A Place to Call Home: Updates on Indiana’s Integrated, Affordable and Accessible Housing Deborah McCarty Back Home in Indiana Alliance & Lisa Poole, Back Home in Indiana Alliance,

CHANGES in State Policy & Practices Visitability Universal Design Criteria Integrated Supportive Housing Home Modifications

Qualified Allocation Plan Includes a new “visitability mandate” Applies to construction or rehabilitation of single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes Must meet three basic visitability principles –Zero step entrance –Main floor interior doors at least 31 ¾ inches of clear opening width –At least one half or full bath on the main level that is accessible This is a threshold requirement for funding, not a scoring incentive!

IHCDA Qualified Allocation Plan ● The federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program requires a state housing agency that allocates tax credits to have a QAP. ● The QAP sets out the state’s eligibility priorities and criteria for awarding tax credits. ● The QAP is a tool for advocates to influence how our state’s share of housing tax credits is allocated to affordable housing properties.

Visitability Homes where family and friends that use mobility devices can visit Allow for ageing-in-place within the home. Allows for persons recovering from injury, illness or operation to function within their home Homes that are part of a livable community

Visitability Definition 3 Design Elements

Visitability is a Zero Step Entrance at the front, back, garage or side

Visitability Is… Widened Interior Doors At least 31 ¾ inches of clear opening space Including: Doors to the bathroom or toilet room Walk-in Closets

Visitability is… A toilet room or full bathroom on the 1st floor Minimum of a lavatory and a water closet on the accessible level Clearances at the water closet for approach Blocking in any walls for future grab bars

Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County Builds Visitable Homes

Fuller’s Landing in Ft. Wayne Visitable Housing Development

HOME Homebuyer Policy Includes a visitability incentive Applies to construction of homebuyer units If 100% of the units created through the HOME award are visitable, the application receives 5 points Next step: Visitability as a requirement in state Consolidated Plan

Consolidated Plan Housing & Community Development Planning Process that: ● Identifies priorities & aligns funding $$$ - Community Development Block Grant - Home Funds - HOPWA - ESG is designed to help states and local jurisdictions to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CPD formula block grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program,HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. Grantees report on accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performa.nce and Evaluation Report (CAPER).Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) ProgramHOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) ProgramEmergency Solutions Grant (ESG) ProgramHousing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program

Adopts a visitability requirement in 2015 for all local Chapters that apply for HOME funds.

Habitat for Humanity of Indiana A Research Project Conducted by Michael A. Burayidi, Ph.D. from Ball State University for Habitat for Humanity of Indiana

Research Project by Michael A. Burayidi, Ph.D. Ball State University, for Habitat for Humanity of Indiana Public Health Effects of Barriers in Home Design: –Falls –Inability to Exit –Bladder/Kidney Health –Caregiver Health –Emotional/Mental Health

Allocates HOME funds to Habitat for Humanity of Indiana IHCDA requires Habitat’s to build visitable homes when using HOME funds

HOME FUNDS Includes a visitability requirement Applies to construction or rehabilitation of homebuyer units 100% of the units created through the HOME award are to be visitable, unless

Advocates Working at the Local Level Ft. Wayne Consolidated Plan Investment in Homeownership 50 homeowners will be helped to remain in their homes with home modifications 65 new homes will be constructed and/or existing homes rehabbed for homeownership 200 homebuyers will be assisted Investment in Rental Housing - All must accept Section 8 or Housing Choice Vouchers 35 rental homes will be rehabilitated 200 new affordable rental units to be constructed or rehabilitated

CHANGES in Universal Design Features Requirement in Indiana Qualified Allocation Plan. Refined features, using Building Code to define Example:

QAP and Low Income Housing Tax Credits Change in Universal Design Features Range/ oven with front controls located to avoid not require reaching over hot burners in 10% of the units Cooktops come with controls on the front or side. Both options would provide the same level of protection. Interior pocket doors in each unit All interior doors shall have a minimum clear width opening of 31-3/4 ” Pocket doors are difficult for persons with mobility impairments to operate. The real issue is to provide adequate clear width for persons with wheelchairs, walkers and canes. This requirement is further down in Column B Toggle, Lighting controls are rocker, or touch sensitive control panels instead of switches in each unit A light switch is a toggle switch, so the existing text is contradictory. A ‘panel’ is typically a group of switches. The proposed terminology is more technically accurate.

Change in Supportive Housing Development Options

Home Modifications … adding access to an existing home

Demand for Home Modifications or “The Numbers” For every home you see with an added ramp, there are more people who have no ramp on their own houses, even though they can’t get in and out. People lack the resources to modify their homes. People spend years unable to exit independently or get through their own bathroom door.

Actions for Advocates 2016 A ddress need for visitable features in private and publicly funded new construction of single family homes. Step 1. What visitability means to me… W ork for funding for Home Modifications – Ramps and interior accessibility W ork for primary investments in integrated housing options vs. separate housing

Actions for Advocates 2016 G et non-profits to apply for home modification funding: Federal Home Loan Bank – 1M - Community Development Block Grants - Community Foundations R e-establish Section 8 Homeownership at IHCDA E xpress appreciation to our housing allies for the changes made to increase integrated, affordable and accessible housing