From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), October 01, 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that thousands of non-elderly Americans with disabilities will receive housing assistance to enable them to access affordable housing. Public housing authorities across the U.S. will distribute approximately 4,300 rental assistance vouchers to this population.
HUD is awarding nearly $33 million to fund these vouchers through its Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities Program. For a local breakdown of the rental vouchers announced today, go to: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-214.
The grants announced today are part of the $40 million HUD made available last April to help public housing authorities across the country fund rental vouchers for non-elderly persons with disabilities. PHAs could apply for funding under the following categories:
Category I – These vouchers will be used by non-elderly individuals with disabilities and their families access affordable housing in a community that adequately meets their needs. Today’s announcement is for this category.
Category II – Up to 1,000 vouchers will be specifically targeted for non-elderly individuals with disabilities currently living in nursing homes and other health care institutions move into the community with rental assistance. This category will be announced later this year.
Last year, as part of President Obama’s Year of Community Living initiative, HUD and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a joint effort to provide housing support for non-elderly persons with disabilities. The interagency collaboration is intended to allow persons with disabilities to live productive independent lives in their communities rather than in institutional settings. This announcement represents the first phase of the joint effort.
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 espanol.hud.gov.
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-214