There are approximately 50,000 vouchers set-aside for people with disabilities with one-year renewable awards under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher appropriation.  Information on the PHAs, the number of vouchers awarded, and the year awarded is available in two lists.

• Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities;
• Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities in Support of Designated Housing Plans; and
• Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities Related to Certain Types of Section 8 Project-Based Developments

The second list contains data from the Project Access Pilot Program (formerly Access Housing 2000).

1. Special Purpose – One-Year (PDF)
2. Special Purpose – Project Access (PDF)

Requirements for All Other Special Purpose Vouchers

According to Notice PIH 2005-5, all other Special Purpose vouchers must be administered in accordance with the requirements listed below: 

• PHAs are required to issue all other Special Purpose vouchers only to the target population of non-elderly disabled families;


• Pursuant to the intent of Congress in recent Appropriations Acts, to the extent practicable, these vouchers must continue to be issued to non-elderly disabled families upon turnover.  According to Notice PIH 2005-5, “to the extent practicable” means that all non-elderly disabled families on a PHAs’ waiting list have been issued these turnover vouchers and PHA outreach efforts specifically directed to non-elderly disabled families has yielded no eligible applicants;


• Issuance and continued use all Special Purpose vouchers will now be tracked by HUD’s Public Housing Information Center (PIC).  More information on tracking requirements is contained in HUD Notice PIH 2004-13; and


• Failure to serve disabled families as required will result in forfeiture of the vouchers.

According to the Notice, PHAs are also required to assist applicants in gaining access to supportive services when requested by an individual; identify funding sources to cover the cost of any needed unit modifications; and provide technical assistance to owners for making reasonable accommodations or making units accessible to persons with disabilities.

For more information:

• Special Purpose Vouchers with five-year funding


• Action Alert on HUD PIH Notice 2005-5


• HUD PIH Notice 2005-5


• Opening Doors Issue 25