Housing Vouchers for Disabled Americans Under Age 62
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 15 Jun 2010 - Updated: 5 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Informative
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This announcement details a landmark federal initiative launched through collaboration between HHS and HUD to provide approximately $40 million in housing assistance specifically for non-elderly persons with disabilities. The program authorizes 5,300 Housing Choice Vouchers that allow qualified individuals to transition from institutional settings into independent community living, with up to 1,000 vouchers reserved for people currently in institutions who can move into the community with support. This information proves especially valuable for working-age adults with disabilities seeking affordable housing options, families navigating care transitions, and advocacy organizations working to implement the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision requiring community-based services. The program represents authoritative policy guidance as it stems directly from federal agency leadership and implements constitutional protections established through ADA litigation, offering practical pathways for people who might otherwise face unnecessary institutionalization due to lack of accessible, affordable housing.
At a Glance
- 1 - The program authorizes roughly 5,300 Housing Choice Vouchers nationwide. Up to 1,000 are reserved for people currently living in institutions.
- 2 - Housing authorities received 90 days to submit their applications to HUD. Funding awards were expected to be ready in late fall 2010.
- 3 - The Affordable Care Act extended the Money Follows the Person program through 2016. It added an appropriation of more than 2 billion dollars for the effort.
- 4 - The initiative grew from the 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. That decision found unnecessary institutionalization can amount to discrimination under the ADA.
Topic Definition
- Housing Choice Voucher
A Housing Choice Voucher is a form of federal rental assistance administered by local public housing authorities under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, designed to help low-income households, including non-elderly people with disabilities, afford safe housing in the private market. Rather than tying support to a specific building, the voucher travels with the individual, covering a portion of monthly rent so recipients can choose a home that fits their needs within their community. For working-age adults with disabilities, these vouchers often serve as a bridge out of institutional settings, pairing with Medicaid home and community-based services to make independent living both possible and sustainable. The approach reflects a broader policy shift toward community integration, giving people the freedom to live near family, hold jobs, and participate fully in everyday life.
Overview
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced. As part of President Obama's Year of Community Living initiative, HHS and HUD collaborated to provide housing support for non-elderly persons with disabilities to live productive independent lives in their communities rather than in institutional settings.
HUD is offering approximately $40 million to public housing authorities across the country to fund approximately 5,300 Housing Choice Vouchers for non-elderly persons with disabilities, allowing them to live independently. HHS will use its network of state Medicaid agencies and local human service organizations to link eligible individuals and their families to local housing agencies who will administer voucher distribution.
"This number of vouchers to this community is a major milestone for HUD," said Donovan. "I am pleased that two federal agencies have combined efforts to give these individuals the independence they so desperately want and deserve."
"This commitment by HHS and HUD to directly link housing support to these individuals will be of immeasurable value not only to them, but to the communities in which they will be living," said Sebelius. "Individuals with disabilities have so much to contribute to the quality of life in our communities when given the freedom and opportunity to do so."
Of the 5,300 vouchers set aside as part of this program, up to 1,000 will be specifically targeted for non-elderly individuals with disabilities currently living in institutions but who could move into the community with assistance (Category II). The remaining 4,300 (Category I) can be used for this purpose also, but are targeted for use by non-elderly individuals with disabilities and their families in the community to allow them to access affordable housing that adequately meets their needs.
In addition, HUD is encouraging housing authorities to establish a selection preference to make some, or all, of their Category I allocation available to individuals with disabilities and their families who, without housing assistance, are at risk of institutionalization. Housing authorities have 90 days to submit their applications to HUD. HUD expects to have funding awards ready late fall 2010.
"Many of these individuals are low-income and can not afford market rates for housing. For a number of Americans, these vouchers, along with Medicaid home and community-based services, are essential supports that make the President's vision for community living possible," Sebelius noted.
The vouchers will augment work already being done by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through its Medicaid Money Follows the Person (MFP) grant program. Originally set to expire next year, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010" extended the MFP program through 2016 with an additional appropriation of over $2 billion.
The Act also cut to three months, from the previous six months, the amount of time a person must be in an institution to qualify for help making the transition to community life.
Now in its third year, the MFP program has made it possible for almost 6,000 people to live more independent lives by providing necessary supports and services in the community. Some 29 states and the District of Columbia have MFP programs.
The Year of Community Living is an outgrowth of a 1999 Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C., in which the court ruled that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) unnecessarily institutionalizing a person with a disability who, with proper support, can live in the community can amount to discrimination. In its ruling, the Court said that institutionalization severely limits the person's ability to interact with family and friends, to work and to make a life for him or herself.
As a result of the Olmstead ruling, HHS issued guidance to states on how to make their Medicaid programs more responsive to people living with disabilities who wish to reside in the least restrictive setting. Today's announcement is yet another step in HHS's 10-year effort to achieve that goal.
Disability Housing and Home Loans for Disabled Americans
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a non-elderly person with a disability for these vouchers
The program targets people under age 62 who have a disability and meet income limits set by their local public housing authority. Eligibility also depends on referral through state Medicaid agencies and local human service organizations.
How do I apply for a Housing Choice Voucher
Applications are handled by your local public housing authority rather than by HUD directly. State Medicaid agencies and human service organizations help connect eligible individuals and families to the agency administering vouchers in their area.
What is the difference between Category I and Category II vouchers
Category II vouchers are set aside for people currently living in institutions who could move into the community with support. Category I vouchers serve people with disabilities and their families already in the community who need affordable housing.
What is the Money Follows the Person program
It is a Medicaid grant program run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that helps people transition from institutions into community settings. It provides the supports and services individuals need to live more independently.
How long must a person stay in an institution to qualify for transition help
The Affordable Care Act reduced the required period to three months from the previous six months. This change made it easier for people to move back into community living sooner.
Can these vouchers be combined with other disability supports
Yes, the vouchers are designed to work alongside Medicaid home and community-based services. Together these supports cover both housing costs and the daily assistance many recipients need.
What was the Olmstead v. L.C. decision
It was a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that found unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities can violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The decision established a legal basis for community-based living options.
Are Housing Choice Vouchers still available today
The Housing Choice Voucher program remains an active federal rental assistance effort administered nationwide. Availability and waiting lists vary by local public housing authority, so contacting your local agency is the best way to check.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: While this 2010 federal housing voucher program marked significant progress in disability rights implementation, its true measure of success lies not in the number of vouchers distributed but in whether recipients actually secured stable, accessible housing that met their needs. The collaboration between HHS and HUD recognized what disability advocates had argued for decades: housing isn't simply shelter, but rather the foundation upon which people build their participation in community life, maintain employment, and exercise the basic freedoms most take for granted. As we look back on programs like these, they remind us that civil rights enforcement often requires creative coordination across government agencies and sustained commitment beyond initial announcements - the real work happens in the months and years that follow, when individuals navigate complex application processes and housing authorities determine whether policies translate into actual keys in actual doors.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.