Did you know that LA Medicaid offers numerous housing options for people with developmental disabilities? Whether it’s through the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program, Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs, or other initiatives, you can find comfortable and supportive living arrangements outside of institutional settings. In this article, we’ll walk you through some LA Medicaid housing options that people with disabilities should look into.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) provides flexible, tailored, voluntary housing services to people with severe and complex developmental disabilities. The overarching goal of this program is to help these individuals live better lives in the community.
You may qualify for the PSH program if you meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
- You have a long-term disability that’s significant in nature.
- You are a current recipient of one of the following: An eligible OCDD or OAAS waiver, Medicaid institutional services (ICF/IDD or nursing home), or Ryan White services.
- You need the type of housing assistance offered by the PSH program.
- You meet the low-income requirements
- You meet the age requirements
The only way to know if you qualify for this program is to apply. Those who want to apply for South Louisiana services, download and submit this application per the instructions within. If you need services in North Louisiana, you need to call 844-698-9075 to get a referral to the PSH program.
Home and Community-Based Services
LA Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Service waivers support people with disabilities, keeping them out of institutional facilities and either at home or in the community. There are four main waivers offered by the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), and they include the following:
- Children’s Choice Waiver (CCW) – For children up to age 20.
- New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) – For people aged three and older.
- Residential Options Waiver (ROW) – For people of all ages.
- Supports Waiver (SW)- For people aged 18 and older.
*We strongly suggest reading about the programs above. You may find that one or more of the programs offers services and supports you need to stay healthy and happy while providing the disability housing assistance you need.
Each of these waiver programs includes disability housing provisions, specifically housing stabilization and transition services. The entire point of these programs is to ensure that people with disabilities are able to live in the most appropriate and least-restrictive setting for them. And housing assistance is a part of that.
Know that the eligibility requirements, application process, and service specifics vary between programs. And just because you qualify doesn’t mean you’ll be first in line to receive services. So, it’s best to apply for relevant programs at the earliest possible instance.
Get Additional Help from a Support Coordinator
If you currently have access to a Medicaid support coordinator, we recommend reaching out to them. They can look into your LA Medicaid housing options and tell you right away which resources would be appropriate for you. They can also walk you through the application process for those programs. And to put the cherry on top, they’ll keep up with you on a long-term basis to ensure you’re getting the most out of your benefits.
