Housing Boot Camp: Laws, Benefits, and Creative Solutions
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m.
Welcome & Announcements
Janet Lowder
8:10 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
The Foundations of Inclusive Housing
Dr. Samara Scheckler
In this session, Dr. Samara Scheckler will consider the range and type of resources needed for people with a variety of abilities to access good-fit housing. We will explore available programs as well as emerging opportunities to help people live with safety, dignity, and satisfaction in the housing of their choice. Dr. Scheckler’s overview will help contextualize the rich discussions of the conference.
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
The Unhoused Beneficiary
Janet Lowder
Individuals with disabilities are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness. Studies estimate that almost half of individuals categorized as unhoused are people with an intellectual or physical disability. This session will explore the intersection of disability and homelessness, including the unique challenges faced by unhoused individuals with disabilities. Discussion will include potential avenues for additional support and assistance through Social Security programs and related resources.
9:50 a.m. - 10:05 a.m.
Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsored by Special Needs Alliance
10:05 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
Gimme Shelter
Kenneth Brown
This session will cover SSI rules related to shelter and housing support, including: the home exclusion and its application; In-kind support and maintenance rules related to shelter; how payments from trusts and ABLE accounts may be used to obtain shelter and how they may impact benefits. Additional discussion will also include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a potential housing option for individuals receiving SSI, how they fit into current policy and some possible issues that may require further exploration.
10:55 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
The Multi-Generational ALF/CCRC
Eric Carlson
This session explores how traditional Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) can serve a more diverse, multi-generational population, including younger individuals with disabilities, and considers their adaptability beyond older adult populations.
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Sponsored by Life Enrichment Trust
1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Housing for the Beneficiary-Who Should Own the Home is just one of many considerations
Steven Hitchcock and David Lillesand
Housing is a critical need for any beneficiary, but in many parts of the country, the cost of owning a home may be outside the SNT budget. This session will look at the SNT’s ownership of the home, as well as other options, from purchase to sale.
1:50 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Intentional Living Communities – A How-To Guide
Jim Caffry
This session will explore the development of intentional living communities designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities and high support needs as an alternative to state foster care. Through an analysis of the Riverflow Community in Vermont, the presentation will focus on the process of creating and operating an intentional living community, including nonprofit formation, zoning, licensing, staffing, and other practical considerations involved in building an intentional community model.
3:00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsored by Special Needs Alliance
3:20 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.
A Mortgage Product You Never Heard of: HUD's Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program
Chung-yiu “Andrew” Lee
The Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program is HUD’s only loan guarantee program for Native Americans. The session will cover what the Section 184 program does, why it was created, who is an eligible borrower, eligible housing types, and interesting metrics about how the program has performed for Tribal borrowers and Tribes in Florida since program inception.
4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Overview of HUD Programs
Leigh Markowitz
HUD offers many kinds of housing programs, each with its own eligibility standards and rules. This session will provide a basic over of the programs for beneficiaries with special needs.