Care Management

RESIDENTIAL AND HOUSING OPTIONS

You have options when choosing where to live – independently at home, with family, or in a group home in the community. Regardless of where you live, or who you live with, supports are available to help you be as independent as possible.

Choosing where to live

• Do you want or need to live with other people?
• Do you want to live independently?
• Have you had enough information, and are you supported in making this decision?

Non-Certified Settings

Non-Certified settings are homes outside of the certified system. They can be agency run, owned by families or a corporation, cooperatives, condos, apartments, or single-family homes. If receiving OPWDD funding, they are subject to the same regulations in reporting incidents or abuse as certified settings. Many are owned or run by provider agencies who apply their own regulations and standards, often with the same incident reporting features as in certified settings. These settings may be funded through Self-Directed funds, Section 8, HUD, or OPWDD housing subsidies.

Non-Certified settings include:

• Living independently in your own house or apartment with assistance options that include:
  • A live-in caregiver unrelated to you
  • Integrated Supportive Housing (ISH)
  • Transitional apartments
  • Housing subsidies to help manage home costs
  • Paid Neighbor, who provides help when needed
  • Environmental Modifications (E-mods)
• Living with family in their home with proper supports like respite and community habilitation.
• OPWDD Family Care Homes – living with another family, unrelated to you, ensuring you have all of the supports needed.

Certified Settings

Certified settings are residences overseen by state regulators to maintain safety and report on incidents. OPWDD inspections ensure that housing is healthy, safe, and provides a positive quality of life. Certified settings provide higher level of support for greater needs and are considered when all other options have been explored and determined not appropriate, which is determined by OPWDD.

In order to live in a Certified setting, you must be eligible for OPWDD services and enrolled in the HCBS Waiver.

Certified settings include: