ADAPTIVE LIVING INITIATIVES PROGRAM
Advancing Our Approach to Accessibility
Adaptive Living Initiatives Program
Habitat MontDelco's ALI program helps make homes more accessible for people in Montgomery and Delaware Counties, PA. It focuses on identifying and fixing home accessibility issues and important repairs for qualifying clients. A key part of the program is that Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with clients (and caregivers, if needed) to determine mobility challenges, goals, and solutions to be addressed by Habitat.
After nearly 10 years of doing home repairs, Habitat MontDelco saw a big need for a program that connects health and housing, especially for older adults who want to stay in their homes and for people with disabilities. The ALI program was created to meet that need, focusing on helping people with daily activities, preventing falls, and making them feel safer and more confident in their homes.
The program includes surveys at the start and after services. The client, caregiver (if needed), and the OT all participate. These surveys help everyone understand the client’s needs and challenges, so the OT and Habitat can plan the right changes for the home.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) refer to a person’s daily self-care activities. Health professionals often use a person's ability to perform ADLs to assess their level of independence. The ALI program measures these skills through a survey, which helps Habitat’s ALI Program partners create a personalized plan to support you at home.
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How Do I Apply?
To receive an application, you must submit an inquiry with the program. Submitting an inquiry registers you in our inquiry database and when we have funding that matches your home's needs, Habitat MontDelco will send you an application.
Please note: this program typically has a waiting period. No homeowner will be forwarded an application on the spot. Please also be aware that if your home is currently NOT insured you are not eligible for this program.
There are no exceptions to this policy. Only households in our inquiry database will receive applications.
Funding for all of our owner-occupied programming comes from various sources, each will specific rules about how, where, and for whom (such as older adults, veterans, etc) the funds can be used.
If you have already submitted a program inquiry rest assured that you are registered in our system. If you would like to confirm the inquiry status at any time or provide updates to the information submitted, please email us at repair@habitatmontdelco.org or call (610)-278-7710.
How Can the Program Help?
Habitat MontDelco’s Home Repair program is a construction-based resource aimed at identifying and addressing health, safety, and accessibility-related needs in eligible homes. The goal of this program is to provide owner-occupied homes with a safe, healthy, and accessible environment.
Funding for our repair program comes from several different sources, and many of those funding sources operate on their own timelines and terms. This means that not every home, or homeowner, will qualify outright simply because there is funding available. For example, some of our funds may be geographically specific, some may be specific to Veteran households, Senior households, etc. Some may be restricted by project type (ie. only for roofing, or only for accessibility, etc.)
How do I Know If I Might Qualify?
An additional component of determining a home’s eligibility is a home visit to assess the home’s suitability for Habitat MontDelco’s program capabilities. During this visit, we will need to access key areas in your home to perform these services. If we cannot safely access these areas due to significant clutter in your home or other reasons, you may be limited to receiving exterior services or denied by policy. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis.
***Please note that some homes, dependent on the funding source anticipated, will be subject to additional levels of review and qualification such as lead testing, and environmental review***
To be considered eligible, applicant(s):
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Must be unable to perform repairs themselves and/or be unable to pay someone to do the repairs.
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Must be willing to partner with HFHMontDelco by upholding the terms of the program agreement with HFHMontDelco, and being responsive, helpful, and hospitable.
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Must be a Montgomery Co. or Delaware Co. homeowner and currently reside in the home.
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The homeowner must have lived in the home for a minimum of one year before applying. Homeowner must plan on living in the home for a minimum of two years after work is completed- **This may vary depending on funding sources utilized for repairs.
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Have a current homeowner’s insurance policy in place for the home.
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May need to verify that they are current on Property Taxes and/or Mortgage payments. ***This is dependent on funding sources anticipated for repairs***
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Have a total gross household income below the levels listed in this chart:
How Does it All Work?
HOMEOWNERS must submit an inquiry to receive an application at a time when funding is available. If you have not already done so, please find the link to the inquiry form below.
Habitat will notify you by mail, with an application, when applicable funding is available based on your described home repair needs and demographic information as it relates to grant restrictions. (At times we will receive grants specifically for certain purposes, and/or certain groups, such as seniors and veterans, etc.)
HOMEOWNERS will complete the application within the deadline indicated, and submit to Habitatwith the required documentation, OR contact Habitat for an extension on the application before that deadline.
Habitat will review applications, conduct a home visit, and verify eligibility based on program capabilities and needs of the home. A final determination for program approval will be made. **In some cases, dependent on the funding source, program approval will be contingent on some additional factors as well.**
HOMEOWNERS will be notified of a decision on program approval, or denial. If approved, you will receive a list of services Habitat intends to gather estimates for, from program contractors. Contractors will schedule directly with the homeowners for this step.
Habitat will collect estimates from contractors and determine which services, if any, fall within funding/program capabilities, budget, timeline, etc., and will produce an agreement for services to be provided outlining the scope of work and program conduct expectations.
HOMEOWNERS will sign an agreement for conduct and liability, which includes the proposed scope of work for the home, and work will commence in the order in which agreements are received.
Habitat will, upon the completion of work, collect completion photos and verifications from both the contractor(s) and homeowner, and close the project out with paperwork documenting what work was completed in the home, as well as warranty information.