News
On June 4, 2013, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance to HUD-assisted housing providers on how they can support state and local Olmstead efforts to increase integrated housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are transitioning from, or at serious risk of entering, institutions and other restrictive, segregated settings. Olmstead refers to the 1999 Supreme Court landmark decision, Olmstead v. L.C., which affirmed that the unjustified segregation of individuals with disabilities is an illegal form of discrimination. Following the Olmstead decision, many states are working hard to assist individuals living in institutions and other segregated settings to move to integrated, community-based settings where they can receive the health care and long-term services and supports they need.
For many states, efforts to comply with Olmstead by moving people out of institutions and into the community are severely challenged by a lack of integrated housing options for individuals with disabilities. HUD's new guidance encourages public housing agencies and other HUD-assisted housing providers to consider the housing needs of their individual communities and their state and to partner with state and local governments to provide additional community-based, integrated housing opportunities.
HUD has made significant progress towards providing integrated housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities. HUD's new Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Demonstration program which supports integrated housing for qualified individuals with disabilities is one example.
Learn about TAC's Olmstead & Community Integration Work
