Section 811 is a government program that allows persons living with disabilities to live as independently as they can. The government provides these persons with affordable and subsidized housing options and easy access to services that can help with support.
Who qualifies for Section 811 Housing?
To qualify for Section 811 housing, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have at least one member of the household (an adult) living with a disability. Disability includes physical disability, developmental disability, and chronic mental illness. Single individuals and families without children also qualify.
- Applicants of any citizenship can apply, except the apartment has different housing program requirements.
- Your household must make 50% less than the Area Median Income or 30% less for properties built after 2021.
- You must meet the HUD Rental Assistance Income Qualifications.
- Have a good track record as a tenant in other properties. Your former landlords may be contacted as references.
- Have no criminal record or conviction of an offense, as previously convicted criminals may find it challenging to access Section 811 housing.
- Must provide accurate information at all times during your application.
How do I apply to a Section 811 Waiting List?
To apply the Section 811 waiting list, here are the essential steps you need to take:
Step 1: First, find a Section 811 apartment in your area and contact the persons in charge via a phone call or send a message. Next, apply for Section 811 housing via any of these three methods: Online, mail, or in the housing authority’s office. To be on the safer side, look out for the preferred application method for your housing office and choose that method.
Step 2: Fill in the application form with accurate information. Usually, Section 811 applications require the name, gender, date of birth, and Social Security Number, income, and assets of members of your household. It may also require your previous housing history.
Step 3: Submit the application based on the housing authority’s instructions to avoid disqualification.
What Do I Do After Applying for a Section 811?
- Wait for one or two weeks for your application to be processed. You can confirm from the property manager how long the process usually takes.
- Confirm your waiting list status with the property manager. If there is none, move into the housing unit that has been provided for you.
- If you are on a waiting list, find out the estimated waiting list time from the property manager to help you keep abreast of your application.
- Check in periodically to follow up with your application. If you applied online, correspondences would be sent via email, so look out for them. Reply immediately when they contact you so that you can show your interest in the unit.
- Once a housing unit is available, you will be called for a final, in-person eligibility interview with the landlord or property manager.
- After Step 1 – 5 is done, you can now move into your housing unit. a decent and safe house.
FAQs
What is the Section 811 voucher?
A Section 811 voucher is a federal rent subsidy for low-income tenants living with disability. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, authorized vouchers for eligible households who qualified to receive Section 811 housing benefits.
Also known as “Mainstream vouchers,” Section 811 voucher is administered under the same rules as the Section 8 voucher.
When you receive a voucher, you are responsible for finding a preferred housing unit of your choice where the owner or landlord agrees to allow you to rent under the program. To qualify for this voucher, you must have a meager income and need a decent and safe house.
Is Section 8 and 811 the same thing?
Under The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), numerous programs offer housing assistance.
Section 8 housing is a government program that allows landlords and homeowners to rent out their property at a subsidized and affordable rate for low-income tenants.
Section 811, however, offers the same benefits but to low-income persons living with a disability.
What is a Section 811 request?
Just like in Section 8 housing, Section 811 request or Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) is sent to the housing authority when applicants need a Section 811 housing unit approved.
When the household submits this RTA, the Public Housing Agency (PHA) will contact the unit operator to schedule an inspection. This process is usually carried out within 15 days of submitting the request, and the tenants are notified.
I’m disabled. Living on a family member couch. House is extremely overpopulated. I have no income. Been denied s.s.I and lost the appeal as well. Besides all that losing this couch within about a month. All I get ebt nocash.my disability is one leg off due to the effects of diabetes one year ago no prostecitics
Hi, to submit a Section 8 housing assistance form for those with a disability, please click here to do that online or visit the nearest PHA office in your area.
I would like to apply for nothing program for your disability people some kind of housing support. Help me I’ll be gladly appreciate it thank you for your time and have a blessed day.
Hi Verna,
Please contact the housing authority in your area to apply for housing assistance. Go to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website to find a list of state and local housing authorities. Contact the housing authority in your area to ask about the application process.
While your article provides some very basic information, it is not as helpful as you may have intended. For example, you mention that a disabled person should "Find a Section 811 apartment in [the] area," but do not mention how to go about doing so. Additionally, you mention applying for a Section 811 Voucher "Online," but the associated hyperlink does not lead to an online application.
My local Housing Authority has been impossible to reach and is closed entirely to the public due to COVID-19. Perhaps you can add more helpful resources to this webpage? Keep in mind that many in need of help have cognitive/mental disabilities, so it is not beneficial to just state generalities and blindly point them to the HUD website (which is quite vast and difficult to navigate). Thank you.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for pointing the above to us. We would update the aforementioned very soon. You can contact your local housing authority online if they’re closed in the meantime.