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For Ivan and others interested, The following is from the Brain Injury Association website -- a great source for public policy info. relating to all health care and disability issues. Ivan, your state seems to be going iin the opposite direction of this proposed HUD initiative which is to move the disabled out of nursing homes and into community living. See below. The University of New Hampshire is also involved in this initiative. Maybe someone there could provide you with more info., guidance, etc. For more information see: http://www.biausa.org Policy Corner A Public Policy Update for the Brain Injury Association January 8, 2001 In the Agencies... Comments Invited on New HUD Housing Initiative -- A notice, released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Federal Register on December 19, 2000 announces a proposed National Initiative called Access Housing 2000. This innovative initiative will assist people with disabilities to move from nursing homes into the community by providing improved access to integrated, accessible, and affordable housing and personal assistance and support services. HUD is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire to implement this initiative. Highlights of the proposed Access Housing 2000 five-year national initiative include: 1) The commitment of 400 Section 8 vouchers by HUD targeted for use by persons with disabilities and families of children with disabilities who currently reside in nursing homes. The goal is to reach 2000 people in about 40 states or territories at full implementation; 2) Outreach provided to create and support local coalitions consisting of public, private, and advocacy organizations to build ground-level support for the initiative and to assist in its implementation; 3) The meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the design and implementation of a comprehensive, effective plan for assisting individuals to transition from nursing homes, both during and after the grant period; 4) Vouchers administered by selected Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in close collaboration with State Medicaid agencies to persons with disabilities for the purpose of renting or owning integrated accessible and affordable housing; 5) The provision of Nursing Home Transition (NHT) grants by HHS that assure persons leaving nursing homes will have adequate personal assistance services and support to meet their needs ; 7) The assurance that individuals leaving nursing homes have on-going access to personal assistance and support services, separate from housing that will allow them to remain in their communities; and 8) Participants in the initiative having maximum control over their funding, assistance, and services; The complete notice can be downloaded from the National Home of Your Own Alliance website at: http://alliance.unh.edu. There is a comment period of 60 calendar days from the December 19 the date of publication. Comments may be sent by mail only to: The Access Housing 2000 Proposed Initiative Docket Number: FR-4641-N-01 The Regulations Division Office of General Counsel, Room 10276 Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington DC, 20410 Please send copies of your comments to Anne Parrette at BIA's Public Policy Department; 105 N. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or contact Anne at 703-236-6000, Ext. 120 if you have any questions.