Rental assistance to prevent unnecessary institutionalization
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) – 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:
|
State |
Housing Agency |
# of Households to be Assisted |
Award |
| Alaska | AAlaska Housing Finance Corporation |
200 |
$7,722,343 |
| Arizona | Arizona Dept. of Housing |
54 |
$2,950,000 |
| California | California Housing Finance Agency |
283 |
$11,985,436 |
| Colorado | Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs |
411 |
$7,610,719 |
| Connecticut | Dept. of Housing, State of Connecticut |
150 |
$4,112,906 |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Dept. of Housing and Community Development |
60 |
$2,617,645 |
| Georgia | Georgia Housing Finance Authority |
350 |
$10,174,407 |
| Illinois | Illinois Housing Development Authority |
200 |
$6,420,000 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Housing Corporation |
150 |
$5,794,675 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Dept. of Housing & Community Development |
100 |
$6,803,050 |
| Maryland | Maryland Dept. of Housing and Community Development |
150 |
$9,808,054 |
| Maine | Maine State Housing Authority |
66 |
$2,000,000 |
| Michigan | Michigan State Housing Development Authority |
200 |
$5,516,950 |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Housing Finance Agency |
75 |
$3,000,000 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority |
150 |
$8,634,824 |
| New Jersey | NJ Housing Mortgage Finance Agency |
206 |
$5,099,229 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority |
95 |
$2,278,447 |
| Nevada | State of Nevada Housing Division |
50 |
$2,000,000 |
| Ohio | Ohio Housing Finance Agency |
508 |
$11,991,399 |
| Oregon | Housing and Community Services Dept. |
80 |
$2,335,000 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency |
200 |
$8,557,014 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation |
150 |
$5,627,829 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Housing Development Authority |
100 |
$2,797,972 |
| Texas | Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs |
296 |
$12,000,000 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority |
300 |
$2,532,090 |
|
|
4584 |
$150,369,989 |
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the
need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build
inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and
http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDGov, on facebook at
www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.
Brian Sullivan
(202) 708-0685
