24 C.F.R. § 8.28
§ 8.28 Housing voucher programs. (24 CFR Part 8)
Operative Text
(a) In carrying out the requirements of this subpart, a recipient administering a Section 8 housing voucher program shall: (1) In providing notice of the availability and nature of housing assistance for low-income families under program requirements, adopt suitable means to assure that the notice reaches eligible individuals with handicaps; (2) In its activities to encourage participation by owners, include encouragement of participation by owners having accessible units; (3) When issuing a Housing Voucher to a family which includes an individual with handicaps include a current listing of available accessible units known to the PHA and, if necessary, otherwise assist the family in locating an available accessible dwelling unit; (4) Take into account the special problem of ability to locate an accessible unit when considering requests by eligible individuals with handicaps for extensions of Housing Vouchers; and (5) If necessary as a reasonable accommodation for a person with disabilities, approve a family request for an exception payment standard under § 982.503(d)(5) for a regular tenancy under the Section 8 voucher program so that the program is readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. (b) In order to ensure that participating owners do not discriminate in the recipient's federally assisted program, a recipient shall enter into a HUD-approved contract with participating owners, which contract shall include necessary assurances of nondiscrimination.
Under 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.28, public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer Section 8 housing voucher programs must take affirmative steps to make those programs accessible to people with disabilities. This includes ensuring that program notices reach eligible individuals with disabilities, providing listings of accessible units when issuing vouchers to families that include a person with a disability, and considering accessibility challenges when evaluating requests for voucher extensions. The rule also requires that PHAs, when necessary as a reasonable accommodation, approve exception payment standards so the program remains genuinely usable by people with disabilities, and that contracts with participating owners include enforceable nondiscrimination commitments.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners who participate in a Section 8 housing voucher program governed by 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.28 are subject to nondiscrimination requirements embedded in the HUD-approved contract they sign with the administering PHA. Compliant owners generally ensure their participation agreements include the required nondiscrimination assurances and do not screen out or otherwise disadvantage voucher-holding families that include individuals with disabilities. Owners with accessible units are specifically encouraged to make those units available, as PHAs are required under § 8.28 to actively promote participation by owners of accessible housing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.28, families participating in a Section 8 housing voucher program that include a member with a disability have specific protections and entitlements, including the right to receive a listing of known accessible units when a voucher is issued and to have accessibility challenges considered when requesting a voucher extension. If the standard payment amount would prevent a person with a disability from securing an accessible unit, § 8.28 requires the PHA to consider approving an exception payment standard as a reasonable accommodation. Tenants who believe a PHA is not meeting these obligations may raise the issue directly with the administering PHA, file a complaint with HUD, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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