The landlords commonly don’t rent to you when you are disabled. They may consider you a burden and a problem for the apartment. In the United States of America, everyone is equal, no matter what race, religion, and health condition you have. Even if you are disabled, you are entitled to get an apartment as per fair housing law and HUD guidelines. There are different programs for disabled people. These programs are run by the HUD resources to make sure the people with disabilities can get apartments according to their health needs.
Some apartments are designed for people with disabilities. Before going to get this type of apartment, it is important to study a little. The apartments should be well convenient according to the health need of disabled people. So, we are going to discuss a lot of issues of the houses for the disabled people and HUD programs for the apartment of the people with disabilities.
Content Outline
Ways To Find Apartments For People With Disabilities
When you are people with disabilities, you have many limitations, such as movement and treatment. A comfortable and well-managed apartment is the urgent need to live well. It is also true that you, as a disabled person, can get an apartment very quickly compared to other people because of disability.
You have the accessibility to the housing according to federal nondiscrimination law. Part of this, there are different programs entitled to low-income people with disabilities. Section 811 supportive housing programs, section 202 supportive housing for the elderly program are the most common. These programs provide exact rental assistance considering the need for the disabled people.
It is important to note that disabled people can’t be deprived of renting a house. There is strict law, according to the Fair Housing Act. In case there is any discrimination, you might call 1-800-949-4232 or visit the Southeast ADA Center in which there are different types of information you might get, such as housing information, training, guidance, and answer to any question about disability.
Programs For Apartments For People With Disabilities
Disabled people are entitled to get housing according to their rights. They are not deprived of housing assistance as their life may be at stake. So there are HUD resources such as subsidized housing programs, income-based housing, housing choice voucher, and homeownership as well.
Section 811 Supportive Apartments for people with disabilities program
Section 811 is supportive housing for persons with disabilities. The disabled people can live independently in the community by getting a subsidized rental housing opportunity. The land developers get the subsidy and interest-free capital advances from the government to build housing so that they can arrange affordable housing for disabled people.
Section 811 housing program is supported by project rental assistance contracts. This program aims to ensure affordable housing for low-income people who have at least an adult disabled family member. The nature of disability comes with a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. Income is another considerable issue for the households that need to have within 50 percent of the median income of the area.
Public Housing
Public housing is the program of the HUD. This program offers rental assistance for low-income people, senior people, and people with disabilities. Rent is very low when people have to pay only 30 percent of the adjusted income, 10 percent of monthly income, welfare rent, and minimum rent of $25 to $50.
This range is ascertained by the local housing agency. There are also HUD guidelines to fix up the rent calculation where housing agencies can deduct $400 of income for people with disabilities. So, this is a pretty good opportunity for people with disabilities to get an apartment at a low cost.
Housing choice voucher
Disabled people may also get an apartment at an affordable cost as per HUD’s housing choice voucher program. There is an eligibility criterion to get this housing choice voucher. The household income should come by 50 percent or less than the median income in the location where the disabled people live.
This housing choice voucher is used to pay the rent cost of the apartment, and it is available from the side of the public housing agencies such as PHAs. PHA ensures housing assistance for people with disabilities as it gets funds to run its program.
Subsidized housing program
A subsidized housing program is an affordable housing program for disabled people. It is income-based housing assistance which is designed for the senior and disabled people. This program is administered by the HUD, where elderly and disabled people get housing assistance.
Non-Elderly Disabled Vouchers
Disabled people also get Non-elderly disabled vouchers as housing assistance. This is the same as the section 8 housing choice voucher. Public housing agencies functions this program and manage housing assistance for the people with disability.
Those who are disabled can get a low-cost apartment through a non-elderly disabled voucher, and they have to qualify for this program. There are local housing agencies where people with disabilities can get information on how to get an apartment so easily.
Low-income housing tax credit program
Disabled people may also go with an affordable apartment as the low-income housing credit program is another deal to ensure this affordable housing. This program provides a tax credit to the landowner to build houses so that they can ensure affordable housing for the disabled people. LIHTC is entitled to provide all types of support to make sure the disabled people can have better living at a lower cost.
Types Of Apartments For Disabilities People
There are two categories of apartments for disabilities people. These apartments distinguish the living condition. These apartments are assisted living and independent living.
Assisted Living
Assisted living means disabled people need movement, and it is related to everyday activities. These activities are bathing, dressing, walking, moving from here and there. Additionally, this assisted living includes meals, transportation, social activities, additional medical care. The communities offer a very convenient environment to make sure disabled people have to move less or perform daily activities smoothly.
