What Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan Means for YOU

Presenters Jane Lawrenz – Community Living Supports Manager Department of Human Services Josh Dye – Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Housing Link Kristin Jorenby – Assistant Director Olmstead Implementation Office Heidi Hamilton – Disability Services Legislative Policy Coordinator Department of Human Services

The Minnesota Olmstead Plan What is the Olmstead Plan? Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is a broad series of key activities our state must accomplish to ensure people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting. Why do we have an Olmstead Plan? Minnesota wrote its Olmstead Plan as a part of the settlement in the case of Jensen et al v. Minnesota Department of Human Services, et al.

A better Minnesota for all of us Olmstead is about civil rights for people with disabilities. First and foremost, Olmstead honors the choices of people with disabilities. People with disabilities want to be treated as individuals. Their interest in making choices is the same as everyone’s. Approximately 10% of Minnesotans have a disability.* That total is expected to grow as a large portion of our population ages. *American Community Survey and Decennial Census and Population Estimates, via Minnesota Compass

The Olmstead vision The Olmstead Plan will help achieve a Better Minnesota for all Minnesotans, because it will help Minnesotans with disabilities have the opportunity, both now and in the future, to: Live close to their family and friends Live more independently Engage in productive employment Participate in community life

How do we get there from here? The aim of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is to build communities that welcome, engage and respect people with disabilities at the highest level possible and more than ever before. Topic Areas To do that, the Olmstead Plan outlines eleven important “topic areas” in a person’s life. These areas are all connected and important in a person’s life. The Plan lists goals and key activities that address each of these areas. Whole Person Employment Housing and Services Healthcare and Healthy Living Community Engagement Transportation Person Centered Planning Lifelong Learning and Education Transition Services Waiting List Positive Supports Crisis Services

Minnesota’s legacy Historically, Minnesota was a national leader in community-based disability services, but over the years, our progress has faded. The Olmstead Plan spells out a thorough approach to transform our system so people with disabilities can be fully integrated into their community. Historic leadership Progress slowed National leadership When we meet the Plan’s goals, Minnesota will again set the highest standards for disability services in the nation. We will become a model for other states and communities to follow. Most importantly, the Plan will improve the lives of all Minnesotans.

Olmstead Housing Goals Heidi Hamilton and Jane Lawrenz Olmstead Housing Goals

Housing and Services goal By June 30, 2019 the number of people with disabilities who live in the most integrated housing of their choice where they have a signed lease and receive financial support to pay for the cost of their housing will increase by 5,547.

How are we going to do this? Strategies Reform of housing assistance programs Improve future models for housing Better data

Person-centered Planning Goal By June 30, 2020, plans for people using disability home and community based waiver services will meet required protocols. Protocols will be based on the principles of person centered planning and informed choice.

How are we going to do this? Strategies Training and information Evaluation

Transition Services Goals Increase the number of people who move from segregated settings to more integrated settings

How are we going to do this? Strategies Gather information about housing choices Consistent protocols Increase options

Employment Goal Increase the number of people in competitive, integrated employment

How are we going to do this? Strategies Implement the Employment First Policy Data Reform funding

Josh Dye Housing Link

Subsidized Housing Programs

Project Based Section 8

Public Housing

Section 42

Barriers to Your Housing Search

Let’s Play a Game!

Your Approach

First Things First

Know Who You Are

Rental History

Get Rental Criteria in Writing

When Do You Pay?

Open Honest Brief

Why Are You a Good Tenant Now?

What Do Landlords Care About?

Behavior

Olmstead information You can get more information and read Minnesota’s complete Olmstead Plan on the www.mn.gov/Olmstead. We are also now on Facebook – Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan Housing Link - http://www.housinglink.org/ Housing Benefits 101 - http://mn.hb101.org/