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Support People with Disabilities to Live Full, Independent and Integrated Lives in the Community

The State of Minnesota is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities live, learn and work in the most integrated setting. A crucial component of that commitment is making available affordable and accessible housing that is supported by self-directed services and linked to community amenities. People with disabilities must have the opportunity to choose where they live, with whom and in what type of housing. Supports and services need to provide sufficient flexibility to support individuals’ choices on where they live and how they engage in their communities. 

Minnesota adopted an Olmstead Plan in 2015, which includes measurable goals related to housing, services, transportation and several other factors that impact the ability of individuals with disabilities to live in the most integrated setting. Progress has been made. Between the baseline year of 2014 and 2022, the number of people who had lived in segregated settings and now live in integrated rental housing of their choice with rent support more than doubled from 5,995 to 12,897.  Nevertheless, much more work needs to be done, and the continued shortage of affordable and accessible housing across the state is a barrier that must be addressed.

Key Metrics

The number and share of new rental units financed by Minnesota Housing designated for people with disabilities (coming soon)

Actions

Create More Accessible Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Create More Accessible Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities

  • Understand the scope and nature of the need (for example, how many people currently living in segregated settings want to live in integrated settings in the community, and in what type of housing and where?)
  • Facilitate the creation and rehabilitation of housing that is affordable and accessible for individuals with disabilities:
    • Use a broad and holistic definition of accessible that goes beyond just physical accessibility to include features like soundproofing and sensory devices for people who are hard of hearing or blind
    • Make housing accessible through universal design
    • Obtain resources to finance supportive housing for people with disabilities, such as Housing Instructure Bonds, Section 811 and Bridges
    • Make the disability community aware of the new Bring It Home rental assistance program
    • Make sure the Agency’s programs serve the full range of low- to moderate-income households with a disability; for example, address the program gap for homeowners who cannot afford a Fix Up home improvement loan (with a market interest rate) but make too much to qualify for a Rehabilitation Program Loan (a zero-interest, deferred, forgivable loan)
  • Take steps to make sure housing designated for people with disabilities are occupied by people with disabilities
Link Housing with Services and Community Amenities

Link Housing with Services and Community Amenities

  • Coordinate with the Department of Human Services and other state agencies to help ensure affordable housing financed by the Agency in the community has appropriate self-directed services for individuals with disabilities and linkages to community amenities
  • Finance housing that is near community amenities and accessible to public transportation so that residents get to and from grocery stores, clinics, jobs, etc.
  • Support and build the capacity of developers to create and operate affordable housing options with services for individuals with disabilities
Increase Awareness of Available Resources

Increase Awareness of Available Resources

  • Provide all program documents in plain language and an accessible format
  • Expand outreach and marketing to include social service agencies and trusted community-based organizations
Facilitate Interagency Actions

Facilitate Interagency Actions

  • Continue to actively participate in the Olmstead Subcabinet
  • Host and staff the Olmstead Implementation Office, which coordinates the implementation of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan
  • Identify and actively participate in cross-agency initiatives to improve opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live in the most integrated housing of their choice
  • Meaningfully engage with individuals with disabilities to identify housing-related needs and co-create solutions, and compensate people with disabilities for their expertise

Expand the strategic plan table of contents to navigate the plan's strategic objectives and their dashboard metrics.

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