Affordable and Accessible Housing for Unhoused People with Disabilities through Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Capital and Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP)

Disclaimer

Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.

Summary

Create additional capital funding opportunities to construct affordable and accessible housing units around NYS for unhoused people with disabilities.

Justification

New Yorkers with disabilities are at an increased risk for institutionalization. The expansion of Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP) to fund affordable, accessible housing will allow people with disabilities to leave residential healthcare facilities and will reduce homelessness for a vulnerable population.

Full Proposal

The Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) invested funding into the construction of affordable housing projects that set aside units to serve high utilizers of Medicaid. NYS HCR operates SHOP to facilitate construction of housing units for people needing supportive housing who are also homeless or at risk of being homeless.

• Expand the SHOP to address the housing needs of New Yorkers with disabilities who may:
  • Be at risk of institutionalization,
  • Have lost their homes, or
  • Who have been placed in nursing homes and are otherwise able to be discharged, but do not have housing options that are affordable and accessible.
• Eligibility for the new funding should be differentiated from other SHOP funding by focusing on unhoused or institutionalized individuals with a disability who may not share the other needs of populations targeted by existing SHOP funding.
• Review the possibility of renewing the MRT funding for housing high utilizers of Medicaid as a funding source for the SHOP expansion.

MPA Council Commentary

This proposal is categorized as long-term. The SHOP program is currently a component of the Governor’s Housing Plan. Reintroducing MRT capital funds may require amending the State’s Medicaid 1115 Waiver. Funding decisions would be made in the context of the annual budgeting process and subject to available resources.