Providers, families press for more supportive and accessible affordable housing for seniors and people with developmental disabilities

Family members, nonprofit housing providers and disability advocates told the Housing Committee that Connecticut needs more targeted supportive housing for older adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Several witnesses described projects that combine affordable units with on-site supports and asked the committee to include rental-assistance and staffing supports in HB 5 0 0 2 and related bills.

Speakers described rapid, measurable outcomes in projects already operating in the state: transitions from family caregiving to independent living, improved employment and quality of life, and cost savings compared with traditional group-home models. Annette Scully (parent and chair of the Developmental Disabilities Council) and other family members asked for local options near existing supports so adult children would not be forced to relocate far from jobs and transportation. Favar, ARC providers and others described projects where supported apartments cost roughly 25% less than congregate group homes while producing comparable or better outcomes.

Witnesses requested that the committee consider three concrete changes: (1) expand DDS rental-assistance packages for supportive housing; (2) add line-items for DDS staffing bundled with housing investments; and (3) ensure state permanent-supportive-housing planning includes IDD and senior supportive models. Providers said many people with disabilities are on waiting lists and that caregiver aging leaves a future housing shortage unless the state expands these options now.

Why it matters: Supportive housing is both a disability-rights and affordability strategy. Advocates argued that it reduces…