Partnerships to Increase Housing 

Stability Through Assistive Technology, 

Home Modifications, & Repairs

August 7, 2023

Webinar
Welcome

Webinar is hosted by the 

Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC)

Facilitator

Lori Gerhard, Director, Office for Interagency Innovations

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

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Instructions for Zoom

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• 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

This event is being 

recorded.

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Accessibility

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• Enlarge view of ASL interpreter by “pinning” them: 

Click on their video window and select the Pin icon.

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• Request speech on demand: 

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Poll: Current Involvement in Accessibility

Does your agency offer home modification, repair, 

or assistive technology (AT) assistance?

• Offer direct assistance.

• Partner/contract with agency that provides 

assistance.

• Refer to agency that provides assistance.

• Provide education only.

• We do not offer modification, repair, or AT assistance.

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Housing and Services 

Resource Center
Agenda

• Welcome and housekeeping

• Importance of home 

accessibility

• State assistive technology (AT) 

program services

• HUD home modification 

funding

• USDA home modification and 

repair loans and grants

• Featured programs: 

– FREED Center for Independent 

Living

– Nebraska AT Partnership

• Q & A

• Closing

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Poll Results 

Chat: 

Describe the partnership 

between your agency and 

your local AT, home mods, 

or home repair program(s).

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Lack of Accessible Housing

• 23.1 Million — American households with accessibility needs.

• 40% — American households in which a person lives in a home that 

does not have the accessibility features they need to live safely and 

successfully in the community.

• In 47% of homes, climbing up or down stairs to enter the home is 

required.

▪ Just 14% of households that include persons with accessibility needs 

reported having a ramp or lift of some type.

SP Group LLC. (2021, March). Accessibility in Housing: Findings from the 2019 American Housing Survey. 

[Online complete report]. Retrieved from HUD PD&R website: 

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/Accessibility-in-Housing-Report.html

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Accessibility Solutions

• Assistive Technology

• Home Modifications

• Home Repairs

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What is the State Assistive Technology Act Program?

• Administered by the Administration for Community Living

• Authorized under the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act or the AT Act of 

1998, as Amended

• Available in all 56 States and Territories (mandatory/formula grant awards)

• Serves people of all ages and disabilities (temporary or permanent) to

– Become aware of and how to access assistive technology devices and services

– Learn about assistive technology and accessibility options and how to use them

– Try out AT devices through demonstrations and short-term loans before purchasing

– Acquire AT and durable medical equipment through alternative financing programs as 

well as lightly used and refurbished devices through State AT reutilization programs

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Partnerships for Accessible Homes

• AT partners have common goals:

– to promote the ability of individuals with functional limitations of all ages to live in the home of 

their choice.

– for aging in place to enhance community engagement and integration.

• Possible opportunities for partnership:

– Increasing awareness of assistive technology, including access to remote technologies.

– Connecting people to the assistive technology that works best for them through 

demonstrations and short-term loans.

– Training and technical assistance on assistive technology adaptations and modifications.
Overview of Activities for Selecting Appropriate 

Assistive Technology Devices and Services

State-Level Activities:

▪ Device Demonstration

▪ Device Loan

▪ Device Reutilization (Reuse)

▪ State Financing

State Leadership Activities:

▪ Information & Assistance

▪ Training and Technical 

Assistance Transition

▪ Public Awareness
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Connect with AT Act Programs @ ACL

ACL Rob Groenendaal: robert.groenendaal@acl.hhs.gov

AT3 AT3 Center: https://www.at3center.net/stateprogram

AT Data Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance (CATADA): 

https://catada.info

Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclgov
U.S. Department of 

Housing and Urban 

Development

Office of Lead Hazard 

Control and Healthy 

Homes

Older Adult Home 

Modification Grant 

(OAHMP)

Monday, August 7, 2023

Dr. Taneka Blue, OTR/L, CAPS

Government Technical 

Representative (GTR)

HUD - OLHCHH 15

Slides 15 through 19 are from HUD - OLHCHH.
Program 

Overview 

Over the last two years, HUD’s Office of Lead 

Hazard Control and Healthy Homes has made $15-

30 million available in grant funding under its 

Older Adults Home Modification Program 

(OAHMP).

Purpose: Assist organizations and agencies to 

make low-cost, low-barrier, high-impact home 

modifications and repairs to meet the needs of 

low-income elderly homeowners. 

Goal: To enable low-income elderly persons to 

remain in their homes by reducing older adults’ 

risk of falling, improving safety, increasing 

accessibility, and improving their functional 

abilities in their home. 
Basic Program 

Requirements: 

Who Can 

Apply?

