Section 811 supportive housing: who qualifies and how to apply

Section 811 is a federal program that helps adults with disabilities live on their own, with rent set at an affordable level and access to services. Today it works mostly through state housing agencies. You usually do not apply to HUD, the federal housing department, or to the building. You are referred through your state's process.

What is Section 811 supportive housing?

The law behind it says its purpose is to let people with disabilities live with dignity and independence in their communities. HUD says it funds rental housing with supportive services for very low and extremely low income adults with disabilities.

It works in two ways.

• Older buildings. HUD gave nonprofit developers interest-free funds, called capital advances, to build supportive housing. HUD says the last funding for new capital advances came in fiscal year 2011, so these are existing buildings.
• Project Rental Assistance. The Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 created this newer route, first tried in 2012. HUD says new funding since 2012 has gone only to this route. HUD gives funds to state housing agencies that partner with their state Medicaid and health agencies. Medicaid is government health coverage for people with low incomes. The money pays rent on apartments set aside for the program. These are in buildings built with tax credits, federal HOME Investment Partnerships grants or other funding.

No more than 25% of the apartments in a building can get this help, serve people with disabilities or carry a disability preference. Services are voluntary, and no one can be required to use them to rent.

Who qualifies?

For the newer rental assistance, HUD and the statute set these tests:

1. A household member with a disability who is an adult. The statute defines the person as 18 or older and under 62. State programs write it as 18 to 61, or under 62, at move-in.
2. Extremely low income. That means at or below 30% of area median income. That is the middle income where you live: half of households earn more and half earn less. HUD's 2026 extremely low income limit in the Milwaukee area is $22,750 for one person and $26,000 for two, and the limit rises with household size. Find yours in our guide to area median income.
3. Eligibility for community-based long-term services. The person must qualify for such services through Medicaid or state-funded programs.
4. A state target group. States may add rules. Texas serves people with disabilities leaving institutions, people with serious mental illness and young people with disabilities leaving foster care. Pennsylvania serves people in institutions, at risk of entering one, or in group settings who wish to move.

States can also limit where. Texas takes referrals only for buildings in eight metropolitan areas.

What counts as a disability. The statute defines it as a physical, mental or emotional impairment that is expected to last a long time, substantially impedes living independently, and could be improved by more suitable housing. A developmental disability also counts. Federal rule 24 CFR 891.305 (in the Code of Federal Regulations) adds chronic mental illness. A diagnosis of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), alcoholism or drug addiction alone does not qualify unless the person also meets the test. HUD's agreement with states notes that civil rights laws use a different definition.

What rent do you pay?

HUD's agreement with states says tenant rent follows federal rule 24 CFR part 5. Under 24 CFR 5.628, your payment is the highest of four amounts. They are 30% of monthly adjusted income, 10% of monthly income, welfare rent (the part of a welfare payment set aside for housing costs, where one applies) and a minimum rent. Adjusted income is income after allowed deductions. New Mexico's guide says tenants pay 30% of adjusted gross income for rent and utilities.

A made-up example: a household has $1,000 a month in income and no deductions. Thirty percent is $300 and 10% is $100, so the payment is about $300. The program pays the rest of the contract rent to the owner.

Why can't you usually apply directly?

HUD says each state's health care agency must develop a policy for referrals, tenant selection and services. These service partners do outreach and refer people to the state housing agency or to property owners.

State pages read for this guide show how that looks:

• Texas: "Individuals must be referred to the program by a Qualified Referral Agent."
• Minnesota: a state human services coordinator manages referrals and the waitlist, and applicants cannot refer themselves.
• Washington: property owners cannot refer people directly. Tenants get applications through a long-term care case manager.
• Pennsylvania: local lead agencies refer people, and one partner manages the waitlist.

Older buildings work differently. Under 24 CFR 891.410, the owner takes applications, decides eligibility and keeps a waitlist in order of application. For those, ask the building.

How do you find your state's Section 811 contact?

1. Check HUD's list. HUD Exchange names 31 state housing agencies awarded funds in fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2019. HUD published a funding notice for a later round in 2023, so ask your state even if it is not listed.
2. Call your state housing agency. Ask for the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance referral contact.
3. Talk to your case manager or care coordinator. Ask whether you qualify for Medicaid long-term services.
4. Ask what is open. Units, regions and waitlists differ by state. HUD's 2018 evaluation of the first 12 states found that finding properties and leasing units went more slowly than expected, partly because of tight housing markets. Asking for help from a case manager is normal, and the process can take time.

Our building directory, built from HUD files, flags 4,652 buildings as Section 811. It shows where help exists, not vacancies, so ask each building how people get in.

How is it different from a voucher or a disability preference?

HUD Exchange says Mainstream vouchers follow the same policies as regular vouchers. Under 24 CFR 982.207, an authority may prefer families that include a person with disabilities, but not people with one specific disability. See how Section 8 waitlists open.

What should you ask?

• Does my state take referrals now, and is the waitlist open?
• Who can refer me?
• Which areas and buildings have units?
• What rent would I pay, and how is income counted?
• What services are offered, and are they voluntary?

What else is open while you wait?

As of October 5, 2026, we track 1,570 open listings. Of these, 290 mention accessible units or disability. We counted listings that match any of three checks:

• Words in three fields. Searching each listing's preferences, notes and income text for disabilit, accessib, mobility, hearing, vision, visual, blind, handicap, wheelchair or special needs found 69.
• Accessible-unit flag. Our own flag, set when a listing's page mentions accessible or adapted units, is on 249.
• Disability tag. A tag for lists limited to people with disabilities, including lists for older adults or people with disabilities, is on 22.

Many listings match more than one check. Together they cover 290 listings.

Our listings do not say which units, if any, are Section 811 units. A mention does not mean a unit is free today, so read each listing. Examples:

• Bucks County Housing Authority in Pennsylvania has a Mainstream voucher waitlist for people with disabilities under 62 who are homeless, leaving an institution or in time-limited housing.
• Harrison Place Lofts in Lockport, New York, lists priority for five mobility-disability units and two hearing and vision units.

Browse all open listings and housing-authority waitlists, run the free qualify check, or read how to qualify for affordable housing. The guide to income-restricted apartments covers the rest.