LIVE • WORK • PLAYSpecial Edition: Accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities and seniors

“I was never a sit-down person,” said Terrence Sansbury with a grin.

Pulling into a regular parking space in front of his apartment at Walton Place, Sansbury deftly slides back from the steering wheel and activates the mechanism to open the door and start the lift. He swiftly navigates his powered wheelchair to his apartment, where another button smoothly opens the front door, Star Trek style.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sansbury has several hours of physical therapy, and

the rest of the days of the week, he’s a lead teacher at the Family Y’s Child Development Center, working with 3- and 4-year-olds. The rest of the time, he stays busy swimming at the Y’s Katie’s Pool, acting as Area Governor for Toastmasters, giving motivational and inspirational speeches to various community and regional organizations, and staying in touch with his 24-year-old daughter, Courtney, whom he raised.

It’s a full, active and independent life—one very different and in many ways better

than where Sansbury was 16 years ago. Then, at age 25, he was adrift, without a college degree and no clear direction. He loved his daughter, and his other passion was speed and motorcycles. On April 20, 1999 at 4:35 p.m., when trying to break his own speed record, an object in the road caused the bike to shudder. Sansbury’s instinctive act of sitting up to jump off caused the wind to “snatch me up,” he recalls. When his friends raced over, he told them, “I feel like my neck’s broken.”

Sansbury spent four months in the

hospital, but when he came home to live with his mother, “That’s when the real drama hit.” He was still working through the grief and acceptance of life in a wheelchair and potentially facing spending the rest of his life in a nursing home—all at age 26.

Meanwhile, his mother was working hard to find her son an accessible apartment in the CSRA but meeting with closed doors.

The facility where he was living at the time found two nursing homes that agreed to accept Sansbury, but then an apartment came open at Walton Community Services, which provides affordable and accessible housing to people with disabilities and seniors in the CSRA.

“I was ecstatic,” said Sansbury, who was ready to stop staring at four walls. “For me, getting my own accessible apartment was the start of me getting back on with my life.”

The next step was getting a job. In the past, he’d volunteered teaching children at the Boys and Girls Club, so he asked his caseworker about opportunities to work with kids. His first job was tutoring children at the Family Y’s Prime Time program as a volunteer. “That [experience] really did something to me,” he said. “I knew what I wanted to do.”

He called his caseworker again about going back to school and earned a degree in early childhood care and education from Augusta Technical College, graduating in 2005. But finding a job in his field was another challenge, another set of closed doors, until a friend of his at the Family Y shared the teacher opportunity, a paid position he’s held now for the past eight years.

Getting to where he is now, living independently, hasn’t been easy, Sansbury admits. “A lot of people talk about how hard it is to find these types of apartments—and how difficult it is for them to live in regular apartments [without home modifications],” he said. “It has been hard, because there were a whole lot of nos and it kind of tears you down for a day. But as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. You have to keep going, keep pushing. It’s definitely a challenge, but nothing comes quick or easy without persistence.”

Terrence Sansbury: “I’m a Go-Getter”A spinal cord injury hasn’t stopped Terrence Sansbury from living on his own and enjoying a full, active life

Support accessible housing in the CSRA! Visit www.waltonfoundation.net/donatenow.

AUGUSTAHarison HeightsFor people with disabilities3648 Walton Way Extension706-733-9557

Walton CommonsFor people with disabilities2902 Howell Rd.706-312-2950

Walton HeightsFor people with disabilities2038 Fenwick St.706-312-2950

Walton LegacyFor people with disabilities2579 Dover Rd.706-312-2950

Walton PlaceFor people with disabilities3005 Lee St.706-312-2950

Need Accessible, Affordable Housing? Here’s Where You Can StartPeople with disabilities and seniors often have unique needs in order to maintain their independence. However, these slight architectural and design changes are often easy to build. Below are resources for accessible and affordable housing; community apartments; and more.

Accessible and Affordable by DesignThese accessible/affordable communities are specifically designed for people with disabilities and seniors.

