Project Description:
The Omaha Neuro-Inclusive Housing Market Analysis (funded by Front Porch Investments) found that adults with disabilities in Omaha struggle to access housing. In Nebraska, >89% of adults with disabilities do not receive needed services (e.g., Medicaid funding), and 71% live with aging caregivers. These statistics reflect national trends, highlighting a need to identify and implement housing solutions for adults with disabilities. Across the country, adults with disabilities and their families are creating housing solutions despite systemic barriers. Washington's Open Minds is creating an inclusive residential housing community with public and private funding. Tennessee's Our Place creates affordable friendship houses wherein individuals with and without disabilities co-reside, and Illinois' Center for Independent Futures created a family-led process to create housing for their adult children with disabilities.
Unfortunately, there is no clearinghouse of such solutions and little research about how the solutions can be replicated. We propose a two-phase project partnering with the disability community in Omaha to identify and implement innovative housing solutions. We will purposefully identify housing solutions for adults with disabilities with a range of support needs. Although the housing solutions will be only implemented in Omaha, the catalogue of housing solutions will be shared with disability communities across the country.
Our team will have an in-person meeting with Omaha community-based organizations (CBOs) to launch the project. We will conduct a national survey of existing housing solutions, documenting their location, funding, and features. Ms. Lindsay and students will create a website showcasing the solutions. CBOs will rank which solutions could be successful in Omaha. Then, we (Drs. Burke and Loveall with Ms. Lindsay) will conduct four Community Conversations (two in-person, two virtual; Carter et al., 2012) with the Omaha disability community. At each two-hour Community Conversation, individuals (e.g., adults with disabilities, family members, community members) will be in groups of 5-8 with a project team member. All individuals will be compensated for their time. After a welcome, short housing presentation, and overview of the structure, there will be three 15-20 minute small group conversations followed by a whole group discussion. During
each small group, participants will learn about a different housing solution and discuss whether it could be successful in Omaha, rotating to a new group after each conversation. During the whole group discussion, participants will share the most promising ideas. The project team will analyze their responses to identify the most popular ideas.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, General Public
