Virginia 100 Day Housing and Supportive Services Initiative

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) initiated a 100 day Housing and Supportive Services (HHS) Initiative as part of Virginia’s commitment to tenets of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead decision.  The focus of the initiative is to increase integrated and independent community based housing with supportive services in the community. 

According to a recent newsletter, multiple agencies are collaborating to increase integrated, independent housing options for people with I/DD. At the conclusion of the 100 days, housing teams will meet again to share their accomplishments and plan the next steps with state leaders and other community teams to keep this initiative moving forward. 

“Virginia is committed to providing more housing options for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who desire to live in a home of their own,” said Virginia Governor McAuliffe.  “The Commonwealth is making a purposeful shift away from using institutional settings, and helping individuals choose where to live, how to live and with whom to live.”

FMI:  Read the newsletter at http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/about-dbhds/news-and-press-releases/news/2015/05/08/13/43/allin-august2015.

To read more about Virginia’s housing initiative go to http://www.vahss.org/.