Shared Living Services for Adults with Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities and or Autism
What is Shared Living?
Shared Living is one option in a range of housing and support services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or Autism. Shared Living is a category of MaineCare-supported services that provide individuals the option to choose where and with whom they would like to live, in a family-style setting, as they become members of that household, chosen family, and their surrounding community. The Shared Living model offers one of two “family” setting options - one, in a home that is owned or leased by a person with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or Autism who is then provided direct supports in their own home, and two, as part of a family in a residence that is owned leased or rented by that family. Assistance Plus is an oversight agency for both those people interested in finding a home and those people or families interested in providing Shared Living Services in their homes in Maine.
Shared Living is supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through the MaineCare program (Section 21 and Section 29, Home and Community-Based Waiver Services) as one of the least restrictive and most cost effective options of home support services available in Maine.
Who is it For?
Shared Living is an option for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or Autism who are seeking to live in a family-type home, are eligible for MaineCare services under the Home and Community-Based Waiver (Sections 21 & 29), and have a Person-Centered Plan that supports this as a living option.
The State of Maine Department of Developmental Disability Services does not support multiple people with disabilities in this housing model, unless the people are family members (ex. brother and sister, husband and wife), or if they have a long-standing relationship/friendship where they have clearly indicated that they have a desire to share housing. All exceptions to this protocol must be approved by the OADS Program Administrator of the district in which each person resides.
Next Steps
- Referrals can be made by case managers.
- All referred clients must be approved for Section 21 or Section 29 MaineCare services.