The senior people and people with severe disabilities need to be assisted living to make sure they can live in the apartment perfectly. This assisted living is not going to be entitled to the people who are still able to move and live independently.
Independent Living
Independent living is for those who typically want to have a life of freedom. Even if it is an independent living, they don’t want to lead a life by taking help from other people. People with disabilities may choose this independent housing in case they can manage their life by their self. There are different amenities and facilities of independent living, such as on-site gym, beauty salons, and pools. Under this independent living, there is periodic access to health care.
This independent living is not for those who are disabled because there are limited services and no full-time health care and living activities like dressing, bathing, eating, taking medication, and so on.
Cost of these living
This assisted living seems to be costly for disabled people, and they have to bear this cost. The cost may also vary according to different states and counties.
When people are disabled with low income, there is a question to bear the cost. For this, there are subsidized housing programs, section 202 supportive housing, housing choice voucher, section 811 supportive program, public housing, Medicare, and social security. These programs reduce the cost of the apartment rent. On the other hand, the cost of independent living will be a little bit lower than assisted living.
HUD resources the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has numerous programs for rental assistance to make sure the low-income people, senior people, and people have the same living condition as other people.
Factors To Consider For Apartments For Disabilities People
Apartments for a disabled person should be featured with more accessible and more comfortable according to their health need. Truly there are apartments for a disabled person, and most of the disabled people make mistakes to choose this apartment. So here are some issues the disabled person should take into consideration.
Spacious Entrances
Entrances such as a door or corridor and hallways should be spacious to make sure the wheelchair can be moved here and there easily. When you are a disabled person, you should choose an apartment where entryways and hallways are wide for comfortable movement.
Flooring
Most of the apartments for a disabled person are designed to let them feel ease. Flooring comes with vinyl and a thin flat carpet that ensures easy movement of the wheelchair.
Cabinets
Cabinets are good for a disabled person. But this is not used much due to their limited movement. So, the unit should set up this cabinet to the upper level instead of the lower level. This can make the floor free to let the wheelchair move freely.
Countertops
Countertops are also another considerable issue, and it should be lower so that there is more workspace for the wheelchair. This should be 30 inches off the floor, which provides a space. Surely the more space means more relaxing movement for disabled people.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms must be designed to feed the needs of disabled people. There should grab bars and roll-in shower, and there should be a faucet in the sink that needs to be operated with a single lever instead of multiple knobs. Additionally, there are mobile forms of toilets that can be added according to the needs.
Switches’ position
This is an important issue, and the unit should be planed for disabled people. These light switches should be in the lower position so that disabled people can have easy access.
Personal Alarm system
Disabled people may fall at any severe health risk. In case there are no more family members, a personal alarm system works to save life indeed. So, this personal alarm system may be added by either the unit or you may bring outside to be set up. But this is important to call emergency services for your emergency.
Parking Distance
The unit makes the parking system separate so that there is no connection with the regular tenant. The distance is a considerable issue for disabled people, and their unit should be as much as close to the parking area.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Getting an apartment for disabled people may be difficult, but you may get on your ground. These apartments are arranged on special care indeed. So we are going to answer some questions that can add up more information indeed.
Can I be charged more for apartments for my disability?
There are HUD guidelines and other terms and conditions to make sure you are not charged more for apartments for your disability. According to the fair housing act, the landlord has no way to gain more rent from you forcefully. The rent has been fixed up according to location for the disabled people, and you should pay that fixed amount. When you feel this type of case, such as charging more rent from you, you may contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What can I do if there is no apartment available for my disability?
It is common to believe that the landlord is not going to make any relation by renting with disabled people. They think it is much hassle, and the landlord has to ensure more care and facilities for them. On the other hand, the landlord will have no excuse to rent an apartment for disabled people as it is a matter of law. Additionally, you, as disabled people, need to conserve doctors’ notes or certificates to make sure everyone should show special sympathy for you.
What does HUD consider a disability?
The case of disability may be sad for the people, but there is no way to ignore this disability. Even if people are disabled somehow, they can’t be deprived of the rights, benefits, and facilities the same as other people. So there is a definition of disability and policy in terms of the apartment set by the HUD. So Federal non-discrimination laws indicate that a person with physical and mental incapacity is disabled, and this disability limits the major life activities. Additionally, people have to move with other help.
Final Recap
Apartments for people with disabilities are available, and you may need to study a lot to get a perfect one. There are different HUD resources to make sure the disabled people can get an apartment so easily and live there perfectly according to their health needs. There are different areas such as public housing agencies in your community where you can get more information on apartments available.