January 12, 2004
Hearing Room 3, State Capitol Building
MINUTES
Lt. Governor Maxwell called the meeting to order. There were not enough
Commission members present to establish a quorum so they began meeting as
a sub-committee.
Co-Chair Reports:
Ms. Dunham reported that the work groups have been meeting and the work
of the Commission is moving forward.
Special Projects Team Update:
Sandy Levels, Department of Social Services - Social Services is in charge
of Real Choice. Charged with taking a look at a project assessment. Trying
to avoid duplication of reporting information when a client is receiving
services from more that one state agency.
Jeanne Loyd, Vocational Rehabilitation - Special Projects team met to look
at a universal application process already in place under a federal grant
through the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The universal application
is currently being used at the One Stop Center in Columbia and is working
well. Will take a look at the project and see how it could be implemented
for the state, then present the department directors.
Lt. Governor requested the outcomes of the meeting on the universal application
be sent to the co-chairs.
Kay Green - Department of Mental Health is working on adding a transition
service to their waiver. Have also been working on bringing together representatives
from various housing agencies to provide information on housing opportunities
in Missouri. This presentation is on the agenda for today's meeting.
At this time roll call was taken and a quorum was established. PIV members
present were: Lt. Governor Maxwell, Kirsten Dunham, Roger Garlich, Anne Jackson,
Neva Thurston, Wendy Hays, Sen. Bill Foster, Sandra Levels, Kay Green (for
Anne Deaton), Rick Horrell and Jeanne Loyd.
Real Choice Systems Change Grant Update:
Ms. Taylor presented a summery of the budget up to December. For the third
and final year of the grant $829,190 has been obligated. They are planning
to ask for a no cost extension because two of the projects they are working
on will not be completed by the end of the grant period. These projects
are the Cash and Counseling Research Project and a project through the Department
of Health and Senior Services looking at changes in the senior services delivery
model. The specific activities that go along with the budget items are as
follows:
- Objective One: Training consumers on a regular basis about the system
and their activities. Art also identifying programs receiving other than
state funds and are working with Family Support Division regions to provide
booklets for the seven regions.
- Objective Two: Perceptions of consumers, providers and service coordinators
and piloting a standardized universal application form. This was already
covered in the state agency reports.
- Objective Three: The Home and Community Based Services Guide. 40,000
revised copies have been printed. Is also available in large print, on
cassette tale, Braille and on the web. It will be distributed to all the
libraries throughout the state, including those in colleges and universities.
- Objective Four: Train consumers on how to discuss informed choice with
other individuals. Trainings are taking place. The last one is scheduled
for April. Participants will fill out an evaluation about the value of
the trainings. Ms. Taylor will report back to the PIC at the March meeting
about the progress of these trainings. Will also have those who have been
providing informed choice to individuals complete a survey about how effective
the informed choice information is and any barriers or problems they have
run into. Also under Objective Four was education of judges and public
administrators about guardianship and options. Have held one training
with the Missouri Elder Care Committee and plan a presentation during the
Missouri Bar Association's Conference.
- Objective Five: Department of Mental Health will be conducting spatial
analysis of their hab centers to see which ones can provide the best services
and which ones should be closed. There is also a pilot project looking
at DMH consumers who move back into the community and are participating
in the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities and need expanded
PAS services and employment counseling.
- Objective Six: Conduct research to determine both quality of life and
cost effectiveness issues. This involves the six demonstration projects
implemented by the Commission. The twelve months end in February 2004
and UMKC research staff will evaluate the success of these projects.
Dr. Chris Rinck from UMKC went over the survey responses from the six demonstration
projects. 72.8% of those surveyed said they were happy where they were living,
52% said they wanted to live where they were currently living, 49% said they
wanted to live somewhere else. Issues were financial assistance, community
supports, finding and keeping personal care attendants and lack of information
about options available.
Ms. Taylor also told the PIC there was enough funding for them to send some
Commissioners to the annual CMS Conference. Anne Jackson, Kirsten Dunham
and Neva Thurston all indicated an interest in attending. It was decided
to allocate three slots for PIC members to attend.
Housing Presentation:
Missouri Housing Development Commission - The HDC is the state's
housing finance agency. Their motto is "Strength, Dignity and Quality of
Life". They have three basic functions:
- Rental product and preservation of rental housing - are responsible for
financing the building and rehabbing of rental units throughout the state.
- Home ownership - have First -Time Buyers Program (Mortgage Revenue Bond
Program) provides below market interest rates on home loans. Are also
providing a Down Payment Assistance Program in the areas of the state hit
by the tornadoes last spring. Also have a home repair program that includes
adding accessibility features such as ramps and widening doors.
- Housing Trust Fund - this is rental assistance, emergency assistance,
utility assistance, it builds homeless shelters, provides funding for transitional
housing for families, crisis shelters.
Their email address is: info@mhdc.com
USDA Rural Development - Can only provide services in rural areas
with a population of 20,000 or less. Have about 30 different programs. Some
of these include:
- Community Facility Program - Loans for assisted living programs
- Multifamily Housing Program - Provides rental housing for low-income
families. Have over 900 projects across the state with properties in every
county except St. Louis County.
- Rental Assistance - Currently have about 2900 rental assistance units. Some
of these are in conjunction with MHDC. A certain number of rental units
are required to be accessible for people with disabilities. People with
disabilities can get a $400 deduction off their income plus a 1% basic
interest rate for determining the amount of rent they would pay. There
is also a deduction for medical expenses.
- Single Family Housing Program - This is a loan program to help low and
very low income families buy a home. To qualify for a loan they must be
without decent, safe and sanitary housing, unable to obtain a loan for
the full amount from other sources, have sufficient income for repayment,
have competent legal capacity, be in the low or very low income category
and have adequate, acceptable credit history. These loans can be for as
long as 38 years with low interest rates to keep payments down.
- Guaranteed Loan Program - Loans are made through a bank and USDA Rural
Development guarantees the loan against a loss. These can be made to families
with a moderate income and also have longer repayment terms.
- Repair Loans - For people who already own their homes but need to bring
the house up to standard. Are also for removing health and safety hazards. Must
be very low income. There is also a grant program for those age 62 and
over who cannot afford to repay a loan. This is also for removing health
and safety hazards.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Community Planning and Development - Two forms
- Formula Programs - Priorities set at local level. Formula Programs include:
- Community
Development Block Grant Program - Primarily used for housing rehabilitation,
public works and public facilities. Must be to help low and moderate income
people. People with disabilities are automatically presumed to fall in this
category.
- Home
Program - Designed to increase the supply of affordable housing for low to
moderate-income people.
- Emergency
Shelter Program - Provides funding to large cities to operate homeless shelters.
- Housing
Opportunities for People with AIDS - Provides housing assistance to people
who are HIV/AIDS infected.
- Formula
Grants - For larger cities of 50,000 population or more.
- Shelter Plus Care Program - Funded through the Super Nova, a competitive
grant application process that takes place each year. This includes Section
8 Housing. Is targeted toward individuals with serious mental or physical
problems. Under this program HUD provides rental assistance and someone
else provides the other necessary support services.
- American Dream Down Payment - New program to help low income people pay closing costs and down payment to buy a home. No details are available yet about this program.
- Section 811 Housing - Supported housing for persons with disabilities. Funded through the Super Nova grant process. Persons must be 18 years of age or older and very low income.
- Section 202 Housing - For elderly age 62 years of age or older and very low income.
Update on Community Marketing Work Group:
Have been working with both the Kansas City and St. Louis Chapters of the
Epilepsy Foundation. Also putting together a plan to work with the social
work programs at the different universities across the state. Also working
on a plan to work with hospitals and discharge planers to inform them of
the options available.
Public Comment:
Besse Reece, Legislative Chairperson for Missouri Council of the Blind - Pleased
with the work the PIC is doing. Requested information handouts provided
during the PIC meetings be made available on cassette tape for those who
are blind or visually impaired.
Lt. Governor said they will look into doing that.
Wayne Lee - Has concerns about people with disabilities not being self advocates
for themselves. Is going to work to see people with disabilities become
good self advocates.
The Lt. Governor reminded everyone that the work groups would meet February
9th and that the next meeting of the PIC would be March 15th.
The meeting adjourned.
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