HHS Grants Promote Housing For People With Disabilities

In an effort to provide affordable housing for people with disabilities who receive Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services doled out almost $2 million in grants to six states. The money is intended to help those states and their state housing agency develop a long-term plan to ensure those individuals and families have access to permanent housing, according to a department press release.

The grants are part of President Barack Obama's Year of Community Living initiative, which stems from a 1999 Supreme Court ruling. In it, the court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act gives people with disabilities the right to live outside of institutions with support from the government, the department said.

"The Obama administration is committed to helping Americans with disabilities live independent lives," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. "The Real Choice System Change program and the productive partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development will help many people with disabilities get the housing support they need."

The states that were awarded the grants -- Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin -- will receive $330,000 to develop their program.