HUD AWARDS $150 MILLION TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOMES & SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

HUD No. 15-026 Brian Sullivan (202) 708-0685

FOR RELEASE Monday March 2, 2015

HUD AWARDS $150 MILLION TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOMES AND SERVICES TO
EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Rental assistance to prevent unnecessary institutionalization

WASHINGTON – To help prevent thousands of individuals with disabilities from being unnecessarily institutionalized or possibly falling into homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced it is awarding $150 million in rental assistance to 25 State Housing Agencies.  In turn, the state agencies will provide permanent affordable rental housing and needed supportive services to nearly 4,600 households who are extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom hoping to transition out of institutional settings back to the community.   

HUD’s support of state housing agencies is made possible through the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program which enables persons with disabilities who earn less than 30 percent of their area’s median income to live in integrated, affordable housing.  State housing agencies and their state Medicaid and Health and Human Service partner agencies identify, refer, and support target populations of persons with disabilities who require community-based, long-term care services to live independently.  This is one of several recent collaborative efforts between HUD and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“Everyone needs a stable home to call their own, especially persons with disabilities who can live on their own yet are at risk of becoming homeless,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro.  “These grants will provide real opportunity by cutting health care costs for states while allowing folks to live as independently as possible.” 

“Communities and families are stronger when all citizens have the opportunity to fully participate and contribute to society,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “By providing permanent housing as well as access to needed supportive services, these grants are helping to fulfill the promise of productive, meaningful lives in their communities for people with disabilities.”

Today’s announcement reinforces the guiding principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act  and the landmark 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C., helping states and local governments to provide services in the most integrated settings appropriate to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.   

Funding has been made available for the following state agencies through HUD’s Section 811 PRA program: 

TO FIND THE AMOUNT YOUR STATE WILL BE RECIEVING, CLICK HERE

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HUD gives Illinois $6.4M to help disabled, poor pay rent

March 3, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) - Federal housing officials have earmarked more than $6.4 million to provide rental assistance to extremely low-income Illinois residents with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the money will help people avoid living in an institution or becoming homeless.

As part of the program, the Illinois Housing Development Authority will provide permanent affordable rental housing and support services to 200 people, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings.

Recipients must have a disability and earn less than 30 percent of their area's median income.

HUD Secretary Julian Castro says the goal is to help people who require community-based, long-term care services to live independently while also helping cut state health care costs.

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