Project Rental Assistance Program of Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities FY 2026

The Project Rental Assistance Program of Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities is administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Multifamily Housing office. This program is designed to expand the availability of integrated, affordable housing linked with supportive services for extremely low income individuals with disabilities. It reflects HUD’s broader mission to promote inclusive housing opportunities and to strengthen collaboration between housing agencies and health and human services systems. The initiative builds on longstanding federal housing policy under the Cranston Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act and is funded through congressional appropriations. The primary purpose of the program is to provide project based rental assistance that enables state housing agencies to support housing units for persons with disabilities without relying on traditional capital advance grants. Instead, the program focuses on leveraging existing housing resources such as Low Income Housing Tax Credit developments and other multifamily housing programs. A central objective is to foster strong partnerships between state housing agencies and state health and human services or Medicaid agencies to ensure that residents have access to community based services necessary for independent living. The program emphasizes integration of housing within broader communities rather than segregated settings. Funding under this program is provided through cooperative agreements and is intended strictly for rental assistance. Funds may not be used for capital development, construction costs, or other non rental activities. Administrative costs are limited to a maximum percentage to ensure that the majority of funding supports direct housing assistance. The program requires that supported units serve extremely low income households with at least one individual with a long term disability, typically between the ages of eighteen and sixty one, and eligible for community based services such as Medicaid funded supports. Additional requirements ensure accessibility, fair housing compliance, and integration across mixed income housing developments. Eligibility for applicants is limited to state level housing agencies or similar entities that administer housing programs such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits or HOME funds. Applicants must demonstrate an established partnership with state health and human services and Medicaid agencies through a formal inter agency agreement. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and for profit entities are not eligible to apply directly. Only one applicant per state may receive funding, and applicants must meet all federal statutory and regulatory requirements, including civil rights compliance and satisfactory past performance. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes standard federal forms, a detailed budget, and narrative responses addressing program design, capacity, and implementation. Applicants must also submit an inter agency partnership agreement and supporting documentation demonstrating their ability to administer the program. Applications are evaluated through a multi stage review process including threshold eligibility, merit scoring, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria emphasize experience, implementation strategy, need, and expected outcomes, with a total scoring framework determining final award selection. The application deadline is July 13, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time, with anticipated awards announced in early September 2026. The performance period begins in October 2026 and may extend for up to twenty years through long term rental assistance contracts. The program is not described as recurring in the notice, but similar funding opportunities have historically been issued periodically. Applicants are encouraged to ensure registration in federal systems such as SAM.gov and Grants.gov well in advance of submission to avoid delays. Overall, the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program represents a significant federal investment in supportive housing infrastructure, aiming to bridge housing and healthcare systems. By combining rental assistance with coordinated services, the program seeks to improve quality of life, reduce institutionalization, and expand access to stable housing for persons with disabilities across the United States.

Strong applications will demonstrate deep experience managing housing programs, formalized partnerships with Medicaid agencies, and a clear implementation plan aligned with state housing strategies; ensure compliance documentation is complete to avoid disqualification