What funding options help with housing for adults with disabilities?

Individuals with I/DD typically pay their housing costs with their own funds and income. This is usually in the form of government benefits or a combination of benefits and employment income. Some may also have financial support from family. There are also housing vouchers that can help pay for housing, but these are hard to come by. It’s important to note that California Regional Centers generally do not pay for housing costs.

Many adults with I/DD rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as their primary source of income. Having SSI does not mean that the individual cannot work; having income from employment will reduce the amount of SSI they receive, but the combination of SSI and employment income will always be more than SSI alone.

Housing Choice Vouchers (also known as Section 8) provide subsidies so that people with low incomes, the elderly, and people with disabilities can afford private rental housing. With a housing voucher, the individual will usually pay between 30 and 40 percent of their income toward rent, while the remaining amount is covered by a subsidy. Waiting lists are many years long, and the supply of affordable housing is low.

ABLE accounts and special needs trusts can create more financial security for people with I/DD who rely on public benefits. They enable an individual to save up for big purchases or put money away for the future without putting their benefits at risk. For homeowners, an ABLE account or special needs trust enables them to put away money to cover the ongoing expenses of homeownership such as insurance, maintenance, and repairs.

Learn more in our full article Supports for Independent Living.