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4. Sui2portive Housing Needs for Others with special Needs. In Orange <br />County, the special needs population includes developmentally disabled, <br />handicapped, and mentally ill residents, persons with AIDS, older adults, <br />battered women, persons recovering from substance abuse, and <br />homeless teenagers (including teenage mothers). Each of these groups <br />has a different severity of need and each has different types of housing <br />needs. Data on the number and needs of these groups are unavailable. <br />In most cases, these groups will need increased support services and <br />case management in order to live independently, even if low -cost housing <br />opportunities are made available to them. Assisted housing opportunities <br />for persons with special needs should provide a continuum of choices <br />that offer transition from supervised housing situations to independent <br />living with minimal support. Coordination of housing assistance with <br />increased funds for case management is critical to programs for persons <br />with special needs if. . attempts at "mainstreaming" clients is to be <br />successful. <br />In the case of older adults, the opportunity to "age in place" must be <br />provided alongside new housing options, both rental and <br />homeownership. Very low and lower income older adults are often <br />subject to economic displacement, as they become less able to afford to <br />maintain their family homes. In addition, as they age, older residents <br />need modifications to their homes to make them more accessible, such <br />as ramps, wider doorways, and grab bars. Many older adults continue <br />to live in substandard housing because they cannot afford to make <br />needed repairs yet they have a strong desire to remain in their homes. <br />N <br />