The DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) offers a rental assistance program to help eligible DDD members obtain reduced-rent apartments. DDD has published a number of stories about this program and one story in particular caught the eye of a mother and son who were experiencing homelessness, Rubi, and her son, Raymond, who has developmental disabilities and is deaf. According to Megan Akens, DDD Affordable Housing Supervisor, “Rubi and Raymond have had a difficult time over the past year, jumping back-and-forth from living in their car, to living in a hotel.”
Rubi has a good friend whose sister is a freelancer who works with individuals with disabilities. “She told me to look [online] for different programs. I just started Googling things and I ran into a story:” DDD’s HERO Program: Putting Members on the Path to Independence. “I just told [Raymond’s Support Coordinator], Fernando [Sandoval] what we were going through and by coincidence, the HERO program is where I got connected. This was before I even talked to the Housing Coordinator and I had already read a story on it!”
In partnership with the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), the DDD Affordable Housing Unit (previously the HERO Program mentioned above) refers members to affordable housing opportunities. ADOH is the recipient of two 811 Project Rental Assistance (811 PRA) grants which provide funding for housing subsidies for Division members. DDD identifies program participants who are ready and willing to live independently (with DDD supports and services), and acts as the referral agent and service partner with ADOH to connect members (and their households) with community integrated affordable housing units. The rent is calculated at 30% of the household income. To be eligible for referral the DDD member must be ALTCS eligible, between the ages of 18-61, income eligible, and be referred to the program by their Support Coordinator.
“The process was surprisingly easy,” said Rubi, “due to me being somewhat persistent, because we [had been] homeless since October 18, 2020. Just surviving out there in the car, sleeping in the car, trying to stay busy. All of a sudden, Fernando kept saying that there’s going to be housing, that he’s in contact … and all of a sudden, he just called me one day and he said, ‘Hey, I think we might have something but it’s a long shot.’”
Once approved for the program, Rubi chose an apartment near South Mountain. “It was the first thing available, which I took.” She and Raymond, a DDD member, moved into their apartment on January 27. “I love the location because one of my best friends is right down the street, so it’s a blessing. I go out with her in the morning. It’s nice and it’s right by South Mountain.
“I’m blessed. It’s going to allow me to do everything I want to do properly.”
Even in such a short period of time, Rubi has met a number of her neighbors. “I’m a Chatty Cathy. My neighbors across the way are really nice, and my neighbor next to me… it seems that everyone just minds their business there but it’s a very active apartment complex.”
Rubi hopes sharing her family’s story will lead to someone else’s happy beginning. Thank you, Rubi!
For more information on the DDD Affordable Housing Program, please visit the Member Housing Opportunities page.