Eligible Applicants

County, state, city, township, special district governments; 

Non-profit organizations having a 501(c)(3) status; Public 

housing agencies.

Program-Specific 

Requirements

Eligible applicants need to have at least 3 years of 

experience in providing services to elderly persons.

Urbanized Area or 

Substantially Rural 

Designation

Applicants must designate in applications the target area 

as urbanized area and/or substantially rural area, utilizing 

the Tool developed by HUD.

Program Beneficiaries Low-income homeowners aged 62 or older.

Awards

Cooperative Agreements: $500,000- $1,250,000 for 

a 36-month performance period.
Find OAHMP 

Grantees in 

Your Area

• 46 experienced organizations have been 

awarded grant funding to increase the 

safety, accessibility, and functionality of 

homes owned by low-income adults 62 

and older to effectively age in place.

• https://www.hud.gov/press/press_rele

ases_media_advisories/HUD_No_23_0

87

• https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/d

ocuments/OAHMP-Grantees.pdf
What Can This 

Grant Do for 

You???

• Support the independence of older homeowners in 

your community

• Demonstrate that providing client-focused, low-cost 

home modifications is feasible, beneficial, and 

empowering

• Help you engage with aging adults in your 

community and address their home modification 

needs

• Support affordable and accessible housing goals by 

improving existing owner-occupied housing stock

• Protect adults from potential falls, injury, reduced 

independence, hospitalizations, and homelessness

HUD - OLHCHH 19
Be on the lookout for new 2023 funding 

opportunities! 

Bookmark and monitor:

• HUD’s Press Release 

• HUD’s Funding Opportunities 

Page

• Grants.gov

• The Federal Register
Questions? 

Contact:

Dr. Taneka Blue, Government Technical Representative

Taneka.M.Blue@hud.gov

202-402-6846
USDA Home Modification & Repair Funding

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Featured Presenter

Kimi Barnes, Fix It Coordinator, FREED, Inc. – northern 

California

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ABILITY REDEFINED

FREED is an Independent Living Center serving 

people of all ages in the Northern California counties 

of Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa
PERSON CENTERED 

HOME MODIFICATION 

SERVICES

Consumers are...

• the center of their own 

services, 

• the ones who decide what 

services they would like, 

• or even if they want services at 

all.
MULTIPLE PROGRAMS SUPPORT 

HOME MODIFICATIONS

1. Fix It

2. Assistive Technology

3. Transition

4. Enhanced Information & Assistance
FIX IT PROGRAM SERVICES

Provides minor home modifications and repairs 

for older adults and people with disabilities at 

no charge:

• Install grab bars, transfer poles, portable aluminum 

ramps and railings

• Minor repairs to porches, stairs, ramps

• Repair leaky toilets and faucets

• Assist with institution-to-home transition home 

modifications

• Referrals to other agencies and resources for larger 

projects
FIX IT SERVICE DELIVERY

Fix It services are provided by:

1. Volunteers

2. Contractors and handymen

3. Collaboration with other agencies
FIX IT FUNDING SOURCES

• Agency on Aging Area 4 

• Older American’s Act Title IIIB Funds

• Older Adults Recovery and Resilience Funding - Dignity at Home

• Nevada County General Funds

• Yuba City CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) 

• Nevada County CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

• Equipment Reuse Donate or Receive used 

DME

• Device Demonstration & Lending Library

WAYS WE PARTNER

• Streamline Services: One intake process 

and service coordination by either AT or 

Fix It – many consumers receive both 

services

• Use loaned items like portable ramps 

while permanent modifications are 

planned
TRANSITION TO COMMUNITY LIVING PROGRAMS

• Transition Coordinator meets with consumers at skilled nursing 

facility and conducts a home visit before discharge to identify needs

• Connects consumers to services including Fix It and Assistive 

Technology before discharge for safe transition to home

• Designed to prevent hospital & skilled nursing readmission by 

supporting consumers and their families after discharge

• Follow up and support after transition home
TRANSITION FUNDING SOURCES

California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) funds:

• Transition/Diversion Grant, moving from Hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility to 

home OR to prevent entering a congregate care setting

• Community Living Fund (CLF) assist with needs to return home or divert from 

institutionalization

State of CA Medi-Cal funded services:

• CA Community Transitions Money Follows the Person 
Home Modifications for a transition that utilized the Fix It and 

Assistive Technology programs, a Transition and CLF grant from 

the DOR as well as the Handyman referral list.
ENHANCED INFORMATION & REFERRAL 

For repairs and modifications that fall outside the scope of FREED Fix It services, 

referrals are made to community resources and outside agencies.

