Welcome to our Housing Planning Library! While many of these topics have been discussed and outlined in many other forums, we bring these subjects together from a housing perspective. It is our hope that if a person wants to explore their housing options, or plan for a family member in the future, this will provide the background and information necessary to make a well informed decision and an opportunity to explore the various available choices. Not every subject will apply to every person's situation, but rather, one can scan the list and see what areas interest them, based on their own preferences and needs.

See Housing Planning Library Topics below.   more

Many advocates and individuals are requesting visitable communities, accessible homes, universal design and walkable communities. We want to create neighborhoods that are user friendly, especially for persons with disabilities.   more

The Department of Human Services (DHS, formerly known as FIA (Family Independence Agency) provides Adult Home Help Services (AHHS) to provide support to persons in their homes and communities so that they can continue to live in their current setting, rather than a facility such as a nursing home or adult foster care home that could provide more services and supports.   more

We do have a voice and the ability to make a difference. The people that have been elected need and want to hear our ideas. Each individual person matters. While there are organized efforts to create a large response to an issue, we should not feel that our single voice is unheard or unimportant.   more

Credit ratings are necessary for people who want housing, mobile phones, cheap loans, and a fair market insurance rate in our computer connected world. To rent an apartment, purchase a home, get insurance, or buy an automobile, a credit rating will affect not only the ability to get these items, but also the price it will cost. Even to get automobile insurance a person needs a credit rating.   more

Most of us have had a roommate or two in the past. Some of us have had two roommates at one time. It is the easiest and most common way to obtain affordable housing. These living arrangements are typical and don't require approval from local municipalities; however most local governments, townships, and cities have a definition of family for their area which may be impacted by these situations in some cases.   more

When pursuing financial recovery, it is helpful to know about the available programs and resources available that can assist. Information on some of these programs can be found in other articles of the Housing Planning Library   more

This is the first article of a two part series on Fair Housing Laws. The second article goes into detail about reasonable accommodation and modification, a specific function of Fair Housing for people with disabilities.   more

Listed below are some great programs that are often underutilized by many of the individuals and families we speak with in the Housing Resource Center. These programs provide credit, funds or assistance to the eligible household to either financial helps or to improve the living conditions of the home.   more

Many people have experienced challenges to independent living due to challenges in financial literacy. A person does not have to let this prevent them from fulfilling their dreams.   more

A well cared for home (house or apartment) can provide years of security and comfort. Regular check-ups and maintenance are necessary to insure a safe healthy home.   more

Do you dream of owning your own home? Believe it or not, this is a great time to buy a house. Interest rates and home prices are lower than they have been in years.   more

The housing choice voucher program is one of the federal government's most popular housing programs to assist families with very low-income to afford safe and affordable housing.   more

Start up costs varies greatly. There are many factors that contribute to the wide range of start up costs. The size of the home, the community the home is in, the individual plans to remodel before moving or to do changes to the home while living there to name a few.   more

There are many choices to consider when an individual or family is trying to identify a place to live.   more

An IDA or Individual Development Account, is an excellent way to begin saving for education, one's own business, or a first home purchase. Recently, a bill introduced by Senator Jansen, was passed that extends the use of IDAs for "qualified home improvement".   more

By forming Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) family members can help provide affordable housing for people with disabilities.   more

In order to live more successfully in an integrated community, some individuals with a disability find they need the support of their family and friends, or what is called natural supports. However, some individuals have limited natural supports and may need to link within the community to find support, or what is called supplemental support. MCCMH serves as a bridge to close the support gap for those who have limited natural supports, or would like additional support outside of their family and friends.   more

In order to live successfully in an integrated community, some individuals find they need a little extra help in terms of supports. While a number of persons rely on help from their family and friends, there may still be a need for additional supplemental help. For others natural supports are limited, requiring the person to look for additional resources within the community.

For many people and families, Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) serves to bridge this gap with its partners by providing resources to those in need of assistance.   more

There are pro's and con's to owning a house versus renting an apartment. Each property has expenses associated with it. Listed below, we have tried to outline the costs for each of these situations.   more

The Michigan Association of Community Mental Health requires an Individual Plan of Service to be completed at least once a year in accordance with the Michigan Mental Health Code. The Individual Plan of Service is created using Person Centered Planning techniques. The document that is created can be a powerful tool for reaching one's housing dream.   more

This article, "Reasonable Accommodation and Modification" is the second half of the two part article on Fair Housing law. For more information on Fair Housing, pleae refer to the Fair Housing article in the Housing Planning Library.   more

Having a roommate can have great financial rewards. People can divide up the costs of rent, mortgages, electricity, heat, water, garbage, and cable television.   more

To insure accessibility for people with disabilities Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided many rules to the public housing commission (PHC) that administer the vouchers.   more

To quote the philosopher John Locke, "men can determine themselves" by the choices they make.   more

There are times when an individual needs assistance to make informed decisions for major life choices such as medical interventions, participating in treatment, and entering into binding contracts. Sometimes an individual will need help in one particular area or may need greater support long term, depending on circumstances and individual needs.   more

Springhill Housing Corporation (SHC) works with local, state and federal agencies to create affordable housing opportunities and build sustainable communities.   more

Subsidized housing is when housing is made affordable from money funded by the government, banks, and foundations. This subsidy can be direct payments to a landlord to offset the rental costs or it can be construction money used to produce units of affordable housing with the landlord's contractual obligation to offer homes at an affordable rate or below fair market rental rates.

Some of the most common types of subsides include subsidized apartments, section 8, leasing assistance for homeless, housing opportunities for people with Aids, HUD section 811, and local community mental health agency housing assistance programs.   more

Community Housing Network (CHN) administers a number of Homeless Assistance Grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants are used to help people with disabilities who are homeless and their families find affordable rental units via our Leasing Assistance Programs.   more

1. The best way to win over a prospective landlord is to be prepared.   more

Housing people with disabilities didn't change that much from 1796 until the early 1980's. A grand movement began in the early 1970's for people with developmental disabilities.   more

In situations when a family is fortunate to have an inheritance to pass on to loved one, it is important to examine a trust arrangement to protect the funds and the individual that will benefit from it.   more

Segregating a person based on a medical diagnosis is a civil rights issue as much as segregating based on race, religion, familiar status, color, sexual orientation, gender, or age. So, deciding all people with a mental disability should live together is a fair housing issue. Creating a housing project with the intention to congregate a group based on a diagnosis is also a civil rights issue.   more