OHFA Annual Plan - Ohio Housing Finance Agency

While programs such as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program have workedto increase the number of accessible housing units, affordability continues to be a concern.Frequently, individuals with disabilities receive Supplemental Security Income as their onlysource of income. At $637 a month, or approximately 18 percent of the median incomein Ohio, SSI recipients are priced out of most of the Low Income Housing Tax Creditapartments, most of which are targeted to those earning 50 to 60 percent of the medianincome.In addition, there is little information about the location of accessible units available amongexisting housing stock. Many developers of affordable housing do not include informationabout accessibility in their property lists. For this reason, in some communities, accessibleunits remain vacant. This reinforces the misperception that all who need affordable andaccessible housing units are being accommodated.Other Anecdotal DataIn FY 2008, the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) assisted over 5,300 people withdisabilities. At least half of those were people with intellectual, developmental, physicaland other disabilities. Additionally the OLRS served 300 people with community integrationissues, some of which were related to physical accessibility issues or denial of reasonableaccommodation and modifications. 4According to the OLRS, there is an inadequate supply of safe, affordable and accessiblehousing for individuals with disabilities. Because of this, many are placed in nursing homeseven though that level of care is often inappropriate. Others live with aging parents or inhousing with physical barriers. Although they may have a roof over their heads, this doesnot mean that their housing needs are met. 5Nonprofit organizations and local government programs have waiting lists for their homemodification services that enable people with disabilities to remain in their homes. TheAbility Center of Greater Toledo has mailed out approximately 400 applications for homemodifications since Jan. 1, 2008. There is currently a 12-16 month wait before they caneffectively serve those who have requested assistance. This level of need is a reflection ofminimal public relations efforts - they do not advertise on a regular basis. 6Best Practices, Policies and ProgramsMass AccessThe Mass Accessible Housing Registry is a free program that helps people with disabilitiesfind rental housing in Massachusetts, primarily accessible and barrier-free housing. Thedatabase tracks accessible and affordable apartments throughout the state, maintaininginformation about their availability. Massachusetts state law requires that owners andmanagers list all available, accessible units with Mass Access.The program was started in 1995. Mass Access catalogs every accessible or adaptable unitin the state and tracks its availability. The system distributes current vacancy informationto disability agencies and people with disabilities. On a daily basis, this information is sentstatewide.Toledo, Ohio Visitability OrdinanceThe goal of this ordinance is to set and implement visitability-building standards for one,two and three family dwelling units, which have received a subsidy from a Governmental4N/A: Ohioans with Disabilities and the Consolidated Plan - Comments for Ohio’s Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Year 2009, Submittedby the Ohio Legal Rights Service5See note 4 above6Ash Lemons, Director, Housing Resource Center, The Ability Center of Greater Toledo74