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The ROOF Connector
Connecting you with housing news and resources
August 2016
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Your gift can help empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain and maintain inclusionary housing of their choice.
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We invite you to learn more about ROOF
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Meet Doyle: Supported Living Resident, Dedicated to Community Service
Doyle Finney has been a Supported Living resident since August 2007. He has become a valued member of the community, he is a member of the Leesburg Civitan Club where he has been the chaplain of the club for over 3 years. His commitment to the Civitan Club extends past Leesburg, Doyle attends the Civitan district meeting and conventions and was elected as the Sargent of Arms for the Florida district. He is also an adviser for a new club: The Sunrise Civitan Club, which is based at The ARC Sunrise of Central Florida.
He lives in a large home with an attached area that he loves to call his apartment. Doyle prepares and cooks all of his own meals; he loves to look up new recipes and share them with others. He cares for his pet cat and bird by himself and attends church with natural supports. On Sundays, Doyle has friends over and enjoys watching the NASCAR races on afternoons after church, with his guests.
Learn more about Doyle
here.
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Click above for our invitation_ |
Workshops announced for
the 2016 ROOF/APSE Partners for Progress Conference
The 2016 Partners for Progress conference is quickly approaching! Workshop topics for the conference will include various speakers on housing and employment for people with developmental disabilities such as - finding housing, home ownership, job coaching, and employment resources.
The multi-day conference will take place October 12 - 14, 2016 at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida and will offer the unique opportunity to learn from both housing and employment professionals from around the state.
All are invited to attend! Self-advocates may benefit from FREE registration and family members receive a reduced registration fee of $50.00!
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Financing To Build Smaller Permanent Supportive Housing Properties For Persons With Developmental Disabilities
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On August 10, 2016, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation held a workshop to solicit comments and suggestions from interested persons relative to Florida Housing's proposed Request for Applications (RFA) to finance the construction of small Permanent Supportive Housing Developments that are either Community Residential Homes (CRHs) or Supported Living Units (SLUs).
An estimated $4 million in grant funding will be made available to qualified, non-profit organizations in Florida, that have a primary mission of serving persons with developmental disabilities. The grant includes new construction - and will be split between the development of Supported Living Units and Community Residential Homes. New construction will include creating units where there previously were none, but can now also include Developments that propose demolishing existing residences that serve Persons with Developmental Disabilities in order to build Community Residential Homes or Supported Living Units that are better able to serve the needs of existing Residents.
The RFA workshop reviewed comments and outlined funding available for proposed developments, applicant documentation requirements, and applicant scoring and selection process. The published RFA is expected to be issued on Friday, August 26, 2016. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, October 11, 2016. For more information, review the workshop agenda.
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Housing Success Spotlight: Genesis Tucker - Naples, Florida
It is lunch time in sunny Naples, Florida. Genesis Tucker lounges in the living room watching TV on her flat screen with some of her housemates. Together, Genesis and her five housemates live in a group home. She finds companionship with her housemates; she enjoys watching Netflix movies and going shopping with them.
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Self-advocate, Genesis Tucker, enjoys the outdoor patio of her group home in sunny Naples, Florida. |
Genesis left her parents' house for more independence at the age of 23. She moved to a group home in the quiet Central Florida town of Crystal River. She later relocated to a group home in Naples to be closer to her parents - this is where she lives today.
Genesis rides the paratransit bus to Humane Society Naples where she volunteers. Genesis loves the opportunity to spend time with the animals at the shelter, especially the cats. Someday Genesis would like to adopt a cat of her own.
Genesis is passionate about creating hand-made dolls and writing stories about them. She is working on a business idea that would allow her to earn money through this creative past-time. She loves the idea of working in the comfort of her home and is taking steps to start a microenterprise. She hopes to sell her dolls and stories online in the near future.
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"Access the Vote" Campaign Launched by Disability Rights Florida
In preparation for the upcoming election cycle, Disability Rights Florida has launched their 'Access the Vote' public awareness campaign in advocacy of the voting rights of people with disabilities. The campaign is comprised of a fully accessible website through
www.accessthevote.org, in which individuals may access important information on voting registration, voting options and rights for people with disabilities.
The website provides resources for those registered and not-yet-registered to vote. Registration guidelines and rights are available to those who are not registered. Among
the most popular options to vote is the vote-by-mail, absentee ballot option - allowing individuals who choose to vote by carrier mail to have a ballot sent to their residence and to send a completed ballot by mail. The website also gives suggestions on planning for voting in person, important timelines, and accessibility information for polling derived from multiple resources, including a directory of supervisors of elections.
The website is complemented by a Disability Rights Florida - Voter Hotline (1-800-342-0823 extension 6000) for people with voting questions and accessibility concerns as well as contact information for individuals with accessibility issues to voting polls.
Affordable housing programs are made possible in large part by decisions made by elected officials. It is important to exercise for all of us to exercise our right to vote and have all of our voices hear. Remember to register and vote in the primary election on August 30th and on November 8th for the general election!
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Residential Options of Florida | 239-774-ROOF (7663)
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2640 Golden Gate Parkway Suite 112-A
Naples FL 34105
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