HUD funding opportunity to increase Section 8 vouchers and reduce waitlists

May 2018

We would like to alert you to a major new HUD initiative that holds the promise of substantially increasing the number of Section 8 vouchers for Big Island residents and reducing the long waitlist (the Notice of Funding Availability is attached, which we are also sending to Mayor Kim).

For the first time in over a decade, HUD is funding its Mainstream Voucher Program, which supports provision of Section 8 vouchers for non-elderly individuals with disabilities (known as Section 811). A total of $100 million is available over the next few years. 

Eligible applicants are all public housing authorities that currently operate a Housing Choice Voucher program. We hope that the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development will be able to prepare a proposal and submit it by the June 18, 2018 deadline. 

Our Center on Disability Studies will be happy to help with the application process in any way we can. In particular, we and our agency and community partners have experience and expertise regarding HUD proposal requirements for partnerships with health and human and/or disability service agencies as well as for complying with the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision (that people with disabilities cannot be required to reside in institutions such as nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals in order to receive necessary services if those services could reasonably be provided in integrated, community-based settings). For example, the Center on Disability Studies is implementing the Going Home Plus Project, Hawaii’s Money Follows the Person demonstration project (specified on page 27 of the funding announcement).

Mahalo Nui,

Pat Morrissey, Director

David Leake, Specialist

Center on Disability Studies

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

1410 Lower Campus Rd., 171F

Honolulu, HI 96822

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