developmental disabilities education, research, and...

Institute for Disability Studies Mississippi’s Center for Excellence in

Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD)

The University of Southern Mississippi

2014 Mississippi disAbility Mega Conference June 12-13, 2014

Jackson Marriott

To enhance the quality of life across the life span for citizens with disabilities and their families.

Shelter For All is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development through the Continuum of Care/Supportive Housing Program.

To assist homeless individuals with disabilities and their families across 71 counties in Mississippi by locating needed resources and supports to help them access permanent housing and achieve self-sufficiency.

Shelter For All uses the Continuum of Care approach. CoC is a coordinated housing and service plan which helps communities plan for and provided a balance of:

emergency housing

transitional housing

permanent housing

supportive services

To help participants

Obtain and remain in permanent housing

Increase skills and/or income

Achieve greater self-determination

Must be an individual with a disability who is homeless

The Institute for Disability Studies defines disability by the Americans with Disability Act

Anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as:

Caring for one’s self

performing manual task

walking

seeing

hearing

speaking

and other life activities

Although there are many definitions of homeless, the Shelter For All program uses HUD’s definition of homelessness:

Sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as:

cars

parks

sidewalks

abandoned buildings

Sleeping in emergency shelters

Living in transitional or supportive housing and other institutions such as:

domestic violence shelters

mental institutions

hospitals

Evicted within the week from private dwellings; with no other identified residence and a lack of resources and support needed to obtain housing, or

Discharged within the week from an institution in which they have been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days; with no other residence having networks needed to obtain housing.

Those residing with friends or family Incarcerated In housing, though may be paying excessive

amount or housing is substandard and in need of repair

Living in a board and care facility, including nursing homes

Being discharged from an institution which is required to provide or arrange housing upon release

Those person who are utilizing housing choice vouchers

A client is referred to the Shelter For All program via:

homeless shelter providers

social services providers

agencies (including CoC* agencies)

clients may call toll-free

1.866.883.4474 Jackson office or

1.888.671.0051 Hattiesburg Office

Client is identified by staff to meet criteria for program

Intake and assessment of immediate needs

Services and resources are provided

Housing and budgeting counseling

Case management including PCP

Housing (rental or homeownership)

Gretchen Leake, Case Manager Shelter For All Program Institute for Disability Studies The University of Southern Mississippi 601.266.5221 gretchen.leake@usm.edu