HUD Announces $150 Million in COVID-19 Disability Housing Vouchers – Encourage Your Local Housing Authorities to Apply

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made $150 million available through new vouchers to help public housing agencies (PHAs) respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Because these Mainstream Vouchers serve households that include a non-elderly person(s) with disabilities, we recommend that our members contact their local PHA to encourage them to apply for the funding. This could help address broader housing shortages which particularly affect the disability community.

As announced by HUD:

“The CARES Act authorizes HUD to make previously appropriated funding available for Mainstream vouchers on a non-competitive basis in order to help PHAs prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in their communities. HUD encourages PHAs to work with their community partners to apply for and use additional Mainstream vouchers as part of an overall community housing plan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many localities are working urgently to house homeless populations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among those living in shelters or other close quarters. The CARES Act provided supplemental funding to assist communities in preventing, preparing for, and responding to coronavirus’ impact on individuals and families (e.g., Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF)).

Through this notice, HUD is setting forth the application and eligibility requirements for PHAs that wish to receive Mainstream vouchers in accordance with the CARES Act authority for the award of Mainstream voucher unobligated balances. […]

HUD will make up to $150,000,000 available in Mainstream carryover funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6). Funding under this notice is dependent on the availability of appropriations. HUD will monitor the demand for Mainstream voucher funding. As needed, HUD may issue further guidance that describes how it will allocate available Mainstream voucher resources, including prioritizing the circumstances or conditions warranting Mainstream voucher allocation.”