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3.1.1 Home Ownership |
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Louisiana Statewide Transition Project and Louisiana: Healthy and Ready to Work Fact Sheet Series |
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1/4/99 |
I. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Owning one's own home is an important part of
the American Dream. Regardless of whether it is a small mobile home or a
mansion, being a homeowner can foster pride and respect. Currently almost 65%
of all adult Americans own their own homes. Unfortunately, this piece of the
American Dream has not been sought by or achieved by many persons with
disabilities; less than 1% of all adults with disabilities own their own homes.
However, over the last three years, as a result of advancements in residential
services, increasing numbers of Louisianans with disabilities are becoming
homeowners.
These individuals report that home ownership
provides them with a sense of community inclusion, pride, choice and control
not offered in traditional residential service options.
II. KEY POINTS
Anthony's story: Anthony, a former special education student, began the
process toward home ownership in January 1996. At that time, Anthony was living
with his mother, uncle, and grandmother in a New Orleans Public Housing
Development apartment. Anthony desperately wanted to buy a house and live
independently. In addition, Anthony desired to live in a neighborhood where he
felt safe. With persistence, hard work, and the support of his team members,
Anthony moved into a newly renovated two bedroom, two bathroom house on his
twenty-third birthday, November 25, 1996. Anthony's financial profile indicated
that, based on his annual income of approximately $12,000.00, he could afford
to buy a single family home with a purchase price of $45,000. To purchase his
home Anthony contributed $1,515.00 of his own funds. He received a $25,000.00
second mortgage and a below market interest rate first mortgage. Anthony's
monthly house payment is $341.36.
For Anthony, becoming a homeowner required
hard work, determination, collaboration, and planning. Anthony, his team members,
and the Greater New Orleans Home of My Own project used the following steps to
assist Anthony in becoming a homeowner.
(1) Establish a support team. Becoming a homeowner takes a considerable amount of
time and energy and will require the support of family members, friends, and
service providers. It is important that these individuals come together to form
a team to provide assistance during the process.
(2) Develop a housing vision and financial
profile. Before an individual can
begin the home purchase process, person-centered planning and assessment
strategies should be used to develop a housing vision. The potential homeowner
and his or her team members must discuss, at length, the features needed and
wanted in a home. Developing a financial profile by reviewing an individual's
income, debt, and expenses assists in determining housing affordability.
(3) Identify and access state and local
affordable housing resources. Most
barriers to home ownership by persons with disabilities are related to
economics and affordability, not disability. Recognition of this by individuals
with disabilities, their family members, and service providers will open the
door to numerous previously untapped resources. Community resources designed to
assist persons with low incomes to become homeowners often provide financial
assistance for the down payment, closing costs, and other expenses incurred
when purchasing a home.
(4) Develop an individualized home
purchase action plan. The process an
individual with a disability must complete to become a successful homeowner is
similar to that undertaken by a person without a disability. The need for
individual supports, the coordination of these supports, and often the need for
financial subsidies are all additional issues that may be encountered by
individuals with disabilities. It is critical that needed supports be
coordinated efficiently and that financial subsidies be accessed and utilized
effectively. This is best accomplished through the development of a written
action plan.
(5) Implement and monitor the
individualized home purchase action plan. Successful implementation of the home ownership action plan will
require collaboration and creative problem-solving. Many tasks must be
accomplished including locating a house, finalizing the financing, and
completing the act of sale. As with any collaborative action planning process,
it is important that participants meet regularly to monitor the progress of the
action plan, update action steps, and collaboratively problem-solve solutions to
barriers.
Everyone with a disability should not be a
homeowner, just as everyone without a disability should not own a home.
However, for those individuals with disabilities who want to experience the
advantages of home ownership, purchasing a home they can afford is possible.
III. ROLES/NEXT STEPS
Where an individual will live when he or she
leaves the family home is a decision that must be considered carefully. The
decision to become a homeowner should not be taken lightly. Owning a home may
not be part of many students' immediate plans upon exiting high school, but it
is important that students and family members realize that this is an option.
Steps taken during the high school years can ensure that students and family members
receive the information necessary to make an informed decision about home
ownership and if necessary, begin planning.
Students/Young Adults:
During the later high school years, students
should begin gathering as much information about home ownership as possible.
Information can be obtained from school and public libraries; talking to family
members and friends who are homeowners; and community resources designed to
assist persons in becoming homeowners. Information to gather includes but is
not limited to: (a) the advantages and disadvantages of home ownership; (b) the
different types of dwellings; (c) how to determine housing affordability; and
(d) the financial obligations of home ownership.
Families:
Family members should also gather as much information
about home ownership as possible. Information can be obtained from the public
library; community resources designed to assist persons with low incomes to be
home owners; regional Offices for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities; and
other family members who have been through the home ownership process. In
addition, families must explore the legal issues associated with home
ownership, such as the Louisiana Medicaid Recovery Act, as well as guardianship
and conservatorship issues. Families, in collaboration with the classroom
teacher, can assist young adults in preparing for the responsibilities of home
ownership by providing instruction or assistance in budget development, minor
home repair, bill paying, and other household tasks.
Agencies:
Service provider agencies play a major role
in assisting persons with disabilities to become homeowners. Individuals with
disabilities and family members look to agencies, not only for support
services, but also for information and guidance. As a result, agencies must be
proactive in obtaining information about advances and policy changes in home
ownership and in sharing this information with their consumers. Agency
personnel must also develop skills in person-centered planning, community
networking, collaboration, and the development and delivery of individualized
support services.
IV. RESOURCES/CONTACTS
"A Home of My Own Project,"
LSUMC/HDC, 1100 Florida Ave. #119, New Orleans, LA 70119, 504-942-5902.
Regional Families Helping Families Office. To
obtain the address and number for the office in your region, contact the
Developmental Disabilities DIAL Line, 1-800-922-3425.
Regional Office for Citizens with
Developmental Disabilities. To obtain the address and phone number for the
office in your region, contact the Louisiana Office for Citizens with
Developmental Disabilities at 504-342-0095.
A Guide to Home Ownership, available through
Fannie Mae, National Housing Impact Division, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW,
Washington D.C. 20016-2899.
Extending the American Dream: Home Ownership
for People with Disabilities, available through the National Home of Your Own
Alliance, Institute on Disability/UAP, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824-4724.
Home Ownership by Persons with Disabilities:
A manual for individuals with Disabilities and their families, available
through Louisiana's A Home of My Own initiative, LSUMC/HDC, 1100 Florida Ave.
#119, New Orleans, LA 70119.
V. REFERENCES
Klein,
J., Black, M. (1995). Extending the American dream: homeownership for people
with disabilities. Durham, New Hampshire Institute on Developmental
Disabilities, University of New Hampshire.
Fields,
T., Lakin, C., Seltzer, B., & Wobschall, R., (1995). A guidebook on
consumer controlled housing. Minneapolis:
ARC Minnesota, University of Minnesota.
O'Brien,
J. (1994, February). Down stairs that are never your own: Supporting people
with developmental disabilities in their own homes, Mental Retardation. 32(1).
1-6.