Walton PointFor people with disabilities714 Monte Sano Ave.706-312-2950

Walton SouthFor people with disabilities511 West Richmond Hill Rd. 706-312-2950

Walton TerraceFor seniors 2950 Richmond Hill Rd.706-312-2950

Walton West VillasFor brain injury survivors 1068 Bertram Rd.706-312-2950

HARLEMPlaner Mill VillageFor seniors 325 Planer Mill Rd. 706-312-2950

HEPHZIBAHWalton RidgeFor seniors 3550 Windsor Spring Rd. 706-312-2950

THOMSONWalton VillageFor people with disabilities161 Mesena Rd. 706-312-2950

NORTH AUGUSTA, SCVincent VillageFor seniors 218 West Five Notch Rd. 706-312-2950

Walton CrossingFor people with disabilities217 West Five Notch Rd.803-278-0353

Information on accessible apartments, additional resources and frequently asked questions is provided courtesy of Walton Options for Independent Living. WOIL is a community partner of the Walton Foundation for Independence. Its mission is to empower people of all ages, regardless of disability, by promoting personal choice, independence, community inclusion and competitive employment. For more, visit www.waltonoptions.org.

Walton Foundation for Independence provides funding and programs to support persons with disabilities in the CSRA. We offer adaptive sports and leisure programs, camps for children with disabilities, affordable and accessible community housing, and financial assistance to individuals after catastrophic illness, disabling injury or lifelong disabilities. To support our programs or to find out how you can participate, visit www.waltonfoundation.net.

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Apartments That Offer AccessibilityOther apartment communities in the CSRA are able to accommodate people with disabilities and seniors, including amenities such as wider doorways, grab bars in bathrooms and more.

AUGUSTAHigh Point Crossing 524 West Richmond Hill Rd. 706-793-3697$630-$750

St. John Towers 724 Greene St. 706-722-2096 $1,119, including utilities

Bransford Townhomes 2933 Henry St.706-738-8586$595

Brigham Woods 3150 Skinner Mill Rd.706-738-4500$795-$1,295

Century Hills 1035 Alexander Dr.706-733-0064 $859-$1,149

Century Glen 1040 Alexander Dr.706-738-6205$1,133-$1,172

Georgian Place 1700 Valley Park Court706-733-7829 $549-$819

Bon Air Apts. 2101 Walton Way 706-738-0781Based on income (Section 8)

Heritage3205 Heritage Circle706-738-2925$460-$590

The Huntington 2900 Perimeter Parkway706-863-4040$555-$749

Madison on the GreenRiver Ridge Dr.706-736-5515 $545-$810

The Parc at Flowing Wells1150 Interstate Pkwy.706-922-9440$900-$1,410

SpicewoodSpicewood Drive866-799-7585$595-$700

St. Andrews 50 St Andrews Dr.706-854-0708$810-$1,180

ThornberrySkinner Mill Rd.706-736-4748$1,140-$1,370

Woodcrest1811 Sibley Rd.706-737-4548$599- $729 Woodhill1355 Jackson Rd.706-738-2268$750-$1,005

Iron Horse4080 Iron Horse Dr.706-855-2626$500-$695

GROVETOWNEagle Pointe100 Whiskey Rd.706-868-0717$450-$1,130

SOUTH CAROLINABrittany Downs200 Berringer Dr., Aiken 866-433-4383$510-$630

Brickton Place944 Bama Ave., North Augusta803-278-1851$480-$625

Rivers Edge 520 E. Buena Vista Ave., North Augusta 803-441-0034$430-$635

Find an ApartmentApartments.Com: www.apartments.comApartment Guide: www.apartmentguide.comApartment Finder: www.apartmentfinder.com/Georgia/AugustaZillow: www.zillow.com/augusta-ga/apartments/Rent.Com: http://www.rent.com/georgia/augusta-apartments/Trulia: http://www.trulia.com/for_rent/Augusta,GAFor Rent.Com: http://www.forrent.com/find/GA/metro-Augusta/AugustaApartment List Inc.: www.apartmentlist.com/ga/augusta

For Section 8 Rentalshttp://www.gosection8.com/Section-8-housing-in-Augusta-Richmond-GA/pg=2/http://augusta.gosection8.com/http://homes.trovit.com/for-rent-augusta-georgia-section-8http://www.wetakesection8.com/search/results

For Low Income Housing Assistancehttp://www.lowincomehousing.us/GA/augusta.html

HUD.gov Rental Assistance: www.hud.gov (search for Rental Assistance for an affordable apartment search, public housing resources and a voucher program)

Fair Housing Resourceswww.fairhousing.comGeorgia Landlord Tenant Handbook: www.dca.ga.gov (search for Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook)

Explanation of Fair Housing Laws and Rights: www.hud.gov (search for Fair Housing Laws)

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity: www.hud.gov (search for Fair Housing)

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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat if I have a job and don’t need help with rent?If you need an accessible home or apartment and are not seeking rental assistance, look for a place to live the same way anyone else would. Check the classified ads in your local newspapers. Check to see if your local grocery store or newsstand has apartment-for-rent booklets. These are for “market rate” apartments where the landlord sets the rent based on what he or she can get from the supply of people who can pay. This method works for people earning an average or above average income.

