Project Access

The Project Access program utilizes Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers administered by TDHCA to assist low-income persons with disabilities in transitioning from institutions into the community by providing access to affordable housing.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the program, the applicant must meet all Section 8 eligibility criteria as well as the following criteria:

1. have a permanent disability as defined in Section 223 of the Social Security Code or be determined to have a physical, mental or emotional disability that is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration that impedes one’s ability to live independently;
2. meet one of the following criteria:
   1. be an At-Risk Applicant and a previous resident of a nursing facility, intermediate care facility, Texas state psychiatric hospitals, or board and care facility as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; or
   2. be a current resident of a nursing facility, intermediate care facility, Texas state psychiatric hospitals or board and care facility at the time of voucher issuance as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; or
   3. be eligible for a pilot program with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for residents of Texas state psychiatric hospitals.

At-Risk Applicant meets the following criteria:

1. current recipient of Tenant-Based Rental Assistance from the Department’s HOME Investments Partnership Program; and
2. within six months prior to expiration of assistance.

Project Access Application Process for Clients

An applicant must submit a hard copy of the application materials (facsimiles will not be accepted) including:

• Project Access Program Application Cover Sheet*
• HUD Voucher Form 52646*
• Pre-Application Form*
• Citizenship Form*
• Disability Verification Form*
• Copy of Birth Certificate or Texas Driver’s License or Texas Identification
• Copy of Social Security Card
• Income Verification
  • Social Security Award Letter
  • or Third Party Query Form
  • or Other Income Verification
• Institutionalization Verification
  • Proof of Current Institutionalization
    • Institutional Living Verification Form* - nursing facility, intermediate care facility or board and care facility.
    • Institutional Living Verification Form* - state hospital
  • or Proof of Prior Institutionalization
    • and TDHCA HOME TBRA Rental Coupon Contract
    • and TDHCA HOME TBRA Lease Agreement

Each family member in the unit must also submit:

• Citizenship Form*
• Copy of Birth Certificate or Texas Driver’s License or Texas Identification
• Copy of Social Security Card
• Income Verification
  • Social Security Award Letter
  • or Third Party Query Form
  • or Other Income Verification

APPLICATIONS VIA FACSIMILIE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Please submit a copy of the application materials to:

Project Access Program / Section 8 Division 
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 
PO Box 13941 Austin, TX 78711-3941

For overnight delivery:

Project Access Program / Section 8 Division 
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 
221 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78711-2410

* The following documents are being revised and will be available at a later date. If you are applying for the Project Access program, please contact Andre Adams at Andre.adams@tdhca.texas.gov for a copy of any of these forms:

• Project Access Program Application Cover Sheet
• HUD Voucher Form 52646
• Pre-Application Form
• Citizenship Form
• Disability Verification Form
  • Institutional Living Verification Form - nursing facility, intermediate care facility or board and care facility.
  • Institutional Living Verification Form - state hospital
• Citizenship Form (DOC)

Accelerating Relocation with Tenant-Based Rental Assistance

TDHCA is providing technical assistance to interested parties interested in working with TDHCA to coordinate two of its housing programs that serve persons with disabilities: Project Access and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA).

Clients

Project Access applicants may be able to relocate from nursing facilities and other institutions by accessing the TDHCA Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program. Households may be able to receive support from TBRA for up to five years, depending on continued household eligibility and HOME availability of funding.

Applicants on the Project Access waitlist may be able to access rental assistance with HOME TBRA (contingent on eligibility determination and funding availability) if a local TBRA Administrator exists while they wait for a Project Access Voucher to become available, and then receive a Project Access Voucher when their name comes up on the Project Access waiting list. While participating in the TDHCA TBRA program, a Project Access applicant will not lose their place in order on the waiting list for a Project Access voucher.

Department of Aging and Disability Services Relocation Contractors

TDHCA and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) are working together to increase housing choices for persons with disabilities and further community integration. If a HOME Administrator in your service area is interested in serving individuals on the Project Access waiting list, TBRA could be a housing resource for individuals you are assisting in nursing facilities until they are issued a Project Access voucher.

Relocation Contractors are eligible to receive Technical Assistance to better understand how to:

1. Educate individuals in nursing facilities on the Project Access waiting list about HOME TBRA;
2. Assist nursing facility residents in completing HOME TBRA applications;
3. Locate and open a dialogue with local HOME TBRA Administrators;
4. Assist individuals in locating a housing unit that qualifies for HOME TBRA and Project Access;
5. Work with HOME TBRA Administrators to complete HOME TBRA Self Sufficiency requirements. Because TBRA is a temporary program, participants must take steps to secure long-term housing once TBRA support ends. Many of these requirements may be satisfied through the regular relocation process and securing a Project Access voucher; and
6. Coordinate HOME TBRA Self Sufficiency activities with the applicant's Service Coordinator; and
7. Communicate with TDHCA Section 8 Staff administering Project Access; and
8. Assist the individual receive a Project Access voucher once their name comes up on the waiting list.

For more information on TBRA, please visit the TBRA page of the HOME Division.

TBRA Administrators

We are reaching out to current HOME TBRA Administrators to encourage participation in providing HOME TBRA assistance to households currently on the Project Access waiting list. TDHCA is offering to provide technical assistance to Administrators interested in serving these households.

TDHCA, in partnership with DADS and DSHS, are hopeful that HOME administrators may be interested in serving households on the Project Access waiting list to enable those individuals in exiting an institution without having to wait for a Project Access voucher to exit. These individuals are ready to leave the institution, but are waiting for their Project Access Voucher. More information about individuals exiting institutions can be found from the Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Any household who is eligible for the Project Access program may be eligible to participate in TBRA while waiting for their name to come up on the Project Access waitlist. Individuals on the Project Access waiting list who participate in the TBRA activity will keep their position on the Project Access waiting list. Households receiving support from TBRA may be able to do so for up to five years if on a Section 8 waitlist, including the Project Access waiting list, depending on continued household eligibility and HOME availability of funding.

If a HOME Administrator is interested in serving households exiting nursing facilities who are on the Project Access waiting list, TDHCA will assist the HOME TBRA Administrator on how to coordinate with DADS and their relocation contractors. TDHCA can assist a HOME TBRA provider to coordinate with DSHS to transition them to the TBRA program.

In short, someone currently on a Project Access waitlist can access rental assistance with HOME TBRA (contingent on eligibility determination and funding availability) while they wait for a Project Access Voucher to become available, and then receive a Project Access Voucher when their name comes up on the Project Access waiting list.

Supporting documentation on Accelerating Relocation with Tenant-Based Rental Assistance 
(Provided in MS Word DOC format unless specified)

• Roadmap
• Process Flowchart
• Letter to Relocation Contractors
• Letter to TBRA Administrators
• DADS Participant Overview
• Forms
  • Relocation Contractor Client Information Form
  • TBRA Administrator Form

Project Access Pilot with DSHS for Residents of State Hospitals

Due to the high demand, the Roadmap was developed to assist individuals relocating from nursing facilities. All of the households on the Project Access waiting list as of June 2013 are waiting to transition out of a nursing facility. However, TDHCA will work closely with DSHS to ensure that the technical assistance identified in the Roadmap will be available to assist households on the Project Access waiting list for the State Psychiatric Hospitals pilot.

If you are a Relocation Contractor or a TBRA Administrator and would like more information on serving households on the Project Access waiting list, and what technical assistance options are available, please email Spencer Duran, Program Coordinator at spencer.duran@tdhca.texas.gov.