Renting an apartment is increasingly too pricey for Americans with disabilities, according to a study out Monday showing that the cost of a one-bedroom apartment exceeds the average Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefit.
In a report from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and the Technical Assistance Collaborative, researchers compared average monthly SSI payments in 2010 with the fair market housing rate for small apartments in cities across the country as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They found deep disparities between income and cost of living for those with disabilities.
“Simply stated, in 2010, there was not one state or community in the nation where a person with a disability receiving SSI could afford to rent modest rental housing without a permanent rental subsidy,” the report found.
Single SSI beneficiaries qualified for an average of $703 monthly last year. But at the same time, the national average to rent a studio apartment was $695 while a modest one-bedroom apartment ran $785.
Even in South Dakota where the report indicates housing was the cheapest, renting a one-bedroom apartment still accounted for 70 percent of the average SSI payment.
The findings of the biannual report titled “Priced Out” reflect a dramatic change since the first such analysis was conducted in 1998. At that time, the cost of renting an apartment equaled 69 percent of the average SSI benefit, but by 2010 that number grew to 112 percent.
“This study makes it crystal clear why vulnerable people with disabilities become homeless or are unable to move out of high-cost institutional settings,” said Ann O’Hara of the Technical Assistance Collaborative who co-authored the study.
O’Hara and her colleagues estimate that as many as 1.2 million people with disabilities live in homeless shelters, public institutions, nursing homes and other unsafe or segregated environments.
What’s more, they say 700,000 adults with disabilities are living with parents ages 65 or older, in part due to their inability to afford a place of their own.
I am 41 and on SSI and forced to live with my 70+ year old parents. I would love to have my own place but cant.
Uh, yeah? How much was spent on this statement of the obvious? If accessibility is required the situation is even worse. For example, check the HUD listing for NYC – horrible horrible neighborhoods, decades-long waiting lists, and still requiring 120% of the munificent SSI-DI benefit.
Don’t get me started; as a person with multiple conditions; CP, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Diverticulitis, etc. I am married to (gasp!) another disabled person (CP). Once you DO get housing (if you get it), realize that you are STUCK where you live. If you experience gun fire, fire, or any other colamity be prepared to realize that NO programs exist to help you out. Even if you are a MRDD client, the waiting list for emergency housing (areas vary on waiting lists), unless court ordered can take longer than 10 years. If you need to move and you have a HUD voucher, realize you must move within your county, state or local area. While a voucher is supposed to be transferable in any state, the process you undergo cannot logically take place within the 30 day transfer time you have. Every organization I have talked to about relocating does NOT recommend try the voucher move out of state. Also realize there are no programs that will assist you in relocating, getting your benefits transferred nor helping you until you qualify (per state), for their program. Because MRDD programs vary state by state in terms of qualification, services offered and funding, you may find yourself homeless, careless and basically on the street. Until our government actually standardizes housing, care, agency adaptations to ADA we are basically in a boat without oars. In 2013 we will no longer have 202 PRAC housing nor 835 (815) to shelter us. I was told this by HUD directly in a call to WASHINGTON, DC. So be prepared to fight people and spread the news, otherwise we could be in future trouble, (far worse than we currently are, and where we are is bad).
This article really hit home. My daughter purchased her own home when she was working but lost her job 2 years ago and cannot find another. We would like to sell her house because even with a subsidy, the utilities are costly. She would be happy in an apartment but needs the accessibility offered in her area. Any apartment would in the area is financially out of reach for her. Landlords are unwilling to accept the Section 8 voucher except in public housing that is located in unsafe areas for people with disabilities (or anyone) and my daughter is single, living alone and hearing and visually impaired. Please keep up the good work Ms. O’Hara. My dream is that there would be affordable housing adapted for those with disabilities in a safe and accessible area. The government needs to create incentives for landlords to rent to those with vouchers and disabilities.
Describes me in a nutshell. When my husband died in 2002, my teenage children and I had to move in with my parents. My children have moved out and started their own lives. But I’ll always be here with my parents because I don’t have near the money to get a place of my own the other things necessary for living, It’s really wrong.
i’m a 33 year old mother of 3 on SSI and where i live there isn’t a place under 700.00 for a one bedroom and 90% of the places advertised are section 8 only I have been looking since my SSI started there is just no way i could afford a place and utilities I have tried to apply for section 8 several times but they are not accepting applications
The Social Security Administration is well aware the reduction of benefit amounts due to in kind support and maintenence only adds to the problem and needs to be revised if not completely eliminated. Congress refuses to acknowledge this.