Home Options
(HO)
Encouraging “independence” with
community-based supports
  
Home Options (HO) is a program that facilitates
homeownership and housing alternatives for people with
disabilities such as paralysis, mental retardation and
traumatic brain injury. It accomplishes this “facilitation”
by providing information and referral, credit and
homeownership counseling, technical assistance with
applications and processes, negotiations, resource
development and advocacy. HO utilizes community “partners”
and supports such as: the Illinois Housing Development
Authority (IHDA)
and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)
to provide first-time homebuyers with financial assistance
in the forms of: “forgive-able” (after 5 years’ residence)
“down- payments” to reduce the price of a home and grants
for renovation and rehabilitation to make the home
accessible. HO, also, forges new and creative collaborations
with developers, state and local officials, financial
institutions and communities for the purpose of developing a
variety of housing alternatives and supports. HO’s broad
vision and mission offers housing and security to a
population, marginalized by entitlement systems. Home
Options is a model for accessibility, supported living,
independence and community redevelopment for the nation.
There is a growing need for housing and housing related
services for a widening array of individuals with
disabilities.
People with mild and moderate levels of disabilities or who
have acquired disabilities as a result of war, violent
crime, accident or illness have not been eligible for
government supported programs even though they may meet low
income requirements.
There appears to be a “gap” in available supports and
considerations for people with acquired disabilities, such
as veterans with disabilities, people with traumatic brain
injury, etc., as well as for people, born with disabilities,
that are not considered “substantial”, according to the
federal definition of developmental disabilities.
Home Options can remove artificial and arbitrary
obstacles in housing development for people with
disabilities. In the near future, Home Options plans to
work, in collaboration with community partners who will
provide:
-
Development/identification of housing/property;
-
Financing of mortgage, repairs, rehabilitation;
-
Services such a legal, accounting, realty, inspection,
construction
As resources and funding become available, Home options will
provide:
1.
Information and referral, including compilation of a Housing
Resource Directory for people with disabilities in Cook
County, Illinois
2.
Marketing and identification of consumers, eligibility
screening and determination
3.
Credit counseling
4.
Service coordination of renovation, community supports and
treatment
5.
Homeownership counseling, independent life skills training,
literacy and GED
6.
Ongoing case management, advocacy and loss prevention
Housing Specialists:
Dennis Howard
Tel : (773) 471-4705
Shirley Perez
Tel : (773) 471-4704
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