HUD: Vouchers for People with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410
Telephone: (202) 708-1112
http://www.hud.gov/
Below are three, special types of vouchers available to people with
disabilities:
Mainstream Vouchers
Elderly and non-elderly families that have a person with disabilities.
Designated Housing Vouchers
Non-elderly families, who would be eligible for public housing if occupancy were
not restricted to elderly households. These vouchers also assist families affected
by a PHA decision to designate their buildings as "mixed elderly and disabled
buildings" but demonstrate a need for alternative resources for families with a
disabled person.
Certain Development Vouchers
Non-elderly families with a disabled person, who do not currently receive housing
assistance in certain developments where owners establish preferences for, or
restrict occupancy to, elderly families.
Project Access Vouchers
As part of a demonstration program between HUD and HHS, 400 vouchers were awarded
in Fiscal Year 2001 to 11 lead PHAs to partner with Medicaid agencies in providing
housing assistance to non-elderly disabled persons transitioning from nursing
homes into the community.
Mainstream Vouchers
What are mainstream program vouchers?
Mainstream program vouchers enable families having a person with disabilities to
lease affordable private housing of their choice. Mainstream program vouchers also
assist persons with disabilities who often face difficulties in locating suitable
and accessible housing on the private market.
What organizations are eligible to apply for mainstream program
vouchers funding from HUD?
Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) authorized under state law to develop or operate
housing assistance programs may apply. In some instances, nonprofit agencies
may also apply for housing vouchers.
How do PHAs apply for voucher funding from HUD?
PHAs respond to
notices of funding availability (NOFAs).
Each NOFA identifies allocation areas, amount of funds available per area, and the selection criteria for
rating and ranking applications.
What families are eligible to apply for mainstream program vouchers?
Only a family that includes a disabled person and is income eligible may receive a mainstream
program voucher. Applicants will be selected from the PHA's housing choice voucher
waiting list.
How does a PHA determine if a family is income eligible for the mainstream program
vouchers?
The PHA compares the family’s annual income (gross income) with the HUD-established
very low-income limit or low income limit for the area. The family's gross income cannot exceed this limit.
How do families obtain mainstream program vouchers?
Families apply to the local PHA
that administers this program. When an eligible family with a disabled person comes to the top
of the PHAs housing choice voucher waiting list, the PHA issues a housing choice voucher to the family.
What requirements must a nonprofit entity meet in order to apply for funding?
A nonprofit entity that wishes to apply for the funding available under the mainstream
program must have the capacity to:
- Develop an administrative plan and PHA plan.
- Comply with the Section 8 management assessment program (SEMAP) requirements
under 24 CFR Part 985.
- Administer housing choice voucher program including all activities such as
making determinations as to rent reasonableness, performing housing quality
standards (HQS) inspections and enforcement, conducting annual income
reexaminations of participant families, as well as otherwise meeting housing
choice voucher program requirements under 24 CFR Part 982
Nonprofit disability organizations are encouraged to seek out PHAs in their
geographic area to develop cooperative contractual relationships under the
mainstream program and to enhance services to families with a disabled person.
In addition to contacting local PHAs, nonprofit disability organizations may
also wish to contact regional (multi-county), or state-wide PHAs who may be
applying for mainstream program funding.
How do families obtain an apartment once they have a voucher?
It is the responsibility of a family to find a unit that meets their needs.
If the family finds a unit that meets the housing quality standards, the rent is
reasonable, and the unit meets other program requirements, the PHA executes a
HAP contract with the property owner. This contract authorizes the PHA to make
subsidy payments on behalf of the family. If the family moves out of the unit,
the contract with the owner ends and the family can move with continued assistance
to another unit.
How much rent do vouchers cover?
The PHA pays the owner the difference between 30 percent of family income and
PHA determined payment standard or gross rent whichever is lower. The family
may choose a unit with a higher rent than the payment standard and pay the owner
the difference.
Do families have to lease a unit in the jurisdiction where the PHA
issued the voucher?
No. A family may choose a unit anywhere in the United States where there is a
PHA that administers a tenant based voucher program. However, the family may
only use the voucher to lease a unit in an area where the family is income
eligible at admission to the program.
What regulations cover this voucher?
Regulations are found in 24 CFR Part 982.
Designated Housing Vouchers
What are designated housing program vouchers?
Designated housing vouchers enable non-elderly families with a disabled person,
who would be eligible for public housing if occupancy were not restricted to
elderly families to lease safe, decent and affordable housing.
These vouchers also assist families affected by a PHA decision to designate
their buildings as "mixed elderly and disabled buildings" but demonstrate a need
for alternative resources for families with a disabled person.
What organizations are eligible to apply for designated housing vouchers funding from HUD?
PHAs authorized under state law to develop or operate housing assistance programs may apply.
