The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on March 3, 2015, that Arizona has been chosen as one of 25 states to receive a Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) grant through a recent competitive application process conducted by HUD. The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) partnered with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to apply for the funds. 
ADOH will eventually receive $2.95 million which will be utilized to provide monthly rental subsidy payments for up to 54 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Eligible participants will live in rental units developed through Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program or other multi-family financing available through ADOH.

ADES will be providing referrals through its Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to fill the newly developed units which will be set aside for extremely low-income households (30% or below the area median income) where at least one person is developmentally disabled, 18 to 61 years of age, and eligible for community-based long term care services (ALTCS) provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Eligible renters will also have the opportunity to engage support services customized to their unique disability-related needs through ADES/DDD.

Because of the nature of this grant – which first requires the development of the rental units that will be offered to participants, assistance is not anticipated to be available until sometime in 2017. Developers interested in developing such units, may contact the ADOH Rental Development Division at (602) 771-1000. ADES/DDD’s referral process for potential renters will eventually be posted to https://www.azdes.gov/developmental_disabilities/.

The Arizona Public Housing Authority will hold a public hearing on April 9, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Yavapai County Public Administration Building (Boardroom), located at 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, AZ 86305. The purpose of this hearing is to take public comment on the 5 Year PHA Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.  2/17/15