Housing Toolkit

Finally Home is a demonstration project of Values into Action funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) to assist individuals with disabilities from rural communities in meeting their goals to access and maintain control of their own homes. Diana T. Myers and Associates, Inc. (DMA) and Values Into Action created the Finally Home Housing Toolkit as a user-friendly resource providing housing information and tools for advocates, Housing Service Providers, Supports Coordinators, Supports Brokers, family members and other interested parties to support people with disabilities in securing the housing of their choice.

This does not mean a person with a disability cannot or should not use these tools on their own; however, if you are looking to explore your housing options, it is helpful to find a trusted friend or support to work with you in exploring your housing options and preferences.

The Finally Home Housing Toolkit User Guide includes instructions for using the tools to provide a structure for you to support a person with a disability to explore the many options of homes, places, and ways to live in their own home.

The Finally Home Housing Toolkit User Guide cover page

Download the User Guide

There are five sections of the Housing Toolkit User Guide. Each section provides instructions for using the tools to provide a structure for you to support a person with a disability to explore the many options of homes, places, and ways to live in their own home.

Section One: Housing Options Training Modules 1 and 2 (HOT 1 & HOT 2)

HOT 1 & HOT 2 are two PowerPoint guides to introduce a housing seeker to housing information, terms, procedures, and practices.

Housing Options Training Module 1 guides you to explore housing options such as:

With whom do you want to live?
Where do you want to live?
In what kind of community or neighborhood?
In what kind of home?
What housing options might you consider?
An efficiency or studio apartment?
Would you prefer to own or rent your home?

Housing Options Training Module 2 explores additional housing options, such as:

Basic housing characteristics (livability, habitability, accessibility, affordability)
Accessibility resources and assistive devices
How to make renting or buying a home affordable
Fair housing and reasonable accommodations

Section Two: The Finally Home Housing Toolkit User Guide

Section Three: The Housing Assessment

The Housing Assessment is used to:

Assess the needs of the person seeking housing
Document the preferences of the housing seeker
Assist in the creation of the Housing Plan

Section Four: The Housing Plan

The Housing Plan begins with a summary of the housing goals obtained from the Housing Assessment.

The rest of the plan is divided into three sections:

Section A outlines the Action Steps for any housing seeker

Section B outlines the Action Steps for renting a home

Section C outlines the Action Steps for buying a home

Section Five: The Appendix

The Appendix includes several information sheets that dive deeper into topics discussed in HOT 2 and more. The appendices are listed below with clickable links for your convenience.