Senators Hassan, Shaheen Announce $73,000 Grant for UNH Institute on Disability to Study Individuals Who Experience Disabilities in Housing and Urban Development Programs

WASHINGTON – Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen today announced that the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (UNH IOD) received a federal grant of more than $73,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to conduct research in collaboration with HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). The grant will support research on Granite Staters and Americans who experience disabilities using HUD programs. In 2017, it was estimated that that 44 percent of HUD-assisted adults experience a disability.

The research will explore the quality of life among HUD-assisted residents who experience disabilities, employment and labor force participation among the same population, as well as health disparities among different populations of HUD-assisted adults who experience disabilities, including Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries, Supplemental Security Income recipients, and others.

“Ensuring that Granite Staters and Americans who experience disabilities have access to safe, affordable housing is critical to building a stronger, more inclusive state and country,” Senator Hassan said. “I am pleased to announce this federal grant for UNH’s Institute on Disability to explore how to ensure that HUD-assisted residents who experience disabilities have the support and resources they need to live independently and be fully included into our society. I will continue working to ensure that all Granite Staters and Americans – regardless of personal circumstance – have what they need to be fully included into our economic and civic life and lead healthy, productive lives.” 

“It is critically important that we ensure Granite Staters who experience disabilities are able to pursue safe, healthy and independent lives,” said Senator Shaheen. “This federal grant will enable UNH IOD to research how to safeguard individuals who experience disabilities against health disparities and unfair barriers to housing and employment. I am pleased to see HUD recognize UNH IOD with this funding and I will continue to work across the aisle to improve the quality of life of Granite Staters and individuals across the country who experience disabilities.”

“This important study will improve the understanding of quality of life and employment patterns for people with disabilities,” said Linda Bimbo, Acting Director of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. “These are values that impact all of us, with and without disabilities.”

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