Housing Voucher Programs - Policy and Procedures Manual

Chapter XVII Sections

1. Request for Reasonable Accommodation
2. Eligibility
3. Accommodation Requests During Application Process
4. Verification of Disability
5. Approval or Denial of a Request
6. Possible Reasonable Accommodations
7. Conservator/Guardianship
8. Forms Listing

Chapter XVII: Reasonable Accommodation

Effective: August 2006

Introduction

This policy provides guidelines for staff or contracted agents of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Office of Housing Voucher Programs on how persons with disabilities would request a reasonable accommodation providing them equal opportunity to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program administered by MSHDA so that those persons may obtain the same result, gain the same benefits, or reach the same level of achievement as those who do not have disabilities.

Section A: Request for Reasonable Accommodation

• An applicant or participant with a disability must request a specific exception to a policy or practice in writing as an accommodation of their disability before MSHDA will treat that person differently than those without a disability. If the request for reasonable accommodation meets the stated criteria, the reasonable accommodation will be allowed so that the individual may fully access and utilize the housing program and related services.
• A reasonable accommodation request must include the following:
  1. Provide verification of the disability (completed MSHDA 16) showing that the person meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of disability (Section B),
  2. Describes the needed accommodation,
  3. State how the requested exception or accommodation to the MSHDA HCV program/policy is appropriate for the disability.
  4. See the HUD website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/publicat.htm to access additional information on ADA.