24 C.F.R. § 982.601
§ 982.601 Overview. (24 CFR Part 982)
Operative Text
(a) Special housing types. This subpart describes program requirements for special housing types. The following are the special housing types: (1) Single room occupancy (SRO) housing; (2) Congregate housing; (3) Group home; (4) Shared housing; (5) Manufactured home; (6) Cooperative housing (excluding families that are not cooperative members); and (7) Homeownership option. (b) PHA choice to offer special housing type. (1) The PHA may permit a family to use any of the following special housing types in accordance with requirements of the program: single room occupancy (SRO) housing, congregate housing, group home, shared housing, manufactured home when the family owns the home and leases the manufactured home space, cooperative housing or homeownership option. (2) In general, the PHA is not required to permit families (including families that move into the PHA program under portability procedures) to use any of these special housing types, and may limit the number of families using special housing types. (3) The PHA must permit use of any special housing type if needed as a reasonable accommodation so that the program is readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities in accordance with 24 CFR part 8. (4) For