Independent Supported Living: Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PRA) Program

The Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PRA) program is a Permanent Supportive Housing program to provide participants with safe and affordable housing and the necessary services and supports to ensure participants maintain independent community living. It is a partnership between the State of Alaska and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and is partially funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Target Population

The target populations are:

• Individuals residing in Assisted Living Homes that are recipients of the financial benefit “General Relief for Assisted Living Home Care”(GRALH)
• Individuals discharging from the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) or the Department of Corrections (DOC), who without this assistance would be referred to Assisted Living Home care
• Youth who are aging out of foster care, institutional settings, or transitioning from the adolescent service system to the adult service system

Program Eligibility

• Participant must be in one of the target populations;
• Be considered disabled, as defined by HUD;
• Be between the ages of 18-62 (at the time of admission to the housing unit);
• Be considered low income, defined as at or below 30 percent of Area Median Income, AND;
• Be eligible for community-based long term services provided by a Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) funded Community Behavioral Health Services Provider, or a Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (DSDS) funded provider.

Support Services

Section 811 PRA is a permanent supported housing program, and a key component is the support services participants can receive. Participants access the program by having a “sponsoring agency” that will assist the participant to apply for the program, find an apartment, move belongings, and access any funds needed to set up their apartment (which are available through this program). The sponsoring agency can also provide any services or supports the participant may want during the transition process and on-going.

The sponsoring agency agrees to offer and provide any services or supports necessary for the purpose of enhancing the participant’s ability to maintain independent living. At minimum, sponsoring agencies agree to:

• Assist the participant in navigating the program process, completing applications, and attending required housing appointments;
• Assist the participant to find an apartment and move in
• Identify and secure needed funds to assist with the transition process (transition funds are available to purchase items needed to set up apartments, security deposits, etc., and are available through DBH ISA or the SILC);
• Maintain contact with the participant and be available to mitigate issues with the property owner if they arise; and
• Provide a check-in at the participant’s home at least once per month to ensure long-term tenancy.

Services are voluntary and not a condition of receiving Section 811 PRA housing. While services are not mandatory, sponsoring agencies are required to provide active outreach, engagement, and continue to offer any services or supports necessary to increase the likelihood that the program participant will maintain long-term housing stability. In addition to the supports listed above, sponsoring agencies agree to provide the following:

• Offer and provide supportive housing services which include tenancy supports and on-going housing stability services (e.g., tenant rights education, assistance with proactively addressing tenancy issues, skills training, community integration); and
• Offer, provide and/or assist the participant with accessing any services they request to support independent community living (e.g., case management, pharmacological management, skills development or training, employment services, etc.)

Application Process

Participants can only access the program by having a sponsoring agency that will assist in navigating the program applications and securing any funds needed for the transition process. Services are voluntary and not a condition of receiving Section 811 PRA housing. While services are not mandatory, sponsoring agencies are required to be available to the participant and offer any services or supports the participant may need or want to maintain long-term housing stability.

Applicants are required to complete two applications—an initial application to determine program eligibility and a formal HUD application. Priority for housing will be given to those residing in an Assisted Living Home and receiving GR funding. All others will be prioritized on a first come, first served basis.

Click here for program brochure.

Contact Information

For additional information about the program or for help identifying a sponsoring agency, please call or email the following:

Division of Behavioral Health
Lisa Rosay
Anchorage: 907-269-3600
Toll-free: 800-770-3930
Email: dbhrecovery@alaska.gov