Independence. The goal of all goals.
If there’s anything we’re proud of, it’s when our children reach a new milestone in self-sufficiency.
And New York State, as it turns out, also likes to support new levels of independence. Which is why they offer a range of support services for our kids — among them, OPWDD Housing Subsidy.
Whazzat?
Just like the name implies, OPWDD Housing Subsidy (previously known as ISS) is a NY service which provides rent assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The subsidy is awarded to the individual himself, not the family whom he lives with — no matter how loving and caring the family is (Sorry!). The individual’s got to be the legal tenant of the apartment in order to get the subsidy.
That said, he may share his living space with others, including family members and caregivers — so long as the apartment meets all requirements and the eligible individual is the legal tenant.
Sounds exciting? It is! But bear in mind that OPWDD Housing Subsidy only covers rent for fully legal apartments that are conducive to independent living and meet all of OPWDD’s requirements. That means no certified residential group homes (IRAs), no renting just a bedroom, no renting out a kitchen-less basement without a private entrance, and so forth.
How much will they pay?
OPWDD Housing Subsidy is set at the standard local Section 8 rate. The individual is expected to contribute up to 30% of the rent, depending on their specific circumstances, and OPWDD Housing Subsidy pays the rest.
One more point to remember is that an individual can only receive ONE housing subsidy — if they are enrolled in Section 8, they cannot get an additional subsidy through OWPDD.
Is my kid eligible?
Eligible individuals must be:
Over the age of 18
Eligible for OPWDD (whether receiving traditional or self-directed services — there’s no difference between the two in terms of the subsidy amount)
Receiving (or will receive) the necessary supports to live independently, as outlined in their Life Plan
Independent enough to manage with the supports he is eligible for (and not more)
Earning some income (either through SSI or employment)
He or she must also have:
The ability to pay for basic essentials (food, clothes, etc.) after housing costs are paid
Applied for all other benefits, such as Section 8
So. Cool.
So, what does the enrollment process look like?
There are two parts to this process:
Preliminary Approval: Tell your child’s care manager that you would like to apply for OPWDD Housing Subsidy. The care manager will submit the necessary documentation to OPWDD’s regional office and let you know once your child’s been determined eligible. Preliminary approval can take several months to come through.
Once your child’s been approved for OPWDD Housing Subsidy, the agency will need to submit the necessary documentation to OPWDD’s regional office to determine how much assistance your child can receive through OPWDD Housing Subsidy. You’ll need to find an apartment and have your child sign the lease. The agency will have to go through a legal checklist from OPWDD to ensure that the living space meets all of the health and safety standards. This inspection needs to take place within 7 days of your child moving into the apartment.
Important Note!
An individual living independently in their own apartment loses their respite services and access to FSS. It’s important to assess whether you are depending on your child’s respite services and FSS funding before making the decision to apply for housing subsidy.
Specific questions related to your circumstances should be directed to your care manager or self-direction broker. Many agencies have dedicated in-house people who deal with OPWDD Housing Subsidy and can answer your care manager’s questions. OPWDD has also published a list of FAQs, which you can view by clicking the button below.
With much appreciation to the following people who generously shared their time and knowledge on the topic of OPWDD Housing Subsidy with us:
Miriam Gantz, Hamaspik
Blimi Stern, HCS
The Rubinfelds, an elderly couple, were no longer able to make Pesach, so they made tentative plans to move in with their married daughter. The only issue was that their relative who cared for Shlomo Zalman, their adult son with special needs, couldn’t host him for Pesach this year — but the Rubinfelds’ daughter couldn’t accommodate him, either. Their daughter called Ezreinu, and Shlomo Zalman was placed with a warm, loving family who was happy to take him in for the entire yom tov. 🟦
Simi, an adorable toddler with special needs, needed help with everything. With her hands full caring for her other children, Simi’s mother reached out to Ezreinu for information about getting an aide. Though she’d started the process months earlier, the agency she’d been in contact with was unresponsive and nothing seemed to be going anywhere. Ezreinu put her directly in touch with a contact at a different agency, which was able to enroll Simi in no time. 🟦
Identifying details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
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