LOUISIANA RECEIVES $8.2 MILLION TO FUND 200 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
HUD and HHS partner to prevent homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization

NEW ORLEANS - In an effort to spare hundreds of Louisianans with disabilities from homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) $8,254,097 to provide rental assistance to 200 extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings or are at extreme risk of homelessness. Nationally, a total of $98 million was awarded to 13 State housing agencies.

HUD's support is made possible through the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (PRA Demo) which provides funds to enable persons with disabilities who earn less than 30 percent of median income to live in integrated mainstream settings. LHC will be working closely with the Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals, as well as the State's Medicaid agency to identify, refer, select, and conduct outreach to persons with disabilities who require long-term services and support in order to live independently.

"HUD and HHS are working together to solve common-sense problems and offer real and lasting solutions for persons who might otherwise be institutionalized or living on our streets," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "We're helping States reduce health care costs, improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities, and end homelessness as we know it."

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), located in Baton Rouge, is also committing $1.2 million in HOME tenant-based rental assistance to provide security and utility deposit assistance to all households that require additional help in obtaining housing.

Today's announcement reinforces the guiding principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the landmark 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C., which requires state and local governments to provide services to individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

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