Session3C_SteppingUptoOlmstead

Department of Human Services
Division of
Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
Stepping Up to the Olmstead Mandate
Yirgu Wolde, NJ HMFA
Janel Winter, NJ DHS-DDD
DHS/DDD
1
Department of Human Services
NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
•HMFA
is the largest affordable rental housing purchase
housing and permanent supportive housing financing
Agency in the State
•The Agency has been in existence over 45 years
•With an asset of $4.3Billion, has financed 50,000+
affordable rental apartments, 98,000+ home ownership
units and 2,300+ transitional and permanent supportive
housing units
Department of Human Services
NJ Department of Human Services
Division of Developmental Disabilities




Serves 29,000+ people statewide
$1.5 billion budget (state & federal)
7 developmental centers
~9,000 individuals supported in communitybased housing
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS History of Partnership
NJHMFA – Capital Financing
NJDHS – Operating & Service Funding
1989 – Transitional Housing Revolving Loan
Program



Amandla Crossing – 35 units of housing for
homeless women & children
First homeless shelter in nation on federal land
325 units produced
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS History of Partnership
1996 – NJ Housing Demonstration Program


$11 million for home ownership & affordable
rental units
Funded 32 home ownership opportunities & 683
transitional and permanent rental units
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS History of Partnership
2005 – Special Needs Housing Trust Fund



$200 million to finance development of
permanent supportive housing for people with
special needs
200+ projects financed, creating 1,600+ units
serving 1,905 individuals and families with
special needs
369 DDD individuals served
Department of Human Services
DDD Olmstead Plans
Olmstead settlement agreement

150 individuals moved into community from
developmental centers annually through FY17
NJDC closure scheduled for July 1, 2014
Woodbridge DC closure scheduled for Jan 1,
2015
Department of Human Services
DDD Olmstead Plans
Profile of individuals moving into community
from developmental centers:



High need for accessibility (~45% of individuals)
High need for significant medical OR significant
behavioral supports
Average annual budget for individual: ~$157,000
Department of Human Services
DDD Olmstead Achievements
Department of Human Services
DDD Olmstead Achievements
Engagement of new (to DDD) developers & of
more robust range of service providers
Increased participation in affordable housing
programs/integrated housing programs

FY14: 125 individuals served in LIHTC/other
programs (inc. 30% of Olmstead individuals)
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS Current Partnership
Special Needs Housing Partnership Loan
Program




$33.9 million program, including $22 million in capital
financing contributed by NJHMFA & DCA to match
funds from municipal Affordable Housing Trust Funds
30 municipalities in 14 counties participating
8 municipalities currently negotiating, representing an
additional $3.6 million in municipal contributions
In response to DHS need, HMFA funding priority projects
at 100%
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS Partnership
Special Needs Housing Partnership Loan
Program



29 projects opened, housing 113 individuals
11 projects to house 44 individuals in
closing/construction
7 projects to house 28 individuals in application
review
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS Partnership
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program



Supportive Housing Cycle – at least 25% of units
set aside for individuals with special needs
Multifamily Cycle – 2 points for projects that set
aside greater of 5% units/5 units for Olmstead
individuals
FY14: 5 LIHTC set-asides housing 40 Olmstead
individuals (1/2 of set-aside units)
Department of Human Services
NJHMFA-NJDHS Partnership
Sandy Special Needs Housing Fund



CDBG-DR funds to support the replenishment of
affordable housing stock for people with
disabilities in 9 impacted counties
$25 million in first tranche; anticipate additional
$25 million
42 units of housing that will serve people w/I/DD
to be committed by end of May
Department of Human Services
Challenges and Solutions
Understanding Each Other’s Languages



Teaching “service” people to speak “housing”
and “housing” people to speak services
Challenge: DDD person-based funding difficult
for HMFA to underwrite
Solution: When DDD staff understood issue,
were able to break out & provide acceptable
commitment for “housing voucher” portion of
budget
Department of Human Services
Challenges and Solutions
Understanding Each Other’s Languages

Challenge: Understanding of Olmstead
population’s needs by affordable housing
professionals


Accessibility, location, shared living
Solution: Ongoing trainings sponsored by HMFA
for developers & affordable housing professionals
on Olmstead population

Geographic preferences, accessibility needs,
integrated housing, service delivery & Medicaid
services
Department of Human Services
Challenges and Solutions
Flexibility to Respond to Emerging Needs


Challenge: With NJDC closure, DDD identified
need for housing for 40 individuals in Bergen &
Passaic Counties
Solution: Through SNHPLP, HMFA offering
enhanced financing to quickly develop projects in
those counties
Department of Human Services
NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
Yirgu Wolde, NJ HMFA
ywolde@njhmfa.state.nj.us
Janel Winter, NJ DHS-DDD
janel.winter@dhs.state.nj.us