California’s Self-Determination Program (SDP), a novel approach to allocating and delivering services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs), is designed to help participants live as independently as possible. This can involve a wide range of services and supports, like occupational therapy, specialized medical equipment, behavioral intervention services, and much more.
Many participants and family members wonder about rental expenses and their potential inclusion in an individual budget. The short answer is that Regional Centers may issue rental expenses on behalf of SDP participants only if a specific set of circumstances are met, which we’ll explain further down.
A Brief Overview of the California Self-Determination Program
The central idea behind California’s SDP is person-centered planning. This means that the person receiving services—in this case, a Californian with an IDD who chooses to engage with the SDP—should be as involved as possible when choosing their services. Instead of having another entity evaluate participants and decide what they need on their behalf, participants get to choose what they need based on their personal needs and goals. It’s a meaningful way to provide participants with some autonomy.
What We Mean When We Refer to ‘SDP Rental Assistance’
It’s important for participants and their circles of support to understand that rental assistance is NOT the same as housing access support. Housing access support, which is a service commonly utilized by SDP participants, specifically refers to housing transition services (such as helping participants apply for housing and ensuring the appropriate utilities are turned on) and tenancy-sustaining services, which aim to help participants keep their places of residence.
Housing access services help participants access and maintain their living arrangements. Other types of residence-based SDP services, such as home health aides, are distinct from rental assistance. When someone from the SDP or Regional Center refers to rental assistance, they are referring to actual rent payments. Few other programs are able to provide rental assistance for non-elderly persons with disabilities.
When Will the Individual Budget Help Cover Rent?
In the rare circumstances where Regional Center funds help cover rental payments, these expenses do not count against the participant’s individual budget. In other words, participants don’t have to worry about allocating funds from their individual budgets to pay rent.
The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) website lays out three conditions that must be met for SDP participants to get rental assistance:
- Providing rental assistance is in the best interests of protecting the personal safety of the participant or someone else due to a medical, psychiatric, or behavioral condition of the participant.
- A supported living services provider continuously works to find generic and natural supports crucial for the participant.
- The participant receives rental assistance only for six months UNLESS the Regional Center confirms, on a quarterly basis, that rental assistance is needed indefinitely.
Generally, participants must receive written permission from their Regional Center’s executive director before obtaining rental assistance. The complete guidelines for receiving disability rental assistance from a Regional Center can be found in Section 4689(i) of the California W&I Code.
Getting the Most Out of the SDP
Many adults are delighted to learn that it is possible to live independently in homes they lease or rent while participating in the SDP. The program is quite popular among Californians who wish to continue receiving Regional Center services while being as autonomous as their circumstances allow.
In the rare cases of participants receiving rental assistance from a Regional Center, they will not be forced to use funds from their individual budgets. It can be challenging to understand the circumstances in which participants deserve rental assistance, which is just one reason working with an independent facilitator can help you or a loved one optimize their participation in the SDP.
Independent facilitators, like the ones at NeuroNav, can shepherd new participants through the program and provide critical ongoing services. We can answer any questions about rental assistance for adults with disabilities and any other SDP-related topic. Our team is passionate about helping participants achieve their dreams, and we’d be honored to serve you.
