The impact of these shortages will be felt significantly by people aged 65 and over and people with disabilities who are seeking services for the first time and current recipients needing increases in services. Housing There is also a severe shortage of affordable, supportive housing arrangements for people who cannot remain in their own home. Many of the new housing with services models are targeted at people with significant income and resources. People without those levels of income or resources have very few appropriate housing options. In rural Minnesota, there are even fewer affordable and appropriate housing options.
Affordable housing is essential to ensure a stable community-based system.
There must be creative use of existing housing resources to safely provide access and provide services while recognizing lifestyle choices and protecting the rights and dignity of consumers. A major problem in better coordination of housing and continuing care services is that both have traditionally been viewed as separate, with their own policies, standards and financing. Assistance in informing and educating people about their housing options, financing methods and coordination with services is seriously lacking. Mental illness is a leading cause of disability. It can be a primary disability or it can co-occur with other disabilities.