Section 811 Supportive Housing
for Persons with Disabilities Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program
(Part of the Community Living Colorado Program)
What is Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA)?
The Section 811 PRA program provides project based subsidies for people with disabilities. This housing program will assist very low income people with significant and long-term disabilities to live independently in the community by providing affordable housing linked with voluntary services and supports.
Who administers this program?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded DOH over $7 million. This funding will become part of DOH’s Community Living Colorado Program (CLC) that is designed to provide affordable housing and services to help people with disabilities move out of nursing homes and live in the community. The program will be administered locally through DOH’s existing network of subsidy administrators, and currently includes state funding for tenant-based vouchers.
How does the Section 811 program work?
The Section 811 program is similar to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Project Based Voucher program. The participant will be provided with a list of buildings that are under contract for the Section 811 program. The participant will apply to lease the apartment. The participant leases the apartment for at least one year. The participant pays about 1/3rd of his or her income toward rent and utilities, and The Division of Housing pays the rest.
Who is eligible for the Section 811 program?
This program will provide permanent supportive housing to help households composed of one or more persons who:
- Are at least 18 years of age and less than 62 years of age;
- Are extremely low income (30%) of Area Median Income (AMI);
- Can benefit from supportive services in connections with housing; and
- Receive Home and Community Based Services, state plan services or are a part of the CCT program.
Are there specific populations that will be served by this program?
DOH has the ability to set priorities for populations to be served by this program. They are:
- Persons with disabilities who are leaving institutions;
- Persons with disabilities who are homeless; and
- Persons with disabilities who are at risk of being homeless.
What kinds of rental units are eligible for this program?
Eligible projects are either new or existing multifamily developments in which the development costs are paid for with other public or private sources. This includes Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME funds, or other commitments of funding from federal, state, or local government or any other source. Project owners can be nonprofit or for-profit developers. Eligible properties must meet the following criteria:
- The housing cannot currently have an existing use restriction for persons with disabilities.
- No more than twenty five percent of the total units in Eligible Multifamily Properties can be restricted to supportive housing for persons with disabilities or have any occupancy preference for Persons with Disabilities.
- Owners must commit holding Section 811 units for occupancy by eligible extremely low-income (30% AMI) non-elderly people with disabilities for 30 years.
How are referrals made for this program?
The supportive service agency or CCT Transition Coordinator (TC) will fill out the common CLC program application and send it in to DOH. DOH will review the application and enter the applicant in the DOH Elite housing management database. The TC or the agency will then work with the DOH local housing subsidy administrator to gather required verifications and backup documentation.
How are services made available to the participants?
DOH has an Interagency Partnership Agreement (IPA) with the Departments of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and Human Services (CDHS) to assist with the provision of supportive services to the Section 811 participants. Participants who are part of the Colorado Choice Transitions program will be able to receive services through that program. Other participants will be able to receive services through DOH’s contracts with supportive service agencies throughout Colorado.
Are participants required to receive services to receive CLC assistance?
This program will provide permanent supportive housing to participants who either receive state of Colorado Medicaid HCBS services, state plan services or are participants of the CCT program. There is no requirement that that the participant use services once he or she is in the program. Non-mandatory services are made available to provide support in the community.
Please see the Community Living Colorado Frequently Asked Questions for more details on the program.