How do PHAs apply for voucher funding from HUD?
PHAs respond to Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs). Each NOFA identifies
allocation areas, amount of funds available per area, and the selection criteria
for rating and ranking applications.
What families are eligible to apply for the Designated Housing vouchers?
Non-elderly families having a person with disabilities that are income eligible
and live in public housing that has been designated for occupancy, or non-elderly
families having a person with disabilities who are on the PHA’s public housing
waiting list. Such families need not be listed on the PHA’s housing choice voucher
waiting list to be offered and receive a housing choice voucher. Instead they may
be admitted to the program as a special admission.
How does a PHA determine if a family is income eligible for the
Designated Housing vouchers?
The PHA compares the family’s annual income (gross income) with the HUD-established
very low-income limit or low income limit for the area. The family's gross income
cannot exceed this limit.
How do families obtain designated housing program vouchers?
Families apply to the local PHA that administers this program.
How do families obtain an apartment once they have a voucher?
It is the responsibility of a family to find a unit that meets their needs. If
the family finds a unit that meets the housing quality standards, the rent is
reasonable, and the unit meets other program requirements, the PHA executes a
HAP contract with the property owner. This contract authorizes the PHA to make
subsidy payments on behalf of the family. If the family moves out of the unit,
the contract with the owner ends and the family can move with continued assistance
to another unit.
How much rent do vouchers cover?
The PHA pays the owner the difference between 30 percent of family income and
PHA determined payment standard or gross rent whichever is lower. The family may
choose a unit with a higher rent than the payment standard and pay the owner the
difference.
Do families have to lease a unit in the jurisdiction where the PHA
issued the voucher?
No. A family may choose a unit anywhere in the United States where there is a
PHA that administers a tenant based voucher program. However, the family may only
use the voucher to lease a unit in an area where the family is income eligible at
admission to the program.
What regulations cover this voucher?
Regulations are found in 24 CFR Part 982.
Certain Development Vouchers
What are certain developments vouchers?
Certain development vouchers enable non-elderly families having a person with disabilities,
who do not currently receive housing assistance in certain developments where owners
establish preferences for, or restrict occupancy to, elderly families, to obtain
affordable housing.
How do families apply for certain developments vouchers?
Eligible families should contact the
local PHA.
What type of developments are covered by certain development vouchers?
The specific types of developments covered under this category include:
- Section 8 new construction projects
- Section 8 substantial rehabilitation projects
- State housing agencies Section 8 projects
- Section 8 new construction projects under the Section 515 rural housing program
- Section 8 housing assistance program for the disposition of HUD-owned projects
- Housing assisted under Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959
- Housing financed by a loan or mortgage insured under Section 221(d)3) of the
National Housing Act that bears an interest rate determined under Section 221 (d)5)
- Housing insured, assisted, or held by the Secretary or a State or State
Agency under Section 236 of the National Housing Act.
What organizations are eligible to apply for certain developments vouchers
funding from HUD?
Public housing agencies (PHAs) authorized under state law to develop or operate housing
assistance programs may apply.
What families are eligible to apply for certain developments vouchers?
Non-elderly families with a disabled person, who are on the waiting list of a covered
development. These non-elderly families with a disabled person do not need to be listed
on the PHA's housing choice voucher waiting list in order to be offered and receive
housing choice voucher rental assistance. It is sufficient that these families'
names are on the waiting list for a covered development at the time their names
are provided to the PHA by the owner. Eligible participants also include other
non-elderly disabled families residing in the community who would qualify for a
one- or zero-bedroom unit. These families must apply to the PHA and have their
names placed on the housing choice voucher program waitlist.
How does a PHA determine if a family is income eligible for the certain
developments vouchers?
The PHA compares the family's annual income (gross income) with the HUD-established v
ery low-income limit or low income limit for the area. The family's gross income
cannot exceed this limit.
How do families obtain an apartment once they have a voucher?
It is the responsibility of a family to find a unit that meets their needs. If the
family finds a unit that meets the housing quality standards, the rent is reasonable,
and the unit meets other program requirements, the PHA executes a HAP contract with
the property owner. This contract authorizes the PHA to make subsidy payments on
behalf of the family. If the family moves out of the unit, the contract with the
owner ends and the family can move with continued assistance to another unit.
How much rent do vouchers cover?
The PHA pays the owner the difference between 30 percent of family income and PHA
determined payment standard or gross rent whichever is lower. The family may choose
a unit with a higher rent than the payment standard and pay the owner the difference.
Do families have to lease a unit in the jurisdiction where the PHA
issued the voucher?
No. A family may choose a unit anywhere in the United States where there is a
PHA that administers a tenant based voucher program. However, the family may only
use the voucher to lease a unit in an area where the family is income eligible at
admission to the program.
What regulations cover this voucher?
Regulations are found in 24 CFR Part 982.
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