Braiding and Blending Funding Streams to Expand Access to Service Coordination for People with Disabilities and Older Adults in the Community

Funding Options and How to Use Them

Funding for housing comes from several different vehicles. Some of the most common are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, state housing programs, public housing authorities that manage Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other vouchers, state housing finance agencies, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

Table 1 outlines how different types of funding for housing are operationalized. It is important to understand these differences as they have implications for braiding and blending as well as the associated budgeting and strategic planning.

Table 1. Considerations for Different Funding Stream Types

Type of Funding	Definition	Considerations
Property-Based Funding	Funding is tied to the building to serve people living there	For funding that is tied to a building (e.g., Section 202, Section 811, project-based Mainstream vouchers, Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) vouchers), it is easier to forecast what funding might be coming in to support service coordination as housing operators are able to build service coordination costs into their operational budget. Vouchers are often limited in supply.
Individual-Based Funding	Funding is tied to the individual	Funding for an individual’s housing needs is not an entitlement like some services (i.e., Medicare). For funding that is tied to the individual1 (e.g., Mainstream vouchers, NED vouchers), reliance on a consistent flow of funds is impacted by the number of individuals who bring a Mainstream or NED voucher with them to a building. These vouchers offer individuals more choice and control in where they want to live but are also often limited in supply.

Funding for Service Coordination: Overview of Funding Options

Table 2 provides an overview of housing-related programs that could be leveraged to help fund the sustainable expansion of service coordination in federally subsidized housing and, ideally, throughout the community. Partners selecting funding sources to use in a braiding and/or blending approach must consider requirements and restrictions for each source.

Table 2. Housing Funding Streams

Funding Stream	Basic Criteria	Funding Requirments	May Pay for Service Coordination	Supports and Services It May Cover and Notes
HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly	Individuals age 62 or older who meet income requirements	Property-Based	Yes	Service coordination. Cleaning and cooking. Transportation.
HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities	Adults with disabilities who meet income requirements	Property-Based	Yes	Services vary by target population but may include case management. (Housing providers that participate in the program sign an agreement with HUD indicating that they will provide services.) Independent living skills training and employment supports. Individuals choose whether they want services, and receipt of services is not a condition of occupancy.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)	Families and individuals who meet income requirements	Individual-Based and Property-Based	No	Rental assistance only. Individual-based vouchers allow for an individual to find housing in a location of their choice. Project-based vouchers are tied to the housing property and do not offer individuals the ability to take the voucher with them when they move.
Mainstream and NED Vouchers	Individuals (age 18-61) with disabilities	Individual-Based and Property-Based	No	Rental assistance only. Individual-based vouchers allow for an individual to find housing in a location of their choice. Project-based vouchers are tied to the housing property and do not offer individuals the ability to take the voucher with them when they move. Other than being specific to a subpopulation, they operate the same as Housing Choice Vouchers.
HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)	Veterans who meet income and homelessness requirements	Individual-Based and Property-Based	Yes	Case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in combination with Housing Choice Vouchers to help veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing. Case managers and social workers help veterans access health care, mental health services, substance use counseling, and other supports to help maintain housing in the community.