2000 Best Practice Awards

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 Authority’s 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)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011