US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development & Research Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities is the most critical federal program funded to meet these needs. Also called the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance for Persons with Disabilities, this program fills an important gap in affordable and accessible housing available to very low-income adults disability.
Unlike conventional Section 8 vouchers that are used to help families with children obtain housing, the focus of Section 811 is exclusively on non-elderly adults (traditionally ages 18 through and including age 62) who have significant physical or developmental disabilities. The main goal is to place long-term rent subsidies with private nonprofit organizations that will use them as part of affordable housing projects they develop and manage, accompanied by supportive services necessary for residents to live independently in the community.
Eligibility Requirements and Application Process
Individuals who qualify for Section 811 housing must meet stringent requirements regarding both income and disability status. Applicants must meet the definition of "disability" under the Social Security Act, which broadly means that your medically determinable physical or mental impairments results in marked and severe functional limitations.
In addition, applicants must have household incomes that are no more than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) under "very low-income" levels. The application starts out local. To obtain an application, households must call a local Public Housing Agency (PHA) or other participating nonprofit organization. Waiting lists can be lengthy due to the demand. Medical records are necessary for applicants to legitimize their disability so that the application process may go as planned.
Differences from Typical Mainstream Vouchers
In addition, while Section 811 appears to function similarly in the aggregate as a much more widely-utilized program (the Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8) there are some specific ways it operates differently. In the basic voucher program, a tenant really searches for their unit and pays 30 percent of their adjusted income toward lease — with the rest secured by an endowment.
811 feels like more of a project-based program. This means the amount of rent subsidy is noncumulative and income tied to particular housing units operating under development by nonprofit sponsors. As a result, they bundle supportive services with the housing. Unlike other housing programs, when a tenant vacates, the Section 811 subsidy remains with the unit for use by another eligible person with a disability and ensures that property will remain mission-driven in perpetuity.
The Role of Supportive Services
Supportive services are a hallmark of Section 811 housing. These services are integrated into the core of how programs are designed. Since the housing is created by nonprofit organizations, there are requirements to find local service agencies that will help residents access resources for health, stability and inclusion in a community.
These services can include, but are not limited to case management; mental health counselling; substance abuse treatment and support; assistance in daily living skills training which includes self-care (e.g., personal hygiene), medication monitoring, food preparation and cooking etc.; transportation for medical appointments as well as social integration outside the home wherever possible with access options such educational settings or places of worship if applicable also job coaching through vocational rehabilitation programs when necessary.
To create an environment that enables residents to live with and manage multiple disabilities successfully while holding their tenancy agreement, work on sustaining the result of residency.
Benefits and Long-Term Impact
Yet a roof over the head is hardly all there is to be gained from Section 811 housing. You are used to being factored into rent that costs less than half of the usual cost. The program offers rent for up-up-to 30 percent a single household can live along with barrier-free units. Living in a community that has already been thought through based on accessibility needs, such wheelchair ramps, grab bars and wider doorways are key to the benefits for residents. Over time, Section 811 engenders community and dignity. It allows people with disabilities to lead lives of their own choosing in the community, use fewer services from emergency shelters or nursing homes and save public money over time.
