Call to Remove Barriers to LIHTC Program for People with Disabilities

Across the United States in 2008, people with disabilities with the lowest incomes faced an extreme housing affordability crisis as rents for moderately priced studio and one-bedroom apartments soared above their entire monthly income. The national average rent for a one-bedroom unit climbed to $749 per month last year, higher than the $667 average monthly income of over 4 million people with disabilities.

These statistics are some of the findings included in Priced Out in 2008, a study of the severe housing affordability problems of people with disabilities. The study compares the federal Supplement Security Income (SSI) payments of people with serious and long-term disabilities to HUD Fair Market Rents for modestly priced rental units.

The study, published by the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force, called for “a bolder action” and urged the federal government to take the following actions:

• Remove the barriers to permanent supportive housing in the LIHTC program.
• Provide 10,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers for people with disabilities in HUD’s annual budget.
• Enact Section 811 legislation that will create at least 5,000 new units of permanent supportive housing each year.
• Support the administration’s proposal to appropriate at least $1 billion in funding for the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.