TN has for years had a similar arrangement referred to as the companion model. The roommate is employed by the provider and does provides the level of support needed by the person. The roommate’s housing is free
(except IRS requires it to be counted as income to the roommate). The roommate is matched to the person carefully so that there is shared interests. The model is losing ground here because of costs – it was created under an outdated rate system and is costly,
essentially a fulltime staff for one person. Also the model did not receive rate increases received by other services in the system last year, so now agencies are penalized if they use the model.
The model was highly successful for many people, several who had complex behavior issues who did better with this model than the typical staffing approach for residential programs.
From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com]
On Behalf Of Lawyer, Heidi (VBPD)
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 8:32 AM
To: 'xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com'
Subject: DD Councils Shared living service under home and community based waivers
*** This is an EXTERNAL email. Please exercise caution. DO NOT open attachments or click links from unknown senders or unexpected email - STS-Security. ***
Our newly designed DD waivers have shared living as a new service whereby a roommate’s rent is paid for if they are living in the individual with a disability’s owned or lease home. They provide some ancillary services, companionship, etc.
but not direct services like personal care, etc.
Although the service has been available since July, providers have been unwilling to enter into it. In part, because there are not yet regulations or a manual regarding how to implement and they are afraid of being gigged on an audit but
in larger part they don’t want the liability as they don’t control the roommate, the rent money goes directly to the individual with the disability who then pays the rent (and what if they don’t), the administrative to the providers is extremely low vs. the
time that they have to spend in set up, recruitment of roommates (if the person doesn’t have someone they want to live with ) training, and follow –up.
Do any of you have shared living in your waivers. If so, did you encounter barriers such as those noted above. Were they resolved and if so how? Is the service utilized heavily or poorly? Thanks so much!
Heidi Lawyer
Executive Director
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)
1100 Bank Street, 7th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-9369
800-846-4464