The state of Washington will receive additional funding to help subsidize rent for disabled people. The state will get $8 million from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which announced last week that it would award roughly $140 million in grants across the country to 18 state housing agencies as part of its Section 811 Project Rental Assistance for Persons with Disabilities program.
Washington’s share of the money will go toward funding 158 new subsidized rental units. The state currently supports 132 units through this program. This is the third time that the state has received a grant of this type.
The Section 811 program aims to help disabled people live as independently as possible. The program helps develop new housing choices in existing, new, or refurbished multifamily buildings.
“Adults with disabilities frequently face significant barriers to finding a safe and stable place to live,” stated Julia Gordon, assistant secretary for housing and federal housing commissioner. “These awards create opportunities for more housing that’s available, accessible, and inclusive.”
Washington is one of the states that received the highest award amount in this round of funding. California and Oregon also received $8 million each in new federal funding. Housing agencies will be able to direct eligible renters to housing while also providing rental assistance and supportive services.
Many disabled people live in poverty which makes finding housing even more challenging. For some people, SSI is their sole income. As of 2020, there are approximately eight million SSI beneficiaries in this country.
This funding comes as there is a nationwide shortage of affordable, accessible housing. There is nowhere in the country where an SSI beneficiary can reasonably afford an apartment, according to a report published in February by the Technical Assistance Collaborative. Nationwide, the average rent for a basic studio or one-bedroom apartment exceeds the average monthly SSI benefit of $983. Even in the country’s cheapest rental market, Dallas County, MO., the rent for a one-bedroom or efficiency apartment would be 64% of a person’s monthly SSI benefit.
Washington State presently has 17 properties accepting Section 811 rental subsidies. The Washington State Department of Commerce collaborates with the Department of Social and Health Services and the Health Care Authority to identify eligible residents. To be eligible, at least one person in a household must be between the ages of 18 and 61, disabled, and receiving or eligible for Medicaid and other benefits and supports offered by the Department of Social and Health benefits.
They must also earn at or below 30% of the average median income in the area where they live. This amounts to $31,650 for a single-person household in King County.
Eligible properties can be either new or existing, and they must be partially supported by a state or federal program, such as Washington’s Housing Trust Fund or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. They must also have at least five residential units. Section 811 funding can only be utilized to fund up to 25% of the units, and they must be used for housing people with disabilities.
Housing is an essential part of life. All disabled people should have access to affordable, accessible, and safe housing. The right type of housing allows disabled people more freedom and independence.
Demkovich, Laurel. “More Money Coming to Washington State for Housing for People with Disabilities.” OPB, NPR, 1 Sept. 2024, http://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/01/washington-housing-disabilities/?outputType=amp.
Diament, Michelle. “SSI Recipients Can’t Afford Housing Anywhere in the US.” Disability Scoop, 5 Feb. 2024, http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/02/05/ssi-recipients-cant-afford-housing-anywhere-in-the-us/30731.