We are so excited to announce that The Arc of Whatcom County is partnering with partners4housing to provide free Residential Assessment (RA) to local families, courtesy of the Dan Thompson Memorial Fund. Completing this RA will help your family explore housing possibilities for your loved one and make a resilient plan for the future. The RA starts with an online questionnaire, where you and your loved one answer questions about your loved one’s needs and current benefits and define your vision of “home.”
After completing the questions, you’ll meet online with a trained Solutions Coordinator. They will help you understand how to access all the benefits your loved one is eligible for, including that all-important section 8 voucher, so you can start planning for your loved one’s future housing needs.
Please watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljQOB3bCvbo&feature=youtu.be
Eligible families will also have free access to a roommate matching pool, to help you connect with other families and find compatible roommates for your loved ones. We are so excited to be partnering with partners4housing on this important project because we know how much this can help families like yours in our local communities.
“How should I prepare for my Benefits and Housing Review consult with Partners4housing?”
We know that everyone’s needs and situations are unique. Some are just beginning to explore housing options, while others are well along the path. We always aim to meet you where you are on your journey, so we keep our consultation flexible enough to be sure we cover your concerns and questions. Your Zoom consultation will generally cover information in these six buckets:
Housing options – We’ll talk about the three primary types of living situations: Adult Family Homes, Supported Living, and Shared Living.
Social Security benefits – You’ll learn what they include, how to apply, how to maximize SSI.
DSHS Services – Your state’s Department of Social and Health Services offers a range of additional benefits.
Section 8 – We’ll help you understand what Section 8 is, how it’s administered, and how it can (and can’t) be used.
Food benefits / SNAP – You’ll learn who is eligible for food benefits, how the program works, and how to apply.
The Roommate Matching Pool – We’ll discuss our roommate pool and how it works, what makes a family or individual eligible, and how to use it to find compatible roommates and partnering families to create a successful Shared Living Solution.
The primary purpose of this meeting is to help you explore what’s available and articulate your vision for your own, or your Loved One’s, future. From there, we help break it down into achievable steps and provide a list of what to do next to move forward. To prepare, all you have to do is complete the Benefits and Housing Review online. We’ll make sure we address your questions during the meeting. Sign up for your free Benefits and Housing Review ($500 value), available for a limited time to Washington State residents, thanks to a generous Dan Thompson Memorial Fund Account grant.
How to get started: If you or someone you know has a loved one with IDD, 18 years or older, living in Washington State, claim your free RA today … at no cost!
SIGN UP HERE: https://signup.partners4housing.com/promo/WAWAT
Please reach out if you have any questions. We look forward to helping you take this important step for your loved one!
