Olmstead Housing Subsidy Program

A program that works for both tenants and landlords!

The Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) is a rental subsidy program funded by the New York State Department of Health Medicaid Redesign Team and administered by the New York Association on Independent Living. Eligible participants must meet the following program requirements:

• Be age 55 or older OR be age 18 or older with a documented chronic disability.
• Be enrolled in Medicaid.
• Meet nursing home level of care as determined by the Uniform Assessment System for New  York (UAS-NY).
• Be living in a nursing home, or be homeless or unstably housed.
• Have spent at least one hundred and twenty (120) consecutive days in a nursing home over the most recent two-year period.
• Have the ability to live safely in the community

Participants are free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program. The housing is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects, such as senior housing.

A Housing Specialist (HS) from a local Independent Living Center is assigned to each participant in the program. The HS will assist individuals in many ways, from enrollment in the program to follow-up after the move. The HS will work with participants to locate housing in the community of their choice, complete an inspection of the rental unit to ensure health and safety standards are met, maintain monthly contact with the participant, and re-inspect the unit annually. The HS acts as a liaison between landlords and participants to ensure success of the program.

Participants will be required to pay 30% of their monthly income, less allowances, towards rent. The OHS program will subsidized the remainder, up to the local Fair Market Rent set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In conjunction with rental subsidies, funding for Community Transition Services (CTS) is also available. It includes security deposits, moving expenses, utility start-up payments, household establishment purchases, etc.

Participants are required to sign an annual lease with their landlord and apply for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section8) when it becomes available in their area.

For more information on OHS please click on the photo below: