Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs - Building Homes and Strengthening Communities
Help for Texans
  • If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit our Help for Texans page.

Tools for Serving People with Disabilities

This page is a resource for administrators and developers interested in funding opportunities for housing and services for people with disabilities.

A variety of TDHCA's programs may be accessed by eligible applicants to assist Persons with Disabilities, which includes people with mental illness, and those with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. TDHCA programs typically target lower to moderate income populations, generally serving households at or below 80% Area Median Family Income (AMFI).

Programs for Administrators

Poverty and Homelessness Prevention

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program – State Discretionary

Offers funds to help provide a wide range of essential services designed to promote stability and self-sufficiency among low income individuals.
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofits and units of local government

Home Affordability: Energy Efficiency

Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

Utility bill payment assistance, consumer education, and case management to help low-income households better manage their energy consumption.
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations or city and county governments

Rental Assistance

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program

Offered through TDHCA's federally funded Texas HOME Program Rental subsidies for up to 24 months, may include security and utility deposit, while the household engages in a self-sufficiency program. Of TDHCA's total annual HOME Program funding allocation, 95% is reserved for non-participating jurisdictions and 5% is reserved to assist persons with disabilities statewide.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible city and county governments, eligible nonprofit organizations, and Public Housing Authorities

Project Access Voucher Program

Rental assistance for qualifying persons with disabilities transitioning from institutions into the community.
Eligible Applicants: Assistance is provided directly through TDHCA

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

Rental assistance to low income individuals and families, including seniors and persons with disabilities. Eligible Applicants: Housing is provided through Public Housing Authorities

Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Demonstration Program

The Section 811 PRA Demonstration funding will enable TDHCA to serve an estimated 385 very low-income people with disabilities in seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

Home Rehabilitation, Modification, Weatherization

Texas HOMEowner Rehabilitation Assistance (HRA) Program

Offered through TDHCA's federally funded Texas HOME Program Rehabilitation or reconstruction of substandard stick built homes or replacement of manufactured housing units owned and occupied by qualified homeowners; potential refinance of existing mortgage in conjunction with home rehabilitation or reconstruction for qualified applicants. Of TDHCA's total annual HOME Program funding allocation, 95% is reserved for non-participating jurisdictions and 5% is reserved to assist persons with disabilities statewide.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible city and county governments, eligible nonprofit organizations, and Public Housing Authorities

Amy Young Barrier Removal (AYBR) Program

Grant funds for accessibility modifications in rental and owner-occupied housing; helps eliminate hazardous conditions in owner-occupied homes.
Eligible Applicants: Units of general local government, Councils of Government, eligible nonprofit organizations, local mental health authorities, and Public Housing Authorities

How to Access TDHCA Funding

Available funding opportunities for the programs listed above can be found on our Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA) page.

Please note that some TDHCA programs may give priority to:

  • Persons with disabilities;
  • Seniors;
  • Persons with alcohol and/or drug addictions;
  • Colonia residents;
  • Victims of domestic violence;
  • Persons with HIV/AIDS;
  • Homeless populations;
  • Migrant farm workers;
  • Veterans;
  • Youth aging out of foster care; and
  • Public housing residents.

Programs for Developers

Multifamily Rental Housing Development

TDHCA is one of the state's primary funding source for the development or rehabilitation of affordable multifamily housing, which may include accessible units for people with disabilities. Those interested in accessing TDHCA's affordable multifamily housing program funding for the first time may wish to visit with developers, consultants and others to explore possible considerations in administering these types of programs as they can be complicated and highly competitive.

Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Program

Supports the development of affordable multifamily rental properties or the rehabilitation of existing properties in Texas.

Multifamily (Rental Housing) Development (MFD) Program - Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Set-Aside

Offered through TDHCA's federally funded Texas HOME Program
Offers funds for new construction, demolition and reconstruction, or acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable multifamily rental housing. Of TDHCA's total annual HOME Program funding allocation, 95% is reserved for non-participating jurisdictions and 5% is reserved to assist persons with disabilities statewide.

Resources for Administrators

TDHCA, through several initiatives, has created resources to assist potential administrators and developers of housing for people with disabilities. Many of these resources highlight opportunities to coordinate necessary services with community based, accessible, integrated housing for people with disabilities.

