Housing for the Handicapped and Disabled. A Guide for Local Action

摘要

Local action guidelines are presented to aid individuals and groups involved in the development of residential living environments for persons with physical or mental handicaps. The specific focus is on persons who are physically handicapped, mentally retarded, or developmentally disabled. Community action has been significant in providing usable and accessible housing that is designed for the handicapped and located in residential sections. Housing for the handicapped is much more than a shelter, construction, or financing program. Providing living arrangements for the handicapped is essentially a service, and housing is the base from which other services vital to normalization must follow. One of the critical needs involves finding trained and skilled managers for large developments and small group homes. There are also issues to consider in relating functional disability and housing types as well as issues to examine in establishing eligibility for special housing assistance and services. Types of housing for handicapped persons include single - family homes, shared homes, individual or shared apartments, groups of individual apartments, dwellings in new apartment buildings, elderly housing projects, congregate housing, residential hotels, group homes, boarding homes, hostels, and foster homes. Three options are available to provide housing for the handicapped: (1) new construction; (2) purchase of an existing structure, with or without rehabilitation; and (3) leasing all or part of a structure. An analysis of the local market for specially - designed housing is an essential tool in determining the extent of need and demand in a given area. Consideration must be given to available resources in developing housing options and to housing site selection. Highlights of an architectural program for the handicapped are identified, as well as resident - oriented housing management and services. Footnotes by chapter and a bibliography are included, along with illustrations. Appendices contain further information on the 1976 Housing Authorization Act, HUD offices, State housing finance agencies, Farmers Home Administration offices by State, and States with departments of community affairs.