2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: New Hampshire
Best Practice: Housing Access and Advocacy Program
Advocacy Program Provides Training for
the Disabled and Housing Professionals to Ensure Fair Housing
Concord.
The Housing Access and Advocacy Program was established in 1990 to ensure
increased housing access and choices for disabled and hearing-impaired individuals
throughout New Hampshire. The program provides training and education for
disabled and hearing-impaired consumers, as well as health-care and housing
providers, about the requirements of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of
1988. The training specifically focuses on home modifications and the rights
and responsibilities of all parties involved. The program ensures that
disabled and hearing-impaired consumers understand their responsibility,
as well as their rights to housing access and choices in the housing market.
The program has been very successful in empowering individuals with disabilities
to achieve greater independence, as well as increasing the number of accessible
units and awareness of these issues in the community.
Contact: Stephen Jones, Phone: (603) 228-9680
Tracking Number: 1766
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Lead Hazard Reduction Program
Subgrantee Policies and Procedures
Lead Hazard Reduction Toolbox Provides
Comprehensive Reference, Assistance
Nashua.
The City of Nashua, New Hampshire, developed a toolbox for the effective
and consistent administration of lead hazard reduction projects. The city,
a subgrantee to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authoritys Lead
Hazard Reduction Program, worked in partnership with city agencies, property
owners and tenants to develop the toolbox. The toolbox includes a 43-chapter
policy manual containing many of the requirements and documents needed for
successful project implementation. Each chapter focuses on a critical step
in the hazard reduction process and contains useful tools such as checklists
and prompts. The toolbox has helped to codify the varying state and federal
regulations into one reference document for lead hazard reduction programs.
With modifications to reflect state and local laws, other municipalities
can easily use the toolbox to manage lead paint hazard reduction projects
from initial screening to project closeout and reporting.
Contact: Klaas Nijhuis, Phone: (603) 594-3362
Tracking Number: 2339
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: John F. Kennedy Alternative
Housing Program
Cost-Effective Program Provides Services
to Prevent Premature Institutionalization of Elderly
Manchester.
The John F. Kennedy Alternative Housing Program is managed through collaboration
between two housing authorities in New Hampshire. It offers frail elderly
public housing residents with disabilities the opportunity to live in the
dignity of their own apartment and receive supportive services that are
easily accessible within their building. The goal of the housing program
is to prevent institutionalization of the elderly and de-institutionalize
residents who were prematurely placed in nursing homes or other facilities.
The program has delayed nursing home placement and institutionalization
of seven participants. Costs are approximately one-third the cost of nursing
homes. Residents pay 20 percent of their incomes for participation, and
the balance comes from state and federal funds. The evaluation report prepared
by the University of New Hampshire, Department of Health Care Management
evidenced the fact that Alternative Housing Programs cost approximately
$14,000 per person, per year, while nursing home care costs were almost
triple at $40,000 per person, per year. This represents an enormous saving
to the State Medicaid money. This cost-efficient program offers the elderly
independence and improved quality of life.
Contact: Catherine Naczas, Phone: (603) 524-2112
Tracking Number: 1265
Winning Category: Program (Community Builder)
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