Stavros

ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA (AAA)

There are over 2 million people with disabilities of all ages in nursing homes and other institutions, and over 250,000 people in nursing homes want to return to the community. The Supreme Court and the Bush administration have said states and federal government should work to solve this problem. HUD does nothing.

Secretary Jackson testified to Congress HUD has "a cancer through the Section 8 program that's eating up HUD's buget and we've got to stop that cancer." HUD has no program that coordinates accessible, affordable, integrated housing for individuals who want to return to the community. Secretary Jackson committed to meet with disability activists on developing an "Access Across America" program across the country and then went back on that commitment.

There are multi-year waiting lists for all subsidized housing and people with disabilities are forced into nursing homes and other institutions because of the lack of affordable, accessible, integrated housing options.

THE PROBLEM

Even with the increased availability of Medicaid community-based services and supports, people with disabilities are being stopped from relocating to housing in the community because they cannot get access to vouchers or to accessible, affordable, and integrated housing options. This affects all disabled people who have gone into nursing homes and due to Katrina and the HUD cuts the situation has worsened. Thousands of disabled and elderly people wait. Many people have dropped out of transitioning programs, losing hope when they could not get any assistance to coordinate their Medicaid community-based services and supports with any real access to affordable, accessible, integrated housing.

We are looking for 1,000 vouchers per year for the five years, so a total of 5,000 vouchers as the base for our ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA program.

SOLUTION: ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA (AAA)

Access Across America is a proposal to HUD for a national program that would help people coming out of nursing homes or at risk of going into a nursing homes because they cannot get affordable, integrated and accessible housing. This program coordinates the receipt of subsidized housing vouchers with Medicaid-eligible persons transitioning out of nursing homes or at risk of going into a nursing home due to a housing crisis, who are receiving home and community-based services and supports.

AAA directs HUD and HHS/CMS to collaborate, coordinate and improve services to low income persons with disabilities, thus ensuring that they can truly live in the most integrated setting. It also improves the timing and coordination of affordable, accessible, integrated housing with the receipt of home and community support integrated services.

In addition, AAA facilitates the rebalancing of the long term care system, implements the goals of the New Freedom Initiative, and assists states in implementing the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA?

Individuals with disabilities and older Americans who are in nursing homes or other institutions; those who have chosen to leave the nursing home or other institution; individuals who will be transitioning from the nursing home or other institution within the next 60 days or may be forced back into a nursing home over a housing problem and individuals at imminent risk of going into nursing homes or other institutions.

HOW WILL ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA BE IMPLEMENTED?

HUD, coordinating with HHS/CMS, will work at the state and local levels with federally authorized community-based organizations such as Independent Living Centers and Area Agencies on Aging, to facilitate the coordination of and implementation of the

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