Calif. Launching Rental Assistance Program for People With Disabilities
On Tuesday, the state Department of Health Care Services announced a new program to help move more Californians with disabilities out of long-term care facilities by offering rental assistance, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports (Gorman, "L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 2/12).
DHCS is partnering with several other agencies to launch the program, including the:
- California Housing Finance Agency;
- California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; and
- Department of Housing and Community Development.
Details of Program
In a statement, Toby Douglas -- director of DHCS -- said that the main barrier to transitioning individuals with disabilities from long-term care facilities to communities is a lack of affordable housing.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing nearly $12 million for long-term rental assistance in California. The funding will be available for 335 residential units.
Eligibility Requirements for Rental Assistance
To receive rental assistance, individuals with disabilities must be between the ages of 18 and 62 and qualify for long-term care services under Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
The individuals must be transitioning from institutional settings or be at risk of institutionalization to receive the funding (DHCS release, 2/12). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.