If you’re living in Las Vegas and you have a disability, you might be wondering about the different government housing options that are available to you.
You may want to know about if there is disability accessible housing in Vegas, where they are located, and if you’d qualify for assistance when it comes to rent (section 8).
In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about finding housing in Las Vegas with a disability.
We’ll discuss if you may qualify for section 8 housing, other housing resources for people with disability in Nevada, as well as some helpful resources to get you started with the application process.
How do you qualify for Section 8 housing in Las Vegas?
The term section 8 is used to refer to the different Housing Choice Voucher Programs available in Nevada for eligible participants.
In Las Vegas, the Housing Choice Voucher Programs is administered by the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA).
Let’s briefly delve into what is offered through the voucher programs housing before we discuss how you can qualify for them.
The SNRHA and the Housing Choice Voucher Programs
The Housing Choice Voucher Programs is a federal program designed to assist the following groups to be able to access housing that is safe, decent, and sanitary.
● Low-income families
● Very low-income families
● The elderly
● People with disabilities
If you receive a housing voucher, which is essentially rental assistance, you are free to choose your own housing as long as it meets the requirements of the voucher program.
There are no restrictions on the type of housing. You can choose to live in a condo, a townhouse, or a single-family home.
Project based voucher program
Another housing program under section 8 is the project based voucher program.
These are privately owned housing developments geared towards those who receive housing assistance from the government.
You still need to qualify by going through the SNRHA application process first. Once you qualify, then you need to apply to the specific housing project of your choice, and the owners of the properties make the final decisions to accept or reject an applicant.
Depending on vacancies and availability within each project, you may also need to get on a waiting list.
We’ll include a list of participating housing developments below.
How to qualify for housing voucher programs in Las Vegas
Housing voucher programs through Section 8 are primarily targeted for people who are considered low-income or very low-income. Additionally, there are other requirements as well, as we’ll learn in this section.
So despite your disability, you might not qualify for section 8 housing programs depending on your financial situation.
Below, we’ll talk about another federal housing program that is geared specifically towards people with disabilities.
But first, let’s look at the requirements for the housing vouchers program (section 8). If you meet the other basic criteria, then your disability might help you get access to housing through section 8.
The application process for section 8 housing starts with getting on a waitlist, and completing relevant application forms.
Learn more on how to apply to get on the waiting list here on the SNRHA website. You can also call them directly at (702) 477-3100 with any questions.
For a better idea about how the entire process works, you can check out the admissions process flowchart.
Eligibility criteria for housing vouchers
Once you do get through the waiting list and you complete all the forms, you will be interviewed for eligibility, and the decision will be based on the following four criteria.
1. Citizenship Status
There are citizenship/residency requirements to qualify for housing assistance. You will need to prove that you fall under one of the following categories.
● You’re an American citizen
● You’re an eligible immigrant (Page 5-3)
If there are multiple people in your household, you may have to sign a declaration stating all members are either citizens or eligible immigrants.
If you have members in your household who don’t fall under the eligible category, you can still receive housing vouchers, but the rental assistance amount will only be based on the number of eligible members.
2. Family Status
Housing vouchers are intended for low-income people, but they’re also geared towards the elderly and the disabled.
Because of this, vouchers are given to what the HUD (Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency that runs housing benefits) considers to be a family.
So, if you or a family member have a qualifying disability, it could help you qualify for section 8 housing, assuming you meet the other requirements.
To be considered a family by HUD, your household has to meet one of the following requirements.
● Can be with or without children
● At least one member is above 62 years of age
● At least one member has a disability
● Your household has been displaced from their home due to government action or a natural disaster
● Single individuals who do not meet any of the above
3. Eviction/criminal history
Either of the following in your history will disqualify you from receiving section 8 vouchers.
● You were evicted from a property due to drug-related crimes within the past three years.
● You’ve been previously convicted of methamphetamine production in an assisted housing project.
4. Income
Last but not the least, your eligibility will depend on income.
To qualify for section 8 vouchers, you will need to fall under the low-income, very low-income, or extremely low-income categories.
In the next section, we will discuss what is low income in Las Vegas when it comes to qualifying for housing vouchers.
What is considered low income in Las Vegas?
You can visit the HUD User portal for the full 2020 income chart for the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV area.
Otherwise, you can also visit this HUD User tool to calculate low-income for any other counties in Nevada, or in the entire USA.
In general, this is how the income levels are calculated.
● Low-income – 80 percent of the median income in the area
● Very low-income – 50 percent of the median income in the area
● Extremely low-income – 30 percent of the median income in the area
As you can see in the chart above, the size of your family will also impact what is considered low-income for your household.
One thing to note is that, for section 8 housing, extremely low-income families are given priority, followed by very low-income, and finally, low-income.
Disability income and section 8
If you receive disability benefits, that will count towards your total income when calculating eligibility for housing vouchers.
But thankfully, there are some federal housing programs geared specifically for people with disabilities, as we’ll see next.
Can I qualify for a disabled accessible apartment in las Vegas?
If you have a household member with a disability, that could help you qualify for section 8 housing, because that is a qualifying factor for the family requirement, as we explained previously.
Otherwise, you may also be able to access housing through the 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program.
811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program
Section 811 PRA is another Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program designed specifically for extremely low-income people with disabilities.
The requirements are a bit different than regular section 8 housing.
● You must be between the ages of 18 and 62.
● You have to be considered extremely low-income (see above)
● One member of your household must have a disability
Additionally, the person with disability must be eligible for community-based long term care, as provided through Medicaid home health care.
In Nevada, the Medicaid program for long-term care is called Personal Care Services.
Another thing to note about 811 PRA is that it is only project-based. So, you can only use the benefits to apply for a project-based property in Las Vegas (listed below).
For more information, you can visit the Nevada housing division.
How to apply
As we mentioned above, you can check out the entire applications process flowchart to get a better understanding of the various steps that are involved.
For detailed instructions, check out the SNRHA page on how to apply.
The first thing you’ll need to do is get on the waitlist for public housing. You can also call (702) 477-3100 to get started.
For all the forms required, along with application instructions brochure, click here.
Where is low income housing in Las Vegas located?
Low income housing is located all across Las Vegas, depending on the type of voucher that you’re using.
If you go through the regular housing vouchers program, then you can choose any housing according to your preference, as long as it is approved by the SNRHA.
If you go through project-based housing vouchers, then these are your options within Las Vegas.
Project based housing developments in Las Vegas
Juan Garcia Property – 2851 Sunrise Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101.
Includes units between 1-4 bedrooms. The housing voucher will help you qualify for specific units within the property.
Patriots Place Apartments – 4245 S Pecos Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89121, United States. 800-466-7722.
As the name suggests, preference is given to U.S. military veterans. For qualifying disabilities, you might be able to find wheelchair accessible apartments depending on availability. Housing vouchers only apply to specific units.
Allegiance Apartments – 3757 Pecos-McLeod Interconnect, Las Vegas, NV 89121.
Also includes wheelchair accessible apartments for qualifying disabilities, depending on vacancies. Preference for military veterans and for widows of veterans. Housing vouchers only apply to specific units.
Helpful resources
For a complete list of all the public housing available in Nevada, you can check out the SNRHA listings page.
811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program – Nevada public housing program for people with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nevada public housing.
Check out the rest of our site to learn more about Freedomcare in Nevada.