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Housing Toolkit:

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Reflect: Self-assessment

Understand your beliefs about housing and how you can help the people you support reach their housing goals.

We all have beliefs and experiences with housing. Personal or implicit biases can bubble up as you support people to think about and pursue a place to live. That's why it's critical to be aware of your own fears and background, and how these factors could impact your decisions and actions.

Take the self-assessment below to get insight into your own thoughts and views on housing for people with disabilities.

Read the statements below and click the response that best describes you.

1) When I meet a new person I'll be supporting, I assume he or she can live independently with the right supports.

Great! All people have the ability to live independently with the right supports. It's up to you to help people understand their options to make an informed decision.

All people have the ability to live independently with the right supports. It's up to you to help people understand their options to make an informed decision.

All people have the ability to live independently with the right supports. It's up to you to help people understand their options to make an informed decision.

2) I see how choosing housing is different for each person.

Great! Where you live is a personal choice. What works for you might not work for the people you support. Use the tools in HB101's Vault to help people explore their wants and needs.

Where you live is a personal choice. What works for you might not work for the people you support. Use the tools in HB101's Vault to help people explore their wants and needs.

Where you live is a personal choice. What works for you might not work for the people you support. Use the tools in HB101's Vault to help people explore their wants and needs.

3) I help the people I support find the best resources to reach their housing goals without determining where I think they should live.

Great! Helping someone means exploring their wants and needs — not assuming you know where they should live.

Helping someone means exploring their wants and needs — not assuming you know where they should live.

Helping someone means exploring their wants and needs — not assuming you know where they should live.

4) I understand my role in ensuring that the people I support understand their independent housing options (the informed choice standard).

Great! The decision about where to live is up to the person you support, based on the information you provide.

The decision about where to live is up to the person you support, based on the information you provide. Support the person with informed choice rather than deciding for them.

The decision about where to live is up to the person you support, based on the information you provide. Support the person with informed choice rather than deciding for them.

5) I am comfortable talking about independent housing, including addressing concerns about ways to pay for rent.

Great! Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

When making decisions about housing, it's important to consider a person's current budget, future budget and potential budget (including income from work). Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

When making decisions about housing, it's important to consider a person's current budget, future budget and potential budget (including income from work). Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

6) I am comfortable answering questions from the people I support about how a roommate would affect their expenses.

Great! Some people don't realize that having a roommate means they can get a bigger place, cut their expenses and achieve their goals. The Vault has budget and roommate paths to help people understand how a roommate might work for them, including how to make a roommate agreement.

Some people don't realize that having a roommate means they can get a bigger place, cut their expenses and achieve their goals. The Vault has budget and roommate paths to help people understand how a roommate might work for them, including how to make a roommate agreement.

Some people don't realize that having a roommate means they can get a bigger place, cut their expenses and achieve their goals. The Vault has budget and roommate paths to help people understand how a roommate might work for them, including how to make a roommate agreement.

7) I am comfortable talking about different benefit programs that can increase housing options, such as Minnesota Supplemental Aid and Caregiver Living Expense.

Great! Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

When making decisions about housing, it's important to consider a person's current budget, future budget and potential budget (including income from work). Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

When making decisions about housing, it's important to consider a person's current budget, future budget and potential budget (including income from work). Remember that you can use tools on HB101 to explore programs that support people with disabilities.

8) I know where to find and how to connect the people I support to tools, resources and experts that can help them reach their housing goals.

Great! Remember that tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

Tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

Tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

9) I know how to help the people I support overcome housing challenges.

Great! Remember that tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

Tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

Tools such as HB101 and DB101 can help a person safely explore their housing options, make a plan and work toward their goals.

10) I know how to use person-centered tools to engage the people I support and help them build plans that reflect their unique needs, strengths and assets.

Great! One important free tool is HB101's Vault, which allows people to explore housing in a safe, neutral space. HB101 helps people learn about their rights, explore housing needs and wants, learn how their income and expenses can impact their housing options, and how to prepare to live independently.

One important free tool is HB101's Vault, which allows people to explore housing in a safe, neutral space. HB101 helps people learn about their rights, explore housing needs and wants, learn how their income and expenses can impact their housing options, and how to prepare to live independently.

One important free tool is HB101's Vault, which allows people to explore housing in a safe, neutral space. HB101 helps people learn about their rights, explore housing needs and wants, learn how their income and expenses can impact their housing options, and how to prepare to live independently.

Congratulations! You've finished the self-assessment.

Now you can move on to strategize: making housing decisions.

Next: Strategize: Making housing decisions »