Governor's Council on Disability

Missouri's Guide to Housing Assistance Programs

Glossary of Housing and Other Terms

AAA - Area Agencies on Aging Provides services for individuals aged 60 and over such as Congregate and home delivered meals, transportation, legal support, information and referral, case management services and family caregiver services. Located in 10 regional offices covering every Missouri county and St. Louis City.

ADA - Alcohol and Drug Abuse or American with Disabilities Act

AMI - American Median Income

CAP or CAA - Community Action Agency - Nonprofit private and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty and help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency. There are 19 Community Action Agencies in Missouri.

CDC - Community Development Corporation - Not for profit organizations that encourage and promote the industrial, economic, entrepreneurial, commercial and civic development or redevelopment of a community or area, includes the provision of housing and community economic development projects that benefit low and moderate income individuals and communities.

CDBG (Community Development Block Grant Program) - Authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 replacing several community development categorical grant programs. CDBG provides eligible metropolitan cities and urban counties (called "entitlement communities") with annual direct grants that they can use to revitalize neighborhoods, expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, and/or improve community facilities and services, principally to benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

Certificate - A term used to refer to a type of rental subsidy.

CHDO (Community and Housing Development Organization) - A federally defined type of nonprofit housing provider that must receive a minimum of 15 percent of all Federal HOME Investment Partnership funds. The primary difference between CHDO and other nonprofits is the level of low-income resident participation on the Board of Directors.

CILs - (Centers for Independent Living) Community-based non-profit consumer controlled organizations that are cross-disability and provide information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, and individual and systems advocacy as their four core services. They also provide other services such as consumer-directed personal assistance services, and benefits counseling. For more information about CILs, or to find the center closest to you, call the Statewide Independent Living Council toll-free at (877) 222-8963.

Consolidated Plan - Developed by local and state governments with the input from citizens and community groups, the Consolidated Plan serves four functions: 1) it is a planning document for each state and community, built upon public participation and input; 2) it is the application for funds under HUD's formula grant programs (Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS); 3) it lays out local priorities; and 4) it lays out a 3-5 year strategy the jurisdiction will follow in implementing HUD programs. The housing plan must also address the needs of people with disabilities.

Continuum of Care - A program to help more than 330,000 homeless Americans get housing, job training, child care, and other services. The Continuum of Care, which is the centerpiece of the federal policy on homelessness, stresses permanent solutions to homelessness through comprehensive and collaborative community planning. Includes funding for Supportive Housing (SHP), Shelter Plus Care (SHP) and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation for Single Room Occupancy (Mod Rehab SRO).

CPS - (Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services) - Housed within the Department of Mental Health.

CSA - Chronic Substance Abusers

DED - State Department of Economic Development

DSSR - (Division of Senior Services & Regulations) Part of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), DSS employs over 400 social workers covering every county in Missouri who provide case management and adult protective services to seniors and adults with disabilities.

DVR - (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) Part of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), oversees administration of the Independent Living Waiver, 21 Centers for Independent Living for consumers with physical disabilities.

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) - Designated low-income areas targeted to receive tax incentives, performance grants, and loans in order to create jobs, expand business opportunities, and support people looking for work. Initially authorized by Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the Statute), additional EZ/ECs were authorized by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

Entitlement - An underlying formula governing the allocation of Block Grant funds to eligible recipients. Entitlement grants are provided to larger urban cities (i.e., population greater than 50,000) and larger urban counties (greater than 200,000).

ESG (Emergency Shelter Grant) - Awards grants for the rehabilitation or conversion of buildings into homeless shelters. Also provides funds for certain related social services, operating expenses, homeless prevention activities and administrative costs.

Eviction - Legal procedure to remove resident from unit.

Fair Housing Act - Legislation first enacted in 1968 and expanded by amendments in 1974 and 1988, which provides the Secretary with investigation and enforcement responsibilities for fair housing practices. Prohibits discrimination in housing and lending based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program - The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is an employment and savings incentive program for low-income families that have Section 8 vouchers or live in public housing.

FMR (Fair Market Rents) - Rent Schedules published in the Federal Register, which establish maximum eligible rent levels allowed under the Section 8 program by geographic area. Also used by other rent subsidy programs.

Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) - A federally chartered, stockholder owned corporation which supports the secondary market for both conventional mortgages and mortgages insured by the FHA and guaranteed by VA.

Federal Preferences - HUD designates certain groups of individuals as having priority status on housing waiting lists. For instance, individuals paying more than 50% of the income for housing would have a federal preference.

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency a former independent agency that became part of the new Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 - is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and militating against disasters.

FHLB - Federal Home Loan Bank - a source of funding for housing development - the one for Missouri is in Des Moines, Iowa

HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) - Agreement between landlord and program to pay difference between tenant's share of rent and current rent of unit including specified damage reimbursement.

HOME - Provides funds to local governments and states for new construction, rehabilitation, acquisition of standard housing, assistance to homebuyers, and tenant-based rental assistance.

Home and Community Services - Services and supports provided in a home or community location to help persons live as independently as possible.

HOPE VI or the Urban Revitalization Program - Enables demolition of obsolete public housing, revitalization of public housing sites and distribution of supportive services to the public housing residents affected by these actions.

HOPWA - Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS - Also a funding program that may be used for housing for persons with HIV.

