FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL, INC.

Alternative Residential Options Workgroup

PRESENTATIONby

Celeste Putnam

December 11, 2009CELEBRATION HOTEL—ORLANDO

700 Bloom Street * Celebration, FL407-566-6000 * 888-499-3800

 

124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2981Phone (850) 488-4180 ● Toll-Free (800) 580-7801

Fax (850) 922-6702 ● TDD (850) 488-0956/(888) 488-8633

During the 2009 Legislative Session House Bill 371 and Senate Bill 1124 introduced the idea of Planned Residential Communities for persons with developmental disabilities.

The FDDC expressed concern about the potential for this type of community to become isolated and not provide ample opportunity to community interaction and inclusion.

FDDC wants to find a way to: work constructively with proponents

of Planned Residential

Communities,

find ways to work with all stakeholders to

expand residential options.

In response, the FDDC decided to convene the Alternative Residential Options Workgroup.

The purpose of this work was to: develop a common understanding of

residential options,

review different types of residential models including Planned

Residential Communities,

develop, to the degree possible, consensus regarding the characteristics of Planned Residential Communities.

The meeting focused on consensus building as follows:meeting one and two were designed to

achieve a common understanding of different residential options,

meeting three continued that work, introduced additional detail regarding regulatory requirements, and had a dialogue to delineate the differences.

Meeting four provided the opportunity to: reach common agreement on definitions of

terms that when used in the past had caused significant misunderstandings,

work in small groups to discuss the characteristics of a Planned Residential Community and to design what such a community might look like,

reach as much agreement as possible on the characteristics of a Planned Residential Community.

Outcomes of the First Meeting

Learned about current residential options paid for by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Group homes, foster homes, supported living

Created a list of desired characteristics of residential programs.

At this point all participants began to understand that current residential options were NOT providing for:

safety social connections full belonging in the community affordable housing in safe areas ability to move about their neighborhood

freely continuity & life long commitment

The Workgroup agreed that:the array of possible living situations do

not meet the needs of all persons with developmental disabilities,

the current options do not provide adequate choice for persons with developmental disabilities and their families, and

there is a serious affordable housing shortage in Florida.

Creating a Common Understanding

Had ten presentations on different residential optionsCompleted Research on other options from around the nation.

Summary of types of options from presentations and research. The term Planned Residential Community is not well defined. The terms Co-housing and Intentional Communities are also used to describe similar settings.

Planned Residential Communities that have multi-occupancy homes, work onsite, paid staff providing the support and services.

Loveland Village in Venice, Florida ARC of Jacksonville- seeking

permission to start development Lambs Farm in Illinois

Planned Residential Communities with paid staff and co-housing with roommates. No paid work is available on site. Regular transportation to the broader community is available. People work in the community.

Bishop Grady Villas

Village based Residential Planned Community with work on site

Volunteers live in the village for two to three years or longer, living and working side by side

Camp Hill Villages

Intentional CommunityDesigned around a common purpose Provides for co-housingMay employ paid staff and volunteers

such as Americorp Earthserve (planning stage) would serve people with all types of

disabilities

Independent Living Own your own home

Choose your own staff

Responsible for all aspects of your life

Life share options from presentations Life share programs in Florida uses

wraparound for youth in the child welfare system

Life share programs implemented through supported living programs with live-in support

McDonald Training Center

Options from the research Programs on one parcel of land owned

and operated by one organization for the purpose of providing a full range of services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Examples: Brookwood Community in Texas, New England Village in Cape

Code L’arche in 14 states in United

States

Co-housing Options Provides for residential opportunities to live

in a planned community or dispersed settings

Housing options are usually inclusive

May build and/or manage the housing only

Creates low income housing options

Examples: Project Freedom in New Jersey and Arboretum Cohousing in Michigan

Intentional Communities Designed around a common purpose

Can be on one site or dispersed housing

Creates a sense of community and connectiveness

Can be for one type of person or fully inclusive

Examples: Troy Gardens in Wisconsin, Intentional Communities of Washtenaw

Co-ops operated by family members and persons with developmental disabilities

Dispersed and integrated living Creates a sense of belonging and social

connectiveness Co-housing and supported living Examples- Toronto Courtyard, Daehaeko

Support Network, Federated Human Services Cooperatives and Development Center

Creative Configurations These different approaches can be

combined. Co-ops may operate intentional

communities. Co-ops may manage residential co-

housing. Intentional communities often provide

for co-housing.

Important Lessons Learned from Presentations and Research Community means social connections and belonging.Living in a neighborhood does not necessarily result in social connections and belonging.Safety to move about around ones home and neighborhood and visit friends regularly is important.

We are challenged to move beyond the traditional and what we have known.

We must create sustainable options and partner with families and the full community to achieve this.

We must plan for living environments that can address social connections, safety, freedom to walk around the neighborhood and visit friends on one’s own schedule.

There is promise in new concepts of Intentional Communities Cooperatives Co-housing management Life Sharing

What is Already Possible There are currently several ways to

create Planned Residential Communities.

Supported Living Homes can serve up to three persons and live-in supports are available.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) no longer has density rules for Supported Living environments.

Chapter 429 F.S. requires facilities be licensed as an Adult Living Facilities (ALF) if they provide through ownership or management (unless specific exemptions are met)

housing, meals, and one or more personal services,

for a period exceeding 24 hours, to one or more adults who are not

relatives.

Supported Living settings with live-in staff don’t have to be licensed if the occupant leases their own home.

Adult Foster Homes with live-in staff are exempt from the 1,000 foot rule.

Persons living in Adult Living Facilities (ALFs) may receive residential habilitation Waiver services.

AHCA will license ALFs of six beds or less that are closer than 1,000 radius feet of another community licensed facility if they have a variance from the local zoning authority.

Therefore Residential Planned Communities are currently possible with Waiver services using:

supported living services with supports,

supported living services with live-in supports,

adult foster homes, and ALFs under 6 beds with a local zoning variance.

APD licensed group homes are not an option

Rule 65G-2.015 prohibits more than one group home on a parcel of land unless separated by a river or road,

No more than three homes can be included on one parcel,

Administrative Ruling can be sought.

Risk Factors Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service

proposed rule:

Focused on residential setting managed or operated by a service provider

Require states to develop requirements approved by CMs

CMS will develop guidelines that : optimize participant independence and

community integration, promote initiative and choice in daily

living, and facilitate full access to community

services.

Workgroup participants were asked to create an image of Residential Planned Communities Participants were asked to keep in mind the CMS risk factors

Four different models were presented

FLORIDA TRANSPLANTS

DIPLOMATICS VILLAGE

CONFIDENT CONERS

FREE SAILING

Common Characteristics of the Planned Residential Community DesignsHousing options only – no workshops or day training on-site,Easy access to the broader community,Business enterprises located with easy access from the broader community,

Encourage the broader community to come into the planned community,

People create their own daily schedules and activity,

People chose their own supports and providers,

Affordable housing,

Choices of types of living environments – apartments, small homes, larger co-housing (six beds),

Special safety features such as security systems or security staff,

Pedestrian oriented,

Designed to have limited traffic,

Encourage use of golf carts and bikes,

All four options included home for persons without disabilities - degree of integration varied.

Remaining issues Should persons have a choice to live in

a community where only persons with developmental disabilities reside?

Should a percentage of integration be required?

Must address the key issues of safety social connections community belonging affordable housing freedom to move throughout neighborhood

and visit friends continuity of care

A Range of Creative Options Available

Intentional Communities with a Common Purpose that is not solely focused on serving persons with developmental disabilities.

Cooperatives that provide community within dispersed settings.

Co-housing options that secure affordable housing.