If you need wheelchair access, newer apartment complexes less than 20 years old are more likely to have step-free entries, wider doorways, kitchens you can get in and out of, and room to turn around in the bathroom. This is because of the Fair Housing Act, a federal law that changed the building standards for multi-family homes such as condominiums and apartments. If the building was designed and constructed to take in tenants by March 1991, then it should have accessibility features. For more specific information about this law, see www.FairHousingFIRST.org.

What if I can pay for access modifications but the landlord will not allow it?As long as you agree to return the house or apartment to its original state, your landlord must allow you to do the modifications. Refusing to allow you to widen a door or install a ramp violates the Fair Housing Act and you can file a complaint. Visit www.FairHousingFIRST.org to find out how.

What if I don’t earn a lot and need help paying the rent?If you do not earn an average income, you might find an apartment by going to www.georgiahousingsearch.org. This website lists apartments where the rents are lower than market rate. In these places, rent is set by a government agency and is based on the income of most people in the area. You will have to meet the income range—above a certain amount and below a certain amount—to be allowed to apply to live there. These income ranges are based on the income of the people in that area, so ranges are different in different areas.

The Georgia Housing Search website also includes tools to help you calculate the amount of rent you can afford and moving costs. You can search rental properties throughout the state and you can search by the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, rent range, disability access features, location and distance to public transportation. You should keep in mind that the landlords are entering the information into the Georgia Housing Search website. Sometimes they understand disability access and sometimes they don’t. If you need accessibility because you cannot walk or climb any steps, you need to be sure of the information, so telephone the rental offices before going to look.

What if I am on a fixed income and need a lot of help with rent?

If you have a very limited income—disability benefits for example—you may be eligible for rental assistance or subsidy. Many people call this “Section 8.” What this usually means is that you pay no more than 30 percent of your income for rent and the rest is paid by a government agency, most often HUD Housing and Urban Development.

There are two types of HUD subsidies—project-based and tenant-based:

• Project-based subsidies mean that the rent subsidy is tied to a building. Project-based subsidies are paid directly to the owner of the property. The owner then rents units to qualified tenants who usually pay around 30 percent of their income toward rent. Some units are available specifically for those 62 and older or for people with particular

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The Home Access Program provides funding from the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission for persons who have traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injuries. These funds are awarded from the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission for accessibility improvements at owner-occupied homes in which individuals with disabilities reside and utilize as their primary residence. These Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Funds may be used to complete any of the following activities:

• Widening of interior and exterior doorways• Construction of wheelchair ramps• Bathroom retrofitting• Installations of stair or porch lifts• Accessibility improvements to kitchens• Lowering of closet shelves• Installation of visual aids and/or audible alarms

The program is administered through a network of Contract Administrators located throughout the state. Contract Administrators participating in the program are responsible for the administrative coordination and oversight associated with the program. For more, visit the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund website at www.bsitf.state.ga.us or call Dionna Littlejohn at 404-651-9603.

Walton Options for Independent Living in Augusta is also a Contract Administrator. Call 706-724-6262.

Any additional questions can be directed to Ronald Pounds, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 404-327-6864.

Help for Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

disabilities such as intellectual disabilities. If you want to live in a certain place that you know is subsidized, you can go to that place (sometimes called a “project” or a “high rise”) and apply directly. But keep in mind that you will still have to qualify and be approved, which can be a lengthy process.

• Tenant-based subsidies mean that the rent subsidy is tied to the person instead of a building. If you get this type of rental assistance, you get a voucher, which is like a ticket that you can take to a landlord who accepts it. You pay 30 percent of your income toward the rent on the privately owned home or apartment that you choose and the voucher pays the rest of the rent, up to a limit set by the state or local housing authority in your area. To find a landlord who will accept a voucher, go to www.georgiahousingsearch.org or ask your local housing authority office.