Housing Choice Voucher - In 1999, the Section 8 certificate and voucher programs were merged into the new Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). The HCVP has also changed some of the rules, especially relative to the rents the household may pay. HQS (Housing Quality Standards) - This refers to the rules used when inspecting a rental unit to determine if the housing is safe, decent and sanitary.

HTF (Housing Trust Fund) - The Missouri Housing Trust Fund was created by the State Legislature in 1994 to help meet the housing needs of very low-income families and individuals. It provides funding for a variety of eligible activities, including: rental housing production, housing and related services for the homeless, and rental subsidies, among other activities.

HUD (Housing and Urban Development) - The department of the federal government that dispenses and manages federal housing assistance.

HUD 202 - Provides capital advances to finance the construction and rehabilitation of structures that will serve as supportive housing for very low-income elderly persons and provides rental subsidies for the projects to help make them affordable.

HUD 811 - Provides grants to nonprofit organizations to develop and construct or rehabilitate rental housing with supportive services for very low-income person with disabilities.

ICF/MR - (Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation) A licensed facility that provides care designed to meet the needs of persons with mental retardation who require special health and rehabilitation services. Missouri's habilitation centers are ICF/MR facilities.

IGR (Independent Group Residence) - A type of rental subsidy funded by HUD that allows people with disabilities to live with one or more individuals and receive a rental subsidy.

Income - The gain that proceeds from property, labor, or business. For purposes of figuring rent in subsidy programs, income includes but is not limited to: annual gross income including welfare assistance; unemployment and disability compensation, interest, dividends, and child support payments.

Lender - The bank, credit union, saving and loan association, mortgage company or other financial institution that provides funds to a borrower.

Low Income - Income that does not exceed 80 percent of area median income.

Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) - A way of obtaining financing to develop low-income housing. Government programs provide dollar-for-dollar credit toward taxes owed by the housing owner. These tax credits can be sold, or used to back up bonds that are sold, to obtain financing to develop the housing.

MACA (Missouri Association for Community Action) - The statewide association for CAP agencies (see definition under CAP).

Mainstream Section 8 - aka Mainstream- Awards funding for Section 8 vouchers to very low-income families whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person with a disability.

MASW (Missouri Association for Social Welfare) - Social Advocacy Organization that contracts with MHDC to conduct statewide homeless count every other year.

Median Income - The income level at which half of the population receive more income and half receive less. Each year HUD establishes the Median Income for states and metropolitan areas based on household size. HUD revised these figures periodically

Medicaid - State and federally funded health care for low income and needy populations.

Medicare - The national health insurance program for those age 65 and older and for some persons under age 65 with disabilities.

MHDC (Missouri Housing Development Commission) - Missouri's state housing finance agency established by the 75th General Assembly in 1969. MHDC functions as a bank, providing financing directly to borrowers or through a network of private lending institutions. Most of MHDC's programs operate as a public-private partnership.

MRDD -(Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities) Housed within the Department of Mental Health, serves a population that has developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, head injuries, autism, epilepsy, and certain learning disabilities. Such conditions must have occurred before age 22, with the expectation that they will continue. To be eligible for services from the division, persons with these disabilities must be substantially limited in their ability to function independently.

PH - Permanent Housing for people with disabilities.

PHA - Public Housing Authority or Agency

PRA (Project Based Rental Assistance) - Rental subsidies that are based in one building or apartment project. The subsidy belongs to the unit and not the individual.

PWA - Persons with AIDS

PWOD - Persons with other disabilities

RCF - (Residential Care Facility) A licensed facility that provides meals, shelter and personal assistance or supervision for more than 24 consecutive hours for adults who do not require nursing home care. Residents must demonstrate ability to negotiate a path to safety in case of emergency.

Rent Subsidy - This refers to a cash payment to a landlord that assists very low-income individuals in paying for housing. Typically, the tenant pays 30% of their income for rent, and the rental subsidy pays the remaining amount.

Ryan White - Title I Federal grant monies used for services to persons with AIDS - In Missouri this funding comes through the Department of Health and Senior Services

Scattered Site - The ability to use a housing subsidy to live in market rate units in a neighborhood of one's own choosing.

Section 8 - This is a federal HUD program that provides funds for rent subsidies.

SHOP (Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program) - The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program enables families to become homeowners with an investment of "sweat equity" - contributing their own labor to help with such tasks as painting, landscaping, carpentry and roofing. HUD grants will provide subsidies averaging $10,000 to lower the price of each home. Families unable to afford a home and having incomes below 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to receive HUD assistance under SHOP.

SHP (Supportive Housing Program) - Provides grants to develop permanent and/or transitional supportive housing and services that will enable homeless people to live as independently as possible.

SMI - Serious Mental Illness.

SPC (Shelter Plus Care) - Provides rental assistance that when combined with social services, provides permanent supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and their families.

SRA (Sponsor Based Rental Assistance) - An agreement between landlord and provider allowing for subletting the unit to program participants.

TRA (Tenant Based Rental Assistance) - This term refers to rental subsidies that are portable; in other words, the subsidy is held by the tenant and not the unit.

TTP (Total Tenant Payment) - The amount the participant pays for their portion of the rent.

Universal Design - The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

USDA-RD - United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development (includes rural housing service)

Very Low Income - Income that does not exceed 50% percent of area median income.

Voucher - A term used to refer to a type of rental subsidy. Low-income families use vouchers to help pay for housing that they find in the private market.

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Last modified: 05.16.06