Housing Options for Adults with Autism
Moving out of the family home is one of the most important transitions in someone’s life. For many years this decision was not one offered to individuals with even slightly moderate special needs, who had no choice but to live with family or to be institutionalized throughout their adult lives. Thanks to societal changes and decades of advocacy, people with special needs now have a plethora of options and the majority live in some type of community setting.
There are a variety of housing options to pick from. Below are some of the most popular housing options for adults on the autism spectrum:
Independent Living - Paying Rent or Home Ownership
Independent living, as in paying rent or home ownership, means that the individual would own or pay rent for the place they live in. It involves living alone in an apartment or house, and would get, if needed, support services from outside agencies. Those services will be limited to helping with just complex problem-solving instead of day-to-day living skills. If the individual is living alone it’s important to have a friend or family member living nearby to be able to contact someone for support.
Supported Independent Living
Supported independent living provides residential services and support, involving a care worker that will assist with certain areas of self-care or social planning. There’s a large emphasis on community integration and supporting each other. Those living in these communities will have their own apartment, but might live in the same building with others that have similar needs. This also provides a safe environment for if and when there are any crises, as one would know there are trained professionals nearby to help when needed.
Adult Foster Care
Adult foster care is planned to be as permanent as possible. This situation is similar to living at home with family. Foster families receive financial assistance from the government to support the fosters in their home in effort to provide the support and resources they need. Foster parents need to have education, experience and training to meet each state’s requirements. They need to attend the state required foster provider basic training course (EQC) and pass an examination before fostering an individual with special needs.
In-Home Services/ Stay at Home or Respite Care
In-home services or stay at home is simply living at home with your parents, with a friend or a family member. If additional support is needed, in-home services can include: personal care such as a companion, homemaking/housekeeping, therapy and health services.
Group Home
Group homes community-based houses in which several people with disabilities live alongside rotating support staff. Staff members ensure that there is help available at all times. Some group homes are exclusive to individuals with autism, while others are not disability specific. Group homes are often located in residential areas.
Supervised Apartment
Supervised apartments help individuals with disabilities achieve or re-gain the necessary skills to live independently. These are for people who prefer to live with fewer people, so they give the opportunity for individuals to live in their own apartment with a roommate. There is no daily supervision, but residents may require some supervision and assistance and therefore a personal support staff comes by several times during a week. Residents are responsible for getting to work, making meals, and meeting their personal care and housekeeping needs.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Voucher Programs
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Voucher Programs is a federal government program that helps adults with disabilities and their families. Individuals would live in public properties owned by the housing authority. Most HUD housing are apartments, but sometimes there are townhouses, single-family houses or duplexes available too. For this program housing assistance is provided to the family or individual, so they can find their own housing. Also, it works as an emergency financial resource to help in rent payments, deposits, or help in danger of removal.
Section 8 Housing
Section 8 housing is a form of the federal government’s primary low-income housing program. The Section 8 vouchers are used to help the families pay for housing. Renters rent from a private landlord after applying to a regional public housing authority. Residents can rent private residences, like apartments, townhouses, trailers, duplexes, condominiums and single-family houses.
Emergency Housing
Emergency housing is for extreme cases of people with special needs that have been removed from their original home or are homeless and have no other place to go. Emergency Housing is in charge to quickly rehome them and Emergency Solutions Grants are available to rapidly re-home an individual.
Nursing Facilities
Nursing homes provide residential care and the most extensive care for people with disabilities. These are for individuals that require constant care and can’t get the support they need at home. The staff here provides medical care, speech, physical, and occupational therapy. These facilities would be the most effective and safest option for someone that requires around the clock supervision or care.