Remember that government programs that help pay rent often have waiting lists because there typically are many more people in need than places to live. Government programs also have detailed applications that include your credit history and criminal background checks. If you have bad credit, you will need to deal with that problem. If you have been convicted of a felony, you may not ever be eligible to apply. Check with your local housing authority for their specific requirements.

Because rental assistance is in short supply, you first may want to use your own connections. If you cannot afford a place on your own, do you know anyone who might want a roommate? Is there work you can do in return for free or low-cost rent?

How do I apply for rental assistance/subsidy?Apply at the housing authority that runs the program where you live or want to live. In Georgia, there are 11 agencies that run rental assistance programs. The housing authority that covers 149 of Georgia’s 159 counties is the Georgia Department of Community Affairs DCA. People in need of rental assistance must first place their name on a DCA waiting list. DCA maintains 149 waiting lists—one for each county. DCA notifies the public when the waiting list is open. Check for these Public Notices in the legal section of the classified ads in the newspaper that serves the county where you live or want to live. To see if a waiting list is open for a county, you can call 888-858-6085.

Applications are given on a first-come, first-served basis only when the waiting list is open. After your application is received, DCA will determine if you are eligible. If you are, you will be placed on the waiting list. Please note that applying does NOT mean that you will be approved. The process involves several steps including providing identification documents, a credit check, criminal background check and more.

To learn more about the Rental Assistance program, you can go to DCA’s website www.dca.state.ga.us and search for “Rental Assistance.”

To apply for rental assistance/subsidy in Richmond County, contact: Augusta Housing Authority Richmond County P.O. Box 3246 Augusta, GA 30914Phone: 706-724-5466www.augustapha.org If you receive rental assistance, expect an annual review, which means that records

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You Can Make a DifferenceAccording to the 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 17.6 percent of Richmond County residents have a disability. A majority of this group (60 percent) is between the ages of 18 and 64—young people in the prime of their lives who want to continue to live, work and be active in our community.

While the CSRA offers a number of accessible housing options, the challenge is that waiting lists for this housing are long, and potential residents may have to wait months, even years for an accessible apartment to become available. However, simple home modifications can make any standard home or apartment accessible (new construction typically builds in wider doorways already, and grab bars or ramps are easily added) and landlords must allow such modifications by law (so long as renters return the home back to its original state).

The lack of a ramp or a grab bar shouldn’t stand in the way of a person’s independence. A single ramp however can cost around $2,000 just for the

materials. Your gift can mean the difference between an active, full life for someone with a disability and a life of dependence.

To make a gift today to support local home modifications for people with disabilities or seniors, visit www.waltonfoundation.net/donatenow.

will be checked to see if you still qualify. You should also know that your home or apartment must be kept in good condition because trash, dirt or damage can mean the end of any help with rent.

What if I want to build an accessible home?

We think all people considering building a home should build with access in mind. A zero step entry and wide interior doors make everyone’s life easier—the furniture mover, the friend with a baby carriage, your spouse who just had a stroke and requires a wheelchair. There are many homebuilders in Georgia who can build a barrier-free entry, an open floor plan and passable door widths.

Before contacting a builder, it is best to start with house plans that can be modified to meet your particular needs. While there are several companies in the home design business, we know that Frank Betz and Associates has accessible home plans for sale. See www.frankbetz.com and click on “Easy Living Home Plans.”

As is always the case when building a home, you should have a very specific contract that spells out the accessibility features you need and what those will cost.

I bought my home before I became disabled. Among other things, I need a ramp to get in and out of the house. How can I get this done if I don’t have the money to pay for it?The Center for Financial Independence and Innovation was started to help people with disabilities secure affordable loans. To find out more, visit its web site at www.thecfii.org.

You should not assume that a loan is impossible just because you have no income from a job. CFII may be able to work out a loan for people who live on disability benefits.

Some of the Centers for Independent Living, including the CSRA’s Walton Options for Independent Living, offers home modification programs. To find out more, call 706-724-6262. Or visit the Walton Options website at www.waltonoptions.org/services and select the link under Information and Referral to find the CIL nearest you. The Centers can tell you about possible fund sources to help pay for access modifications, but you should expect to contribute whatever you can afford.

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