Housing with services for people with disabilities
Some people need services in their home to live independently. We call housing with services supportive housing.
As a provider you may deliver supportive housing in a group or community-based setting. In group settings people follow resident requirements and house rules. They may share bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas and have their meals prepared for them. In community-based settings people have a lease, follow its rules, control access to their living space and prepare their own meals.
How providers are paid for rent and services
Rent is paid with:
- Wages or earned income
- Government benefits (like Social Security disability or Minnesota Supplemental Aid)
- State or federal housing subsidies
- State Housing Support (formerly called Group Residential Housing or GRH)
Services are paid with:
- Health insurance, including Medicaid (home and community-based waivers and Housing Stabilization Services)
- State and federal grant funds
- State Housing Support
Training videos and detailed information about Housing Support, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Housing Stabilization Services and more can be found on the HB101 Minnesota – Partners page.
How to become a Housing Support provider
The county chooses Housing Support providers through a request for proposal (RFP) process.
Learn more by participating in a Hennepin County Housing Support information session for prospective providers, as well as breakout sessions focusing on board and lodges, community-based settings, and assisted living facilities/customized living services.
For a live webinar on the Housing Support program, email DHS.DHS.GRH@STATE.MN.US.
Stay up to date on county opportunities.
Group settings
In addition to state and county requirements for operating group settings, local city rules may also apply.
Adult foster care
Learn about adult foster care.
Board and lodge
The county is not funding new board and lodge housing at this time.
These settings are licensed. They provide people a room (usually shared) and three meals a day to adults and sometimes families. The settings could provide either short-term or long-term housing. Some settings require tenants to take skills training or take part in religious activities.
Any given setting might serve people with specific needs, such as those with mental illness, a substance abuse problem, or who belong to just one gender. Or settings might serve a mix of people who need and want a certain level of care.
Assisted living facilities/Customized living services
Customized living Housing Support providers offer people long-term housing (apartment), three meals per day and assisted living services that are usually paid for with Elderly, Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), or Brain Injury (BI) waiver. Customized living Housing Support providers are required to hold a current, permanent or conversion assisted living license.
Community-based settings
These provide the highest level of independent living.
Housing Support demonstration program
The county is not developing new Housing Support demonstration programs at this time.
The Housing Support (formerly called Group Residential Housing or GRH) demonstration program provides long-term housing where people can prepare their own food, have their own private space and a lease. Housing Support funding pays for supportive services in this housing.
People who live in this housing — either a single adult, or an adult within a family with children — must meet two criteria:
- Have either a mental illness, substance abuse problem, HIV or AIDS.
- Be living on the streets, in a shelter or released from a regional treatment center, community hospital, or residential treatment program, have no access to appropriate housing and can’t get into appropriate housing.
Housing with services for independent living
This program serves people who can live independently, who are income-eligible and have disabilities. People must have a typical lease, be able to prepare their own meals and choose their own unit. Housing is in the private market and rent may be paid through the Housing Support program. People come from group housing, shelters, or other settings who would otherwise not have an option for independent housing.
Housing Support funding does not cover the supportive services you provide. Services are usually paid for with mainstream services such as Medicaid, Medicaid Waivers, etc.
Long-term Homeless Supportive Housing
This program helps people get into and stay in their own apartment or rental home long term. The program serves people with disabilities who’ve been homeless a long time. Funding follows individuals, who get to choose a unit where they can prepare their own food, have their own private space and a typical lease.
Housing Support funding pays for both housing costs and supportive services.
Providers must follow national best practices called fidelity standards (DOCX)
View more information about long-term homeless housing support (PDF)