Seth Greenman, MSEd
Housing Navigator • Health Education Specialist
Housing Navigation Services for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Housing navigation allows people with I/DD to realize their housing goals and receive support in navigating the journey. While self-determination and person-centered planning are key philosophies in I/DD services and supports, there are often barriers, both real and perceived, that prevent these philosophies from guiding the process to determine how a person with I/DD wants to live. My goal is to work past those barriers and elevate the voice of the person through a thorough housing planning process.
As a certified housing navigator who works in developing self-directed housing options, I am committed to building opportunities for people with I/DD to live successfully where they want and with whom they want. I will work with the person and his or her team to:
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Assess goals related to housing, and develop a plan to get there;
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Examine every facet of the plan, including financial preparation, services and supports, industry housing options, and ownership models;
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Locate appropriate housing options that allow for the right amount of support services and financial stability;
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Ensure a smooth transition through the moving process and long-term sustainability in the new home.
Professional Background
I currently work as the Project Director for the Housing Resources for Independent Living grant that was awarded to the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (New York Alliance) by the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC). This is a three-year grant to develop a comprehensive online repository of statewide and regional information on non-certified housing options for people with I/DD, their families, and caregivers. By bringing together information on non-certified housing options into an online repository that focuses on user experience and accessibility, this project seeks to empower people to discover the information they need no matter where they are in their housing journey.
Prior to this role, I worked as the master housing navigator in OPWDD Region 1 (Western New York & Finger Lakes) from 2019 to 2022, which was a grant-funded position through the New York Alliance under a separate DDPC grant. In this role, I worked across the region to build capacity and collaboration among key housing stakeholders in order to support the development, creation, and implementation of individualized housing options for people with I/DD.
I have experience across a broad range of service options that is critical for my role as a housing navigator. As a former fiscal intermediary and non-certified housing specialist, I have extensive experience in utilizing self-direction services to support people with living in their own home. In this role, I worked with a self-direction team to develop housing plans and budgets for people seeking non-certified and shared living arrangements, including housing plans that incorporated shared staffing models and pooled budget resources. Many of the people I have supported left certified settings to live independently in a variety of non-certified settings, including affordable apartments and at home with a live-in caregiver.
I hold a Master's in Community Health Education from SUNY Brockport where I focused on how social determinants of health, including housing, impact the health and well-being of people and their communities.
