NJ Human Services Awards Grants to Support Community-based Housing for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities   Plan Will Help Meet Needs of Individuals Transitioning out of Nursing Facilities

September 4, 2024

(TRENTON) – Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced that Human Services has awarded over $3.4 million in grants to develop community-based housing to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are transitioning out of nursing homes and other qualified institutions.

“This funding will provide highly-specialized support to meet the complex needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are transitioning out of nursing facilities, adding to the nearly 28,000 adults with IDD that Human Services serves in the community today,” Commissioner Adelman said. “Empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transition from institutions to community living isn’t just a change in location—it’s about supporting their independence and their right to make their own choices. We look forward to working together with the selected community providers on this initiative.”

Grants were awarded to the following community-based service providers:

• Allies, Inc, which was awarded $960,000;
• Arc of Morris, which was awarded $720,000;
• Arc of Somerset, which was awarded $240,000;
• Avidd Community Services of NJ Inc., which was awarded $480,000;
• Heart to Heart, which was awarded $540,000;
• Hope Christian Services, which was awarded $240,000; and
• Merakey NJ Inc., which was also awarded $240,000.

“This initiative reflects our long-standing commitment to ensuring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to community-based alternatives to institutional care,” Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire said. “We are continuing our goal of meeting the needs of all individuals and providing comprehensive and quality services, while helping individuals thrive in the communities in which they live. As always, we want to help individuals live independently and successfully.”

The housing is expected to serve 57 persons, providing each their own bedroom. Funding may be used in a variety of areas including fire suppression systems, accessibility modifications, accessible vehicles, furnishings, and staff training/development costs.

“Providing individuals and families with the choice to live outside of a nursing home or other institution is so very important,” Division of Developmental Disabilities Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Seifried said. “This initiative marks another step forward in empowering persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination over their lives.”

This work enhances ongoing efforts by Human Services and the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to move individuals out of nursing homes and developmental centers into community-based settings. Since 2008, the I Choose Home program has successfully transitioned more than 3,800 people from institutions into the community. Call 1-855-HOME-005 to learn more about this program’s impactful work, which was recently featured in a best practices report by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Services.

To learn more about home and community-based services that support New Jersey citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, and fully participate in their communities, visit the Division of Developmental Disabilities website.