Housing Options
Affordable/Accessible Housing Home |
Housing Locator (Rentlinx):
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- About the "Finding Our Way Home" Project
- Acronyms and Definitions
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Finding Housing is Challenging | Where Can Housing be Found |The Philosophy of MDRC | Home Ownership | Room and Board | Supported Independent Living | Supervised Group and Congregate Facilities
Finding Housing is Challenging
Finding Housing is even more challenging when one has a low income, a larger family, and may be seeking a residence which offers essential accessibility. In order to make living affordable, there need to be creative ideas. Some examples are sharing the costs by living together, living in a room and board arrangement where someone else is already bearing most of the cost of housing (including living with a senior to allow that person to continue to live independently), finding housing with some type of government subsidy, or some other means of creative financing. This section includes ideas on housing choices for people on low incomes and persons who require accessible units.
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Where Can Housing be Found?
One needs to be creative in the search for housing. Listings can be found in local papers and by speaking with local resources – social workers, other agency representatives, friends, members of churches and non-profit agencies. Many keep lists of apartment complexes without knowledge of current vacancies, others just happen to know about available units.
Rental units can be found by entering specifics of your request in the Housing Search option boxes on the left of this page. Not all Michigan rentals are as yet listed, but this tool increases in value as more property managers list all of their properties. Note that, while sitting at your computer, you can search and sort by city, by zip code, by price, by number of bedrooms, by accessibility, and search for those which will accept Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers. You can also access a map to see where the unit is located and get a satellite overlay so you can see what else is in the neighborhood.
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The Philosophy of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC)
MDRC believes that people should be able to live their lives in the community with supports. The needed supports should be provided in the most integrated/inclusive environment preferred. To obtain assistance in finding supports in your own home:
- The Long Term Care Connections , also known as SPEs (Single Points of Entry) for those who are looking or experiencing an increased need for long-term supports to remain in or return to an independent at home and the options available for these needed supports. Long Term Care Connections do not cover the entire state. For additional options you can contact others listed below. In addition, all LTCCs can be accessed by calling 866-642-4582.
- The Disability Networks (formerly Centers for Independent Living) in Michigan. Choose your county or regional network from the site.
- Senior service groups and Area Agencies on Aging(AAAs) for the second alternative for those who are seniors.
- The CMH Boards for those who qualify for their services. Eligible customers usually have diagnoses of Mental Illness or Developmental Disabilities.
- Still looking? You may try dialing 211 on your telephone, and you will reach someone at the United Way agencies who can help provide some options.
- Additional private and non-profit caregiving professional services located throughout Michigan. Additional options can be found by looking in local yellow pages under Home Health.
Home Ownership
The challenge of anyone on low income is to be able to find an affordable house, to gather funds to make the purchase, and to be able to acquire and keep funds to maintain the property. People dependent on SSI have particular difficulty in all respects, especially since there is resource limitation above which one is normally disqualified from receiving SSI.
There are programs and services which might be able to help you buy a home, depending on the circumstances. Here is a link to some of those services and people or agencies who may be able to help.
- If you already have a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (or, in some cases, a project based Section 8 subsidy) and wish to use the monthly subsidy toward house payments instead of rent, contact the MSHDA Key to Own program. Contact Lisa Lehman at 517-335-7251 for more information.
- To save for a down-payment or repairs when on SSI, search the site for IDA (Individual Development Account) programs.
- If you seek affordable mortgages, contact your local bank or mortgage company, or contact Dorene Newman of National City Bank, 800-852-3219. You may also contact Daryl Domke of Michigan Home Ownership Coalition at 616.363.2140.
- If you have someone in your life who is willing to give you money and you need to avoid SSI resource limitation penalties, consider pooled trusts or special needs trusts. Contact your lawyer or someone connected with existing trusts. Suggested resources: Attorney Patty Dudek at 248-731-3090 in East Michigan or Attorney Dan Blauw at 616-336-5098 in West Michigan. Both can serve people anywhere in Michigan.
Room and Board (R&B)
R&B means sharing a house or apartment with someone else, possibly to share caregiving responsibilities. There is no known statewide database. There may be localized listings; care should be taken when plans are made as it may be difficult to share your living space with someone else. Sharing expenses can help make living arrangements affordable. All parties can share the rent, one may own or rent with the other contributing to expenses, and there can be other options.
Supported Independent Living
Supported Independent Living means living in your own place with supports. Many service agencies exist to provide support services for persons who wish to live independently. These agencies tend to be localized and oriented to provide specialized services to support specific populations. They may be found by contacting your local or regional senior agency or search the statewide database or mental health agency or search their statewide database to find your local CMH Board. Other options were listed above under the Philosophy of MDRC.
Supervised Group and Congregate Facilities
These are licensed by the State of Michigan. The state requires licensing in an attempt to assure a certain minimum quality of services and protection. Facilities can vary considerably in size, comfort, population mix, access to walkable communities, available transportation, quality of food and other services, and staff attitudes. Living in such a location may provide greater security and peace of mind, but life in group settings is normally nothing like independent living. It often takes a difficult adjustment, if an adjustment ever occurs. Living in these facilities normally means giving up your own home or apartment.
Facilities in this category include Adult Foster Care, Homes for the Aged, and Nursing Homes. To locate licensed facilities.
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Rentlinx
MDRC offers you Housing Search, which is a link to the extensive rental database of Rentlinx. Rentlinx is solely responsible for the content of this rental property site.
"This project is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council"
