14.879: Mainstream Vouchers
Overview
Program Number
14.879
Status
Active
Last Modified
Aug. 11, 2022
Date Posted
Aug. 11, 2022
Objective
The Mainstream Voucher Program, (previously referred to as the Mainstream 5-Year Program and/or the Section 811 Voucher Program) was originally authorized under the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-625). The Mainstream Voucher Program provides tenant-based assistance to persons with disabilities. Until the passage of the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-374) (Melville Act), the program operated as a separate program distinct from the regular tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Melville Act converted the Mainstream 5-Year Program to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program under 8(o) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937.
Under the Melville Act, except for serving a specific population, Mainstream vouchers are to be treated the same as regular voucher assistance. In other words, the same regulations at 24 CFR Part 982 (Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program) apply to Mainstream vouchers. There is no authority to treat families that receive a Mainstream voucher differently from other applicants and participants of the HCV program.
After enactment of the Melville Act (i.e., subsequent to conversion of this assistance to section 8(o) voucher assistance), funding for Mainstream voucher renewals and administrative fees was first provided in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-55) under its own paragraph under the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) heading.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 provided funding for incremental Mainstream vouchers for the first time since the enactment of the Melville Act (in addition to renewal and administrative fee funding). These incremental vouchers exclusively assisted non-elderly persons with disabilities. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (2019 Act) also provided funding for incremental Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly persons with disabilities, in addition to renewal and administrative fee funding. In addition, the 2019 Act states that all new and existing Mainstream vouchers must be provided to non-elderly persons with disabilities upon turnover. Consistent with prior appropriations acts, all funding for 2017-2019 Mainstream vouchers was provided under its own paragraph (e.g., paragraph (4) under the TBRA heading in the 2019 Act).
While the Melville Act requires Mainstream vouchers to be treated the same as regular voucher assistance, the separate HCV Mainstream appropriations results in an accounting of Mainstream activity separate from the HCV program.
Type of Assistance
C - Direct Payments for Specified Use
Applicant Eligibility
Public housing agencies (PHA)that is defined as any State, county, municipality or other governmental entity or public body (or agency or instrumentality thereof) which is authorized to engage in or assist in the development or operation of housing for very low income families.
Beneficiary Eligibility
A family that includes a non-elderly person with disabilities that is income-eligible under the Housing Choice Voucher program regulations at 24 CFR 982.201(b)(1)as well as other wise eligible under the regulations at 24CFR 982.201, may be selected from the PHA's housing choice voucher waiting list and receive a voucher.
Related Programs
Additional Information
Grant Awards
Mainstream Vouchers direct grants
Grant Opportunities