The housing resources below are for individuals in Virginia’s Settlement Agreement population. To be eligible, a person must:
- be age 18 or older, or be a legally emancipated minor;
- have a developmental disability as defined in the Code of Virginia;
- be in one of the following categories:
- transitioning from a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, a state training center, a group home or other congregate setting and meet the level of functioning criteria for a Developmental Services waiver; or
- receiving Building Independence (BI), Family and Individual Support (FIS) or Community Living (CL) Waiver services; or
- determined eligible for and currently on a waitlist for the BI, FIS or CL Waiver
If you meet all of the requirements and would like to apply for any of the resources shown below, contact your Support Coordinator/Case Manager with the local Community Service Board (CSB) or a private case management agency contracted by the CSB. The support coordinator must submit a Housing Resource Referral Package to DBHDS.
If you have any concerns, please click here for the DBHDS Housing Team's contact information.
Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference and the State Rental Assistance Programs
The Housing Choice Voucher Special Admissions Preference Program and the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) both provide rent assistance to eligible people with DD in the Settlement Agreement population.
Click here to learn more about the Housing Choice Voucher program’s special admission preference that can help people in the Settlement Agreement population afford to pay for rent.
Click here to learn more about the SRAP program that can help people in the Settlement Agreement population afford to pay for rent.
Typically, the individual/household receives a voucher or certificate that can be used at any rental property in the community that will accept rent assistance. A unit must have a rent that is within the program’s maximum subsidy limit and must pass a safety inspection. If the unit is approved, the individual/household will pay 30%-40% of their monthly adjusted income towards rent, minus an allowance for tenant-paid utilities. The balance of rent (up to the maximum allowable by the program) is paid directly to the landlord by the rental assistance program administrator.
Rental Properties with a Leasing Preference for the Settlement Agreement Population
Certain rental properties, known as Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, have units that are available on a preferential basis for people with DD in the Settlement Agreement population. For information about rental properties with a leasing preference in your region, contact your Regional Housing Specialist. Click here for the DBHDS Housing Team's contact information.
Flexible Funds
The Flexible Funding program helps people with DD in the Settlement Agreement Population afford one-time housing costs that can pose barriers to making the initial transition to their own rental housing. Flexible Funding can also help people maintain housing by covering one-time housing costs that, if unpaid, could lead to eviction. DBHDS has partnered with one or more CSBs in each region to administer Flexible Funding. Click here to learn about available funds to help people in the Settlement Agreement population move into and maintain rental housing.
My Own Home Guidebook
This guidebook has information about housing options, resources, and key steps to take when planning a move to your own home. Please click here to download the guidebook.