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 might deliver supportive housing in a group or individual setting. In group settings people may have to follow resident requirements, may share meals in a commercial kitchen and may have to follow house rules. In individual settings people have their own lease, control access to their living space, cook their own meals, and follow the rules of a typical lease.
Information sessions
Before submitting a housing proposal to the county:
- We encourage you to attend information sessions held by both Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota
- You’ll become a more fully informed Housing Support provider. You’ll learn about both county and state requirements.
Hennepin County information sessions
Learn how to become a Housing Support provider in Hennepin County.
State of Minnesota information sessions
You can attend sessions that cover:
- Housing Support and how it’s used
- Requirements of a Housing Support provider
- How to become a Housing Support provider
For more information on State of Minnesota sessions, contact Jeremy Galley at jeremy.galley@state.mn.us.
How people pay you for rent and services
They can pay rent 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)
Whenever possible, the county wants you to provide a type of housing that allows people to pay their housing costs themselves. One key way for people with disabilities to pay for their housing costs is using their Supplemental Security Income together with Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance. Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance eligibility is expanding and benefit amount is increasing in 2020.
They can pay for services with:
- Health insurance (for example, waiver services)
- State and federal grant funds
- State Housing Support
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.
Individual settings
These provide the highest level of independent living.
Customized living
Customized living provides people with long-term housing and includes a lease, a private space (room or apartment), three meals per day and 24-hour supervision. Customized Living providers hold a Comprehensive Home Care license through the Minnesota Department of Health and are registered as Housing with Services Establishments.
Services are usually paid for with Medicaid Waivers such as Elderly Waiver, Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), or Brain Injury (BI).
Providers must meet state and federal requirements, and must have a Comprehensive Home Care license. Before considering this option, review some of the requirements:
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 (PDF)
View more information about long-term homeless housing support (DOCX)
Getting Housing Support funding for people with disabilities
To get funding for Housing Support you must provide housing and services in line with a county program.
Housing Support pays for room and board for seniors and adults with disabilities, who have low income. The funding can pay for rent, utilities, household needs, and in some cases food, or supportive services.
You get paid based on state and federal minimums for what people need to live in the community.
Providers who contract with the State of Minnesota don’t automatically become providers with Hennepin County. To become a provider with the county, you must have a Housing Support agreement with the county and a vendor number.
The county chooses providers through the request for proposal (RFP) process and negotiates agreements with providers.
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