Technical Assistance for Creating Affordable Housing for People with Disabilities

Through the Real Choice Systems Grant, a partnership between TDHCA and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the following documents were created as resources for organizations and developers interested in creating community based, affordable, integrated housing for people with disabilities.

Housing and Health Services Coordination Council (HHSCC) Resources

The Housing and Health Services Coordination Council (HHSCC) is codified in Texas Government Code §2306.1091. The purpose of the Council is to increase state efforts to offer service-enriched housing through increased coordination of housing and health services.

Case Studies Report

The Council created the HHSCC Case Studies Report to provide insight into the essential components of the development financing process and assist housing providers in making a preliminary determination of the financial viability of proposed service-enriched housing projects.

State of Texas Comprehensive Analysis of Service-Enriched Housing Finance Practices Final Report (PDF)

The Department, on behalf of the Texas Housing and Health Services Coordination Council, received funding to procure The Technical Assistance Collaborative to conduct a comprehensive study of nationwide best practices in service-enriched housing financing and development, produce recommended actions for providing service-enriched housing in Texas, and develop and present training materials to assist in financing and developing service-enriched housing for persons of all ages with disabilities who have extremely low income.

Nonprofit Assistance

Find a list of hyperlinks to external Web sites designed to help nonprofits build their capacity, including how to form a nonprofit and how to find funding.

Housing Resources for Tenants

Current property owners and managers have tenants that may need access to emergency and supportive services. Visit TDHCA's Help for Texans page for current emergency and rental assistance programs available in Texas communities. In addition, visit the Housing and Services for Persons with Disabilities 211 Texas On-line Clearinghouse for additional local resources.

Local Service Providers

Affordable rental housing developers and administrators of programs that serve people with disabilities may wish to visit with local service providers to learn about local needs. The following are resources for services available throughout the State for people with disabilities.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

HHSC has developed a guide you can use in talking with families, youth and adults with disabilities, and people who are elderly about home and community-based services that may be available to them through Texas Medicaid. This guide, "Home and Community-based Services: Which Programs Do What?" provides information about six programs that provide home and community-based services. These programs are sometimes called "Medicaid waivers" or "waiver services."

Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC)

The aging and disability resource centers provide information about and help with state and federal benefits. They can also help you learn about local programs and services. Anyone — individuals, family members, friends or professionals — can receive information tailored to their needs. DADS is in the process of expanding the ADRCs but currently not all counties are covered by an ADRC. If you do not have an ADRC for your county you may contact the AAA, LA, or LMHA in your county.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

The 28 AAAs contract with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to help people 60 and older and their caregivers find the information they need to locate and access community services. All counties are covered by an AAA.

Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authorities (LIDDA)

LAs offer each county in Texas community-based services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities or a pervasive developmental disorder. The LA also provides enrollment services to people who are eligible for certain Medicaid-funded services and supports.

Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA)

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) contracts with LMHAs and NorthSTAR to deliver mental health services in communities across Texas. NorthSTAR is a Medicaid managed care plan that serves seven counties in the Dallas Medicaid service region.

Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)

The mission of HHSC is to maintain and improve the health and human services system in Texas and to administer its programs in accordance with the highest standards of customer service and accountability for the effective use of funds.

HHSC oversees the operations of the health and human services system, provides administrative oversight of Texas health and human services programs, and provides direct administration of some programs.

  • Health Care
    • Children
    • Women
    • 65 or older / disabilities
    • Families
  • Food
    • SNAP food benefits
  • Cash Help
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    • Tax help
    • Disaster help
  • Other Programs
    • Family violence program
    • Refugee resettlement

Direct tenants to the HHSC How to Get Help page to apply for services.

Centers for Independent Living

Centers for Independent Living are community-based, cross-disability, nonprofit organizations that are designed and operated by people with disabilities. CILs are unique in that they operate according to a strict philosophy of consumer control, wherein people with all types of disabilities directly govern and staff the organization. Centers for Independent Living Provide:

  • Peer Support
  • Information and Referral
  • Individual and Systems Advocacy
  • Independent Living Skills Training