If things go as planned, disabled residents in Mercer County will soon be better educated about reasonable housing accommodations that are available to them.

Community Resources for Independence Inc. and Helping People with Disabilities, both in Hermitage, received a $10,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council to reach out to people in Mercer County with various physical and mental disabilities, said Vivian LaCamera, founder and secretary of Community Resources for Independence.

Community Resources for Independence works with Mercer County Housing Authority to help people find housing.

The agencies held a forum Thursday at the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau in Sharon.

There are about 4,500 people in Mercer County with some sort of a disability, ranging from people who are hearing impaired to people with other physical and mental challenges, Ms. LaCamera said.

"People should be able to live on their own and not be controlled by agencies. They should choose where they live," said Terreta Ferguson, president of Helping People with Disabilities.