Section 8: Rental Assistance for Non-elderly Disabled Families (Public Housing)

What is it?

HUD provides Section 8 rental vouchers and certificates to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that have approved plans to designate certain housing as elderly-only, disabled-only, or mixed elderly and disabled households to enable persons with disabilities to rent affordable housing. Approved plans must be consistent with total affordable housing needs of the community.

How does it work?

In 1992, Congress tried to reach a compromise among competing fair housing needs for the elderly and non-elderly disabled by permitting PHAs to designate separate housing facilities for the elderly and for persons with disabilities without reducing housing for those with disabilities. PHAs interested in designating some of their housing are required to submit housing plans that established the need to designate while ensuring that affordable housing needs of the whole community would be met. Additional Section 8 rental vouchers and certificates help meet those needs. HUD provides Section 8 voucher and certificate funds to PHAs to address the housing needs of non-elderly, disabled families affected by designated housing plans.

Who does it help?

People: Non-elderly, disabled households who live in public housing that has been designated for occupancy by the elderly only or disabled families who are on the Public Housing Agency’s public housing waiting list may receive a rental voucher or certificate in conjunction with a designated housing allocation plan approved by HUD.

Organizations: Public Housing Agencies that have an approved designated housing plan are eligible for this program. Indian housing authorities are not eligible
 

How to apply?

A Public Housing Agency (PHA) wanting to designate projects or portions of for elderly families or for disabled families must have developed a designated housing allocation plan, consistent with HUD guidelines, and have submitted it to HUD and the local government responsible for the Consolidated (housing) Plan for review. Program is only for housing units operated by PHAs under the low-income public housing program.

Is money available? 

Funding is based on allocations in the Federal budget cycle.

Where can I find more Information?

HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing administers this program. For questions about the statutory requirements for development of the designated housing plan, PHAs should call for technical assistance from the Office of Public and Assisted Housing Delivery in the Office of Public and Indian Housing at HUD Headquarters; the telephone number is (202) 708-0744 or go to the HUD Web site: http://www.hud.gov/progdesc/mixpop.cfm.

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