1. What Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan Means for YOU

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Olmstead Housing Goals
Heidi Hamilton and Jane Lawrenz
Olmstead Housing Goals

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

17. Josh Dye
Housing Link

26. Subsidized Housing Programs

28. Project Based Section 8

29. Public Housing

30. Section 42

31. Barriers to Your Housing Search

32. Let’s Play a Game!

36. Your Approach

38. First Things First

39. Know Who You Are

42. Rental History

44. Get Rental Criteria in Writing

45. When Do You Pay?

47. Open Honest Brief

49. Why Are You a Good Tenant Now?

50. What Do Landlords Care About?

53. Behavior

54. Olmstead information
You can get more information and read Minnesota’s complete Olmstead Plan on the
We are also now on Facebook – Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan
Housing Link -
Housing Benefits