The federal government, via the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has the following Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) for persons with disabilities:
| Vouchers | Basic Information | Additional Information |
| Mainstream Vouchers | Vouchers that assist non-elderly persons (18 – 62 years old) with disabilities and their families. The eligible member can be any member of the household. D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA) manages this voucher program. | |
| “Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers” (Category 1) |
Vouchers that enable non-elderly persons with disabilities and families to lease affordable, private housing of their choice. The eligible member must be head of household, co-head of household, or spouse. DCHA manages this voucher program. | |
| “Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers” (Category 2) |
Vouchers that enable non-elderly persons with disabilities currently residing in nursing homes or other healthcare institutions to transition into the community. The eligible member must be head of household, co-head of household, or spouse. DCHA manages this voucher program. | |
| Designated Housing Vouchers |
Vouchers that enable non-elderly families with a family member who has a disability—who would have been eligible for a public housing unit if the occupancy of the unit or entire project had not been restricted to elderly families—to receive Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). The family does not have to be listed on DCHA’s voucher waiting list. Instead, they may be admitted to the program as a special admission. DCHA manages this voucher program. | |
| Certain Development Vouchers |
Vouchers that enable non-elderly families having a person with disabilities—who do not currently receive housing assistance in certain developments where owners establish preferences for or restrict occupancy to elderly families—to obtain affordable housing. These non-elderly families with a person with a disability do not need to be listed on DCHA’s waiting list to be offered and receive a Housing Choice Voucher. DCHA manages this voucher program. | |
In addition, federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Architectural Barriers Act prohibit housing discrimination based on disability. These laws have specific accessibility requirements for housing constructed, renovated, operated, or purchased with or without federal funds. You can read about the laws in Step 6.
Remember, when applying for subsidized housing, make sure you know if it is tenant-based or project-based. You cannot assume you can move and take (port) a rent subsidy with you. As with any housing program, you must also qualify for subsidized housing.