

expressed do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the 

Administration for Community Living / Department of Health and Human Services.