Housing

Housing plays an important role in ensuring the well being of people on the autism spectrum and helping them integrate into the community. Some people can live independently with minimal or no supports, while others require high levels of support. There is a variety of federal and private resources that can enable people to live in settings that best fit their needs. This page provides information about models of housing for people with disabilities and resources and programs related to disability housing.

Websites and Programs

• Medicaid.Gov
  
  • Home & Community Based Services This page provides information on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations. The page includes a training series for stakeholders, transition plans for individual states, technical assistance, and more. The Final Regulation page provides an overview of rules and regulations states must follow when providing HCBS under Medicaid.
• The Arc
  
  • Housing Overview This page provides an overview of housing issues that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) encounter as well the Arc’s advocacy efforts. The page also describes key federal housing initiatives that enable people with I/DD to live in the community and links to additional resources.

More Websites and Programs

Toolkits and Guides

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  
  • Guidance on Treatment of ABLE Accounts in HUD-Assisted Programs This document provides guidance on how housing providers should treat ABLE accounts.

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
  
  • Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self-Advocates
    This handbook is designed to help people with disabilities find and use resources that promote independent living. It includes information on support services and waivers, housing, employment, and community resources. This handbook was created in partnership with Autism NOW Center.

More Toolkits and Guides

Reports

• National Council on Disability (NCD)
  
  • Preserving Our Freedom: Ending Institutionalization of People with Disabilities During and After Disasters
    May 24, 2019
    This report that examines occurrences of institutionalization of people with disabilities, as well as thwarted threats of institutionalization, during hurricanes and the California wildfires in 2017 and 2018. The NCD found that people with disabilities are frequently institutionalized during and after disasters due to conflicting federal guidance; a lack of equal access to emergency and disaster-related programs and services; and a lack of compliance with federal law.

• University of Minnesota, Residential Information Systems Project
  
  • In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2016
    June 2018
    The Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) studies trends in residential service settings, funding, and expenditures for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States. The most recent report uses data through Fiscal Year 2016.

More Reports

Research Articles

• Crompton CJ, Michael C, Dawson M, Sue Fletcher-Watson S. Residential Care for Older Autistic Adults: Insights from Three Multiexpert Summits. Autism in Adulthood. 2020 Jun 10. 121-127. doi:10.1089/aut.2019.0080
• Oliver S, Gosden-Kaye EZ, Winkler D, Douglas JM. The outcomes of individualized housing for people with disability and complex needs: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2020 Jul 09. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1785023

More Research Articles

Videos

• Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
  
  • 2019 IACC Workshop: Addressing the Housing Needs of People on the Autism Spectrum
    July 23, 2019
    This workshop focused on the housing needs of people on the autism spectrum and included examples of various housing models. Meeting details.
  • Autism After 21
    July 26, 2017
    JaLynn Prince, Adrienne McBride, and Desiree Kameka present Madison House Autism Foundation’s Autism After 21 initiative. Madison House aims to raise awareness of the abilities of and issues facing adults with autism. They also promote housing options for adults with autism and other I/DD through the Autism Housing Network. Meeting details.

Videos