What is OPWDD certified housing?

Certified housing are homes and apartments run by OPWDD or by organizations approved by OPWDD.

The approval is to make sure the housing is safe and accessible to people with IDD.

What are the 3 types of certified housing?

The three types of certified housing are:

Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF);

Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA), what many call a ‘group home,’ and

Family Care.

Read more about each type below:

Intermediate Care Facilities

This housing type is for people with IDD that need 24 hour supervision and need constant treatment or intervention to make sure they are safe. Residents receive medical care on site and one agency provides all an individual’s housing, services and supports.

ICF residents are eligible for OPWDD but do not receive Home and Community Based Services through the waiver and do not receive care management through a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). There are both federal and state rules these facilities must follow.

In New York State, four or more residents may live in an ICF.

Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA)

One of the biggest differences between IRAs and ICFs is that the OPWDD Medicaid HCBS waiver funds IRAs. Residents receive care management through CCOs.

There are two different types of IRAs:

• Supervised: Provides 24-hour support for residents. Up to 14 residents can live in a supervised IRA.

• Supported: Provides different levels of support based on individual needs. This is generally for individuals who can live more independently. These IRAs allow up to three residents per residence.

Family Care

This is a type of housing where a family provides housing for a person or people that they are not related to who is/are receiving services through OPWDD.

The family must complete a training and meet OPWDD requirements.

Family care settings can have up to four individuals living in the home. OPWDD pays a stipend for each resident.

How do I apply to live in certified housing?

You must go through the Certified Residential Opportunities Process (CRO) to apply for an OPWDD certified setting.

There is a long waiting list. Only those who have an urgent need for housing are likely to get it.

If you have a care manager, you must work with them to request to approval for the CRO waitlist.

You can apply for housing in more than one county or region.

What do I need to apply?

Work with your care manager to complete the following documents:

• An updated CAS or CANS and DDP-2
• A justification letter
• A OPWDD H005 form

Once you have all of the documents and the application is complete, your care manager will submit your application to the Certified Housing Team at the DDRO.

They will send you a decision letter or a “Notice of Decision.”

What happens after I get the decision letter?

If the letter approves you for housing:

1. Note the ‘Level of Housing Need’ assigned to you.
2. You join a waitlist.

If the letter says that you have been denied:

1. You can choose to appeal or challenge the decision or re-apply.
2. You are not on the waitlist.

You may disagree with the decision made about your level of housing need or a denial. IDDO can help! Call us at 1-800-762-9290 or visit our Get Help page.