President Proclaims Year of Community Living

Marking the 10th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision, President Obama launched a new effort to assist Americans with disabilities—The Year of Community Living. The President directed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to work together to identify ways to improve access to housing, community supports, and independent living arrangements. In joining the President in commemorating the anniversary of the Olmstead decision, HHS Secretary Sebelius announced that agencies within her department would begin aggressively addressing barriers that prevent some Americans with disabilities from enjoying a meaningful life as part of their community.

Throughout this “Year of Community Living,” HHS will hold listening sessions, giving stakeholders an opportunity to come together for a common purpose: overcoming barriers to community-based living for people with disabilities and the elderly. These forums will help HHS craft the agenda to improve federal programs and better support the efforts of state and local government.

HUD announced that it will make1,000 housing vouchers available for individuals with disabilities transitioning from institutions to the community—targeting states operating Money Follows the Person Demonstration programs. HUD will award an additional 3,000 housing vouchers to serve non-elderly people with disabilities and encourage Public Housing Authorities to form working relationships with state Medicaid agencies interested in addressing community living needs of beneficiaries.
See the next issue of LINKs for more information.