Federal Housing Vouchers as a Key to STATE Olmstead Compliance

Val's Take

• Colorado's Nursing Home Transition Program  was designed to transition nursing home residents to the community where appropriate.
• I remember asking --- what about housing.  They were flush with housing vouchers.  That wasn't the most pressing issue.
• In that situation, the Feds and the States were bearing very high nursing home costs and --- there was a clear financial benefit to the Feds and the States to transition people with disabilities out of nursing homes if they could safely live in the community.
• In contrast, Chronic Homelessness often involves people with  some type of Neuro-Developmental or Psychiatric difference/disability and an IQ over 70.
  

• When it comes to homelessness, it's Municipalities and Counties that are bearing the brunt of the costs --- as it relates to governmental entities.
• The people themselves, their families and the communities are  bearing large costs as well.
• The Feds, including CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), US Interagency Council on Homelessness, etc. and scattered disability advocates may appreciate the responsibility of States to provide Housing under Olmstead.
• Outside the initiated, most people are not going to know much about Olmstead.
• It appears that Denver is getting Housing Vouchers.
• It is important that the Feds make available Housing Vouchers and Housing + Care Vouchers to meet the need to address Chronic Homelessness.
• In Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston and his staff learned the hard way (as so many of us have), of the importance of Case Management.
• The State has also identified Case Management as a Critical Issue.