Program opens doors to homeownership
If you’ve considered owning a home, now’s the time to act! Homeownership opportunities are growing
for people with disabilities around the United States. In October 2000, the Department of Housing
and Urban Development released a new rule stating that Section 8 vouchers can now be used for
mortgage payments, as well as rental housing.
The program is an exciting opportunity for participants to build equity through homeownership. Of
the 65 public housing agencies (PHA) in Indiana, none have signed on to participate in the
program. Your help is needed to educate and influence your local housing agency to participate in
this program.
For example, if a family was purchasing a home with a $76,800 mortgage, the balance after 15 years
would be $56,851.72, meaning the family would have approximately $20,000 in equity without any
appreciation. At the same time, the government would be saving $38,559.23. When you rent an
apartment, you do not accrue equity.
The program is beneficial for both the recipient and administrator. If you are a person with a
disability and want to be able to own your own home, to obtain bank loans and to contribute to the
local economy, contact your PHA today!
Contact your local government for more information on your nearest public housing agency. For
general information on the Section 8 Homeownership Rule, call (800) 220-8770 (voice), (603)
862-4320 (TT) or visit www.alliance.unh.edu.
Three communities sought for new advocacy network
Indiana Disability Advocacy Network is seeking three Indiana communities to initiate a statewide
consumer network for people with disabilities, thanks to an Indiana Governor’s Planning Council
grant. One component of the network is the Community Organizing and Leadership Intern Program,
which will bring consumers together to create systems-change in Indiana.
“The goal of this consumer network is to create one, strong political voice and consumer network
that will then create a powerful movement throughout Indiana,” said Sheri Caveda, project director
for the Network. “The Community Organizing and Leadership Intern Program will help connect the
dots in local communities, while creating a statewide coalition that will eventually connect the
state.”
Three communities will be selected this year to participate in this program, which is a
nine-month, step-by-step plan to organize disability stakeholders in their respective communities.
Each community team is expected to complete a series of steps geared towards leadership
development and community alliance building. Teams accepted into the program will be allocated
$1,000 for organizing expenses.
For more information or for a program
application, contact Sheri Caveda at
(219) 424-2175 (voice).
Pilot mortgage program offers more home choices
The Back Home in Indiana Alliance, Irwin Mortgage and
the Indiana Housing Finance Authority (IHFA) are piloting a Fannie Mae mortgage loan program
called HomeChoice in Bartholomew, Knox and Marion counties. HomeChoice is designed to meet the
mortgage underwriting needs of low- and moderate-income people who have disabilities or families
of people with disabilities. The loans are tailored to offer a down payment as low as $500;
provide greater flexibility in qualifying and underwriting standards; and accept nontraditional
credit histories.
The Back Home in Indiana Alliance will market the program, screen applicants and coordinate
counseling. IHFA will finance the first mortgages through its below-market mortgage revenue bond
program. Irwin Mortgage will originate the mortgages.
Who qualifies? The borrower or person living in the household must be a person with a disability
and the total gross annual household income must be
considered low or moderate as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD).
For more information, contact Deborah McCarty, Back Home in Indiana Alliance, at (800) 825-4733
(voice) or (317) 638-2392 (voice).
Advocacy works in Bloomington
As a city of over 50,000 with the amenities of even larger cities, Bloomington has carved a niche
in the disability community.
City adds national disability award to its list
The National Organization on Disability’s (NOD) Community Awards Competition has awarded
Bloomington’s Council for Community Accessibility as the runner-up in the “Cities over 50,000”
category. The city received a $2,000 cash prize.
The award recognizes exemplary local programs and efforts that encourage and expand the
participation of people with disabilities in
the life of the community and inspire replication and/or adaptation in areas across the country.
“This award is the result of over a decade
of activity on the part of the city and the members of the Council for Community Accessibility,”
said Bloomington Mayor John Hernandez. “We hope to use the funds to
continue to provide more workshops for businesses about the benefits and responsibilities of
complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”
Bloomington has developed a plan to increase awareness about disabilities, developed a “Directory
of Resources and Services for People with Disabilities” and installed audible traffic signals.
Bloomington businesses have participated in ADA compliance workshops; people with disabilities can
participate in a year-round sports division; and the community holds an annual community awards
competition.
Bloomington group spreads power to the people
PeoplePower! supports and involves people with disabilities to become an active part of the local
and state policymaking processes. The group began its work last fall with voter registration and
get-out-the-vote campaigns for the 2000 General Election.
PeoplePower!, established by a grant from the Council, has:
- Developed a community-wide cross disability advocacy group.
- Developed a common agenda for community and state policy and legislation.
- Hosted a candidates forum.
- Recruited poll workers.
- Convinced the city to provide free bus service to the polls.
- Initiated the development of an Independent Living Center.
- Created a statewide Americans with Disabilities Act Community Report Card.
Successes like these can be achieved in any community. For more information on the Council for
Community Accessibility, contact Craig Brenner, special projects coordinator, at (812) 349-3430
(voice) or brennerc@city.bloomington.in.us (e-mail). More information on PeoplePower! is available
by calling the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at (812) 855-6508 (voice) or
e-mailing BeHeard@indiana.edu (e-mail).
Medicaid rules improved
Two recent changes in Medicaid will help people with disabilities obtain the health care they
need.
The first improvement is for students with disabilities living with their parents. The students
can now apply for Medicaid benefits when they turn 18 years of age, and their parents’ incomes and
resources have no effect on eligibility. Formerly, students had to wait until they were 21 years
of age or quit school in order to have their families’ income and resources excluded.
“The benefits the student sees is two-fold,” said Tamara Henry of Indiana Parent Information
Network (IPIN) and a Council member. “The student will not be penalized for his or her family’s
resources, therefore we hope he/she will qualify for more services from Medicaid.”
The second major improvement in Indiana Medicaid is the definition of disability. As of Jan. 1,
2001, a disability must be one “that appears reasonably certain to result in death or that has
lasted or appears reasonably certain to last for a continuous period of at least four years.” In
the past to be eligible, an individual’s disability needed to “continue throughout the lifetime of
the individual.”
For more information about Indiana’s public health insurance programs, contact IPIN toll-free at
(800) 964-4746.
Travel made easier
Spring is here and summer is fast approaching. This means travel season is also here. People with
disabilities can now look forward to a better and easier ride on Greyhound Lines Inc. and the
TravelEase program due to a partnership with United Cerebral Palsy.
“The TravelEase program will make travel easier for people with disabilities,” said David Scott,
information and referral specialist for the Indianapolis Resource Center for Independent Living
(IRCIL). “The added option of traveling by bus will help people stay connected with family and
friends.”
Through the TravelEase program, Greyhound personnel are being trained to recognize and better meet
the needs of customers with disabilities; more specifically to provide assistance with boarding
buses, luggage, transfers, stowage and retrieval of assistive devices.
One of the biggest improvements is a
wheelchair lift device. With a 48-hour advanced notice, boarding/alighting service will be
provided. If a 48-hour notice is not possible, Greyhound will make a reasonable effort to get a
bus with the lift or another device. Once on the bus, people with disabilities can use tie downs
to remain in their wheelchairs during the trip.
Other improvements made through the TravelEase program include:
- A free ticket for a personal care attendant. The ticket is one way and will be issued only to the attendant at the time of travel. A ticket for the return of the attendant will need to be purchased from the returning location on the day of travel.
- Priority seating for people with disabilities.
- Assistance at rest stops.
Further detail is available by calling toll-free at (800) 752-4841 (voice – Greyhound customers
with disabilities assist line), (800) 345-3109 (TT), (800) 531-5332 (voice – Spanish) and (800)
755-2357 (voice – Greyhound corporate ADA compliance office) or by visiting www.greyhound.com.
Of Note
Preske and Braunbeck join Council
The Council welcomes two new members, Beverly Preske of Evansville and Sandy Braunbeck of New
Albany. Both will serve on the Council for a three-year term.
Guides available
AAA’s “The Disabled Driver’s Mobility Guide” provides information about adaptive equipment, driver
training and related services. The guide is updated every three years and is available for $7.95
from AAA Traffic Safety by calling (407) 444-7903. This fall, AAA will publish a series of
regional travel guides for people with disabilities. On Target will provide more information when
it becomes available.
Save the date - November 27-28
The 2001 Indiana Conference for People with Disabilities is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday,
November 27-28, at Indianapolis’ Downtown Westin. Please mark your calendars for this worthwhile
forum of new ideas and advocacy programs for people with disabilities.
You should be in pictures
The Council is looking for photos and video footage from March Awareness Month 2001. If you
participated in an event in your community, please send us a copy of a photo or video so we can
share your events with other advocates around the state. Mail your samples to: Jamy Schuler,
Borshoff Johnson Matthews, 47 S. Pennsylvania St., Ste. 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Please note
on the package if you would like the samples returned.
Indiana Governor’s Planning
Council for People with Disabilities
150 West Market Street, Suite 628
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-7770 voice
(317) 232-7771 TT
E-mail: GPCPD@gpcpd.org
Web site: www.state.in.us/gpcpd
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