The primary goal under Disabilities Funding at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is to create community housing of choice for low-income people with Disabilities, people on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Choice means choosing one's own type of housing, where to live, with whom to live, and whether to have roommates who have or do not have a disability. The Foundation wishes to create new housing of choice or to fund rental assistance via several strategies: scattered-site, single-family dwellings (own or lease, own key, own room, own bathroom, choice of roommate or not); multi-family high rises, integrating the Israeli "villages," start-up funding such as security deposits, training programs (tenant councils), employment as property maintenance staff, retro-fitting and renovation, and dual-control of services brought to the person's home. The Foundation is looking for innovative practices to move the disabilities field away from group homes ("hostels" in Israel).The Foundation reviews cost studies to answer the question "Can it be cheaper or even the same cost for a person with disabilities to live in his own home rather than living in a group home with roommates not of one's own choosing?" Examples of successful communities of choice will be given in the USA and Israel.
All disabilities
Policy & Legislation
Self-Advocacy & Leadership
General public, Professionals