• FREED Handyman Referral List 

• Home Safe Program through County Adult Protective Services

• USDA Home Repair loan & grant programs

• Habitat for Humanity – home repair programs

• Veterans Disability Housing grants

• Yuba Sutter Veterans Stand Down 

• Weatherization Assistance Programs 
QUESTIONS

Grass Valley 

435 Sutton Way 

Grass Valley, CA 95945 

(530) 477-3333 voice 

(530) 477-8194 TTY 

(530) 477-8184 fax 

(800) 655-7732 Toll Free 

Yuba City 

1100 Butte House Road, Suite 120 

Yuba City, CA 95991 

(530) 742-4474 voice 

(530) 742-2379 TTY 

(530) 742-4476 fax

Serving Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties 

www.FREED.org
Chat

What is the biggest challenge your agency has faced 

in meeting your community’s AT, home modification, 

and repair needs?

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Featured Presenter

Tobias Orr, Director, Nebraska Assistive Technology 

Partnership (ATP) – Nebraska

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Nebraska Home 

Modification Program
Nebraska State AT Program

• State agency within Nebraska VR and the Department of 

Education

• Serve all counties in Nebraska

• Population = 1.964 million

• Half the population lives in the Southeast corner

• Help consumers learn about and obtain assistive technology

• Including home and vehicle modifications
Home Accessibility Modifications

Entry

• Entrance ramp

• Vertical platform lift

• Half steps

• Door widening

• Door opener

Bathroom

• Roll in shower

• Grab bars

• Roll under sink

• ADA height toilet

• Door widening

• Bidet

Kitchen and other

• Stove with controls on the 

front

• Lowered cabinets

• Roll under sink

• Stair lift

• Ceiling track lift

• Smart Home technology
Benefits of an Accessible Home

• Allows a person with a disability to live in the community 

and home of their choice

• Reduces the chance of falls/injuries

• In rural areas, if an assisted living facility or nursing home 

are not nearby, a person may be forced to leave their 

community and their support network
Nebraska Partnerships

How are Home Modifications funded in Nebraska?

• Aged and Disabled Waiver

• Developmental Disability Wavier

• Nebraska VR (Vocational Rehabilitation)

• Private Foundations and Grants

• Enrichment Foundation, MS Society

• Other Government Programs

• USDA

• Barrier removal programs

• Economic Development (Owner Occupied Rehab grants)

• Easterseals Alternative Finance Program
Nebraska Partnerships Continued

Benefits of the partnerships in Nebraska

• Quality control

• Cost savings to the taxpayer

• Unbiased assessments

• Knowledgeable project design and management

• Ability to blend different funding sources
The Process – Step 1

Referral received

• Service Coordinator from Center for Independent Living 

(CIL) or area agency on aging (AAA) – Aged and Disabled 

Waiver

• In Nebraska a CIL and the AAAs have the contract with 

Medicaid for waiver service coordination

• Nebraska VR 

• Developmental Disability Service Coordinator –

Developmental Disability Waiver
The Process – Steps 2 and 3 

Assessment

• Technology Specialist meets with, assesses consumer

• Plans/specifications are reviewed, approved by consumer

Project sent out for quotes

• Plans sent to ATP approved contractors for quotes

• Contractors receiving Nebraska Waiver funds must be approved 

Medicaid providers

• Attempt to get at least 2 quotes

• Project awarded to lowest appropriate bid
The Process – Step 4

Contractor performs the home modification

• ATP provides project oversight

• Any changes must be approved by ATP and consumer

• Once complete, ATP staff inspects the project with consumer

• Consumer signs off on Acceptance and Agreement form

• Once complete, contractor payment is processed

• All work/materials warrantied for one year
Resource Coordination

ATP provides resource coordination for assistive technology 

and home/vehicle modifications

• Service and Device application (S and D)

• Resource Coordinator researches potential funding sources

• If qualified for a funding source managed by ATP, the request is referred 

to the appropriate Program Supervisor

• A Resource Letter is sent to consumer

• Detailed instructions on how to apply for various potential funding sources 

• Resource Specialist available to assist consumer 

• Referred to other ATP programs if appropriate (Reuse, Loans)
Cost Savings to the Taxpayer

Home Modification cost vs. cost of a Nursing Home

• Average project cost in Nebraska = $8,500

• Average cost of a one month stay at a Nursing Home in 

Nebraska = $7,483 - $8,289 (www.seniorliving.org)

Average cost of a hospital stay (healthcare.gov)

• Broken leg = $7,500

• 3-day hospital stay = $30,000
Questions?

Tobias Orr – tobias.orr@nebraska.gov
Q & A
HSRC Website

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Acknowledgment

This presentation was supported 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.

USAging would like to acknowledge the many contributions of the University of Southern California 

Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in this webinar.