New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.
Financial Assistance
General Housing
Home Buying
Home Modifications
The United States Department of Housing and Urban development has developed a question and answer web section offering steps to avoid foreclosure. While this guide has been written specifically for homeowners with FHA insured loans, much of the information may apply to all homeowners in danger of losing their home. If you are behind in your mortgage payments do not delay - read this guide immediately.
Tenant Handbook: A Guide for Section 8
Housing Choice Voucher Participants
This is a guide by the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, Belmont, California. "In 1974 Congress authorized the Section 8 Rental Housing Assistance Program which offered a new way of providing subsidized housing. Instead of constructing buildings that have to be managed and maintained, Congress decided to allow families the flexibility of choosing a unit from the private market. They could lease in their current residence or locate a new dwelling, as long as the unit met HUD requirements. The concept of the Housing Choice Voucher Program is that the Housing Authority subsidizes the rental cost by applying a fixed formula, and the family pays the difference between that subsidy and the amount of rent to owner. There are limitations on how much the family can pay. These limitations are explained in this guide. The family will sign a lease agreement, which governs tenancy with the landlord, just as they would in the private rental market. The landlord will be required to sign a Housing Assistance Payment Contract with the Housing Authority, which spells out the requirements the owner has to follow."
Section 8 Made Simple - 2nd Edition (June 2003)
Developed by the Technical Assistance Collaborative, this guidebook contains practical information to assist people with disabilities and the entire disability community to navigate through the Section 8 program more successfully. The Section 8 Housing Program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assists people with disabilities in obtaining affordable housing.
Guide to Searching for Appropriate Housing Options
2002 [Revised April 30, 2002]
This guide was written by the staff of New Horizons Un-Limited to assist individuals with disabilities and their caregivers research appropriate housing environments. This guide provides an outline of several housing options and discusses the feasibility of each relative to the required level of independence. It will further suggest items that one must take into consideration throughout the search so to make the most informed decision.
Guide to Searching for Rental Housing within the Community
March 31, 2002 [Revised April 30, 2002]
This guide was prepared by our New Horizons Un-Limited staff to assist individuals with disabilities and their caregivers research and locate apartment opportunities within their community. This guide discusses issues pertaining to locating non-subsidized, subsidized, and accessible apartments. It will further inform individuals with disabilities of their rights and responsibilities throughout this process. Many helpful resources and programs will be listed that can make the search process less complex.
Guide to Affordable Housing in New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources published this guide to assist low-income residents of New Jersey locate affordable housing. The Guide identifies more than 1,800 developments with more than 150,000 apartments or houses affordable to low- and moderate-income families. The Guide also identifies State and local agencies important to anyone in search of affordable housing in New Jersey. To order a free printed copy of The Guide write to Guide to Affordable Housing in New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, PO Box 802, 101 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08625.
Wisconsin Community Supported Living Series
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCCD) publishes the "Community Supported Living Series," a set of guides that assist people with disabilities in how to find supportive living in their own communities. For more information, contact David Porterfield by phone at (608)258-5560 or e-mail davidp@terracom.net.
Ohio Legal Rights Service Housing Guides (Series of 3)
Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) has produced a series of three guides in order to provide information and increase awareness of housing options among Ohioans with disabilities and their families.
At this time, only hard copies are available. To obtain this series free of charge, call OLRS at (800) 282-9181 (Voice) or (800) 858-3542 (TTY). You may also contact them by mail at Ohio Legal Rights Service, 8 E. Long Street, Suite 500, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2999.
Buying a Home - A Guide from HUD
Department of Housing and Urban Development offers this guide to help you through the home buying process. This is an excellent resource.
Fannie Mae Foundation offers several free guides and resources to help you buy a home, from determining what you can afford and how to find a mortgage lender, to understanding how to stay afloat financially before and after you've moved in. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls involved in making one of the biggest investments in your lifetime. Guide titles include:
The guides are available free of charge and can be downloaded from the foundation website or can be ordered by calling (800) 665-0012.
This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, helps people with disabilities to plan for the future by assessing their situation, identifying their needs and identifying resources that will help in the process of buying a home.
This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, assists people with disabilities with the financial options of buying a home. The financial burden of buying a home can be very complicated for people with disabilities. People with disabilities face unique needs and issues. Due to the recognition that home buying and new legislation can help to solve the housing crises, there are many emerging programs designed to provide a systematic and strategic approach to offer homeownership financial opportunities to people with disabilities.
This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, offers a glossary of terms for the disabled home buyer.
It is very important to know the lingo, talk the talk, become familiar with the terminology associated with the home buying process. This glossary defines the terms and the options of homebuying which assists with decision making.
The National Home of Your Own Alliance offers "A Home of Your Own Guide," which walks prospective home owners through the complex process of buying a home, from the initial decision to make the purchase, through the steps for acquiring a mortgage, and finally, to life as a homeowner.
Guide to Buying a Home for People with Disabilities: Accessible Homes and Home Modifications
This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, was written to assist people with disabilities and their families on how to find accessible homes, understand universal design,
and how to work with a contractor to make necessary accessible home modifications.
This concise article discusses the different options available and considerations to be taken in accessible bathroom design, including walk-in versus roll-in showers, grab bars, flooring, etc.
This is a very comprehensive guide on resources for housing. This guide is produced by Resna and provides information about assistive technology and home modifications. The guide covers definitions laws and guidelines; initiatives from the Assistive Technology Act grantees, advocacy, financing, modification, and research resources; accreditations; online courses; and a bibliography. Please link to the project's Internet homepage at the Resna Technical Assistance Project. Click on Policy Information Pipeline, under Major Policy Areas. Then click on Community Living. Find this article under Housing or call (703) 524-6686.
This guide, produced by the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology, a program of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Center for Disabilities and Development,
Iowa’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, discusses a step-by-step approach to making your home comfortable and convenient for people of all ages and abilities in as many stages of life as possible. This guide includes design considerations for the inside and outside of your home, including suggestions for the floor plan and landscape design. It also includes essentials for universal design, such as widened doorways and zero-step entrances.
This guide, written by the Department of Heath and Family Services, WisTech Assistive Technology Program, discusses considerations to be taken when remodeling a home with accessibility in mind. This guide can help you assess your needs, identify funding sources and develop a plan.
For more on the topic of Housing:
Editorials
/ FAQ
/ Legislation and Rights
/ Community and Internet Resources
If you have questions or ideas, information and solutions that you would like to share
with us, contact us by e-mail at: horizons@new-horizons.org
or to use our NHU E-Mail Form or NHU Community Forum,
click the links below.
Fannie Mae Foundation Home-Buying Guides
Guide to Buying a Home of Your Own For People with Disabilities
January 31, 2002.
Guide to Buying a Home for People with Disabilities: Financial Options
March 31, 2002 [Revised April 30, 2002]
Guide to Buying a Home for People with Disabilities: Talk the Talk - Terminology for the Home Buyer
January 31, 2002 [Revised April 30, 2002]
Home Modifications
January 31, 2002. [Revised April 30, 2002]
Ideas and Instructions For Building a Handicapped Accessible Bathroom
Making Homes Accessible: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications
Practical Guide to Universal Home Design
Remodel Your Home to Maintain Your Independence
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