2. Topics:  What is integrated, independent housing?  How is housing different from services?  Basic definitions of housing and support terms and acronyms  Applying for vouchers- DOJ vouchers now (if eligible), or get on listserv to figure out when others open Your Work:  Housing Guide review and selection of a few viable housing models for you  Self-assessment completed so you have an idea of housing and support needs and resources  Determining which housing subsidy programs you will explore

3. Topics:  Defining Circles of Support  Building a Circle of Support  Using a Circle related to housing  Making a circle model work for you- tools and tips Your Work:  Circle of Support Draft  Outreach to your potential circle

4. Topics:  Matching support needs with services available  Finding staff privately or with a Waiver  What you need  Where to find it  Live-in staff considerations Your Work:  Plan of action for finding/hiring caregivers  Backup caregiver plan  Drafting your Supports Plan  Getting on a Waiver waiting list, if applicable

5. Topics  Making your budget  Working with SSI and rent subsidies  Average costs for utilities and other needs  Ways to increase income and decrease expenses  Matching needs, wants, and budgets Your Work:  Draft budget with idea of needed resources  Housing Needs Profile filled out with rankings on wants and needs  Ideas on good potential areas for housing  Knowing what you need to know to apply for the voucher

6.  Find a roommate  Getting ready to move and actually moving  Learning from Experience- Panel of people who have made the move  Wrapping it all up

7. Session Five: Who Lives with me and Housemate Problem-Solving June 22, 2016

8. Please mute phones if you’re attending in person Remember that this session will be recorded and later made public, so any statements you make may be captured on that recording

9. Dennis Brown, facilitator Jeannie Cummins, Regional Housing Specialist, DBHDS Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy, The Arc of Northern Virginia

10.  Types of roommates  Why have a roommate?  Finding roommates  Reviewing your Roommate Questionnaires  Anticipating and preparing for potential issues  Chore charts  Roommate agreements

12.  Friend who lives with you  Co-habitant who shares space but keeps their life mostly separate  Family member other than mom and dad  Homeowner who rents you a room  Someone who receives free room and/or board in exchange for providing support  Shared living under the Waiver  Live in aide accommodation under the voucher  Live in caregiver in privately paid housing

13. Living with a Roommate  Shared expenses  Built in social network  Someone who may bring different skills into the home (e.g. someone who is great at yard work or managing money)  Opportunity for live-in staff  Safety Living without a Roommate  More privacy  More options for creating your own schedule, being up late, making noise  You can keep the home the way you like it (e.g. tidier, messier, decorated, music choices)  You can have guests when you choose without disturbing anyone  Limits environmental stimuli

14. ProsCons Friend Co-habitant Family member Homeowner who rents room Person who receives free room/board in exchange for providing support

15.  Talk to friends from work, sports, recreation groups to see if anyone is interested in living together  Ask if people who graduated with you are ready to move  Post on Facebook to see if anyone you know is interested  Develop a sign or flyer with some great information about what you need and share with people you know

16.  Look online  http://apartments.oodle.com allows you to search for roommate rentals  www.easyroommate.com searches by roommate criteria and characteristics  www.roommiematch.com makes matches based upon a survey you take  www.roommatelocator.com allows you to search by location, price range, and accommodations in the home  www.roommatenation.com works using personal and housing profiles than you can search  www.roommates.com works by allowing you to search completed profiles and message each other  www.roommates4you.com allows you to post an ad for you roommate or room  www.roomster.com helps match you with similar people and needs

17.  If you’re looking online for roommates:  don’t provide your last name or personal contact information in your ad  consider using a “dummy” email address that you create with gmail or yahoo just for this purpose  When you set up your interview, make sure it is in a public place with plenty of people around, like a coffee shop or recreation center. Bring a family member or friend with you.  Ask for references who you can call or email to find out more about the individual’s habits and background.  Finally, do some research on the Internet to make sure the person is not listed in the Virginia sex offender registry (http://sex- offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/zipSearch.html)  Google the person and look them up on Facebook to see what information comes up.

18.  Are you tidy, messy, or between?  Are you quiet, but like to be around social people?  Do you mind noise while you sleep?  What must you have in a roommate (e.g. okay with pets) and what can’t you have (e.g. smoker)?  Do you want a co-habitant or a best friend who lives there?  Can you share a room? A bathroom?

19. Different Ways Roommates Can Be Treated on Leases  Separate leases in the same unit  Both roommates are on the lease and are jointly/severally liable for rent, damages, lease compliance, etc.  Roommate A is the leaseholder and Roommate B is a non-paying occupant.  Roommate A is solely liable for rent, damages, lease compliance, etc. (including liability for occupant’s damages and compliance with the lease).  Roommate B is not liable and does not have tenancy rights  Roommate A is the leaseholder and subleases to Roommate B.  Roommate A is solely liable to the landlord for rent, damages, lease compliance (including liable for sublessee’s damages and compliance with the lease).  Roommate B is liable to Roommate A for rent, damages, sublease compliance, etc. and DOES have tenancy rights.

20. 20  Have a clear agreement with things that matter most to you  Decide to divide work/effort, household costs, or trade off  Remember no one is perfect  Decide on a mediator and mediation system up front  Let the roommates take the lead (not the parents) Remember: roommate agreements generally are not enforceable in court, but they can help avoid conflict in the first place.

21. List all chores to be done and find a way to divide them- by ability, interest, day of the week, time of day, job, time spent on each task, etc. Have an easy system for charting what gets done e.g. tape chart to the refrigerator with a pen next to it

22.  If it really won’t work, you need to know:  How does this affect your lease?  Can you afford to live on your own?  Who maintains the unit?  Does this affect your voucher?  How will we divide shared resources?  Who will be your next roommate? 22

23.  Ensure you’re saving all your work on your jump drive or computer in an easy to find place.  Catch up on any homework you didn’t quite get to yet Please bring the homework materials back with you on July 13, 2016