Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program

The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program provides project-based rental assistance for extremely low-income persons with disabilities linked with long term services. The program is made possible through a partnership between TDHCA, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and eligible multifamily properties.

The Section 811 PRA program creates the opportunity for persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible through the coordination of voluntary services and providing a choice of subsidized, integrated rental housing options.

The program is available only in specific metropolitan areas (PDF).

Tenant Participation Eligibility

The program is limited to individuals who are part of the Target Population and receiving services through one of the HHSC Agencies participating in the program. Each eligible household must have a qualified member of the Target Population that will be at least 18 years of age and under the age of 62 at the time of admission. All three Target populations are eligible for community-based, long-term care services as provided through Medicaid waivers, Medicaid state plan options, or state funded services and have been referred to TDHCA through their service provider or coordinator. The State of Texas has committed to making these voluntary services available based on the needs of individual members of each Target Population. Individuals must be referred to the program by a Qualified Referral Agent.

Target Populations:

People with disabilities living in institutions. People that wish to transition to the community from nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities may not have access to affordable housing in their community.
People with serious mental illness. Individuals engaged in services but facing challenges due to housing instability. Stable, integrated, affordable housing would enable these individuals to have the opportunity to fully engage in rehabilitation and treatment, greatly improving their prospects for realizing their full potential in the community.
Youth with disabilities exiting foster care. Youth exiting foster care often become homeless, particularly without the stability of long-term housing and comprehensive support services.

Property Participation Eligibility

Only properties located in the following geographic areas (PDF) are eligible to participate in the program. Properties must be located in one of the following eight Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs):

Austin-Round Rock
Brownsville-Harlingen
Corpus Christi
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
El Paso
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
San Antonio-New Braunfels

The Texas Section 811 PRA program does not provide funding for construction or rehabilitation.

Interagency Agreement

TDHCA has entered into an Interagency Agreement (PDF) with HHSC to make services available to participants.

The Interagency Agreement outlines the structure of the partnership for the Section 811 PRA Program. The agreement contains a detailed description of the target populations to be served, methods for outreach and referral and a commitment to make appropriate services available for residents in assisted units. HHSC and TDHCA identify the available state services, describe how such services will be made available to eligible tenants and how the referral process (PDF) works.

Background

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development developed a new option for the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program (HUD.gov) as authorized by the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010. The new Section 811 Project Rental Assistance program was first awarded through a demonstration program in 2012.

Real Choice Systems Grant

TDHCA's application for Section 811 funds was made possible through a partnership between the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and funding from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Real Choice Systems Grant: Building Sustainable Partnerships for Housing.

Public Participation

The State of Texas' Section 811 PRA Program design was created through extensive planning sessions and public outreach, while building on existing plans, priorities, and housing and services infrastructure. Starting in fall 2011, the State of Texas created an 811 Team that included all of the HHSC Agencies, persons with disabilities, advocates, housing providers/developers, and TDHCA.

The 811 Team met regularly to analyze data, and discuss the potential target populations; methods of outreach and referral; and how to use the PRA funds with TDHCA multifamily financing programs.

Additionally, once the HUD Notice of Funding Availability was released, the State of Texas held five 811 Public Roundtables for feedback about the program design. The Roundtables were attended by 100 people, throughout the state that provided travel stipends for persons with disabilities to attend. The 811 Public Roundtables were attended by staff of TDHCA, members of the 811 Team, and the Health and Human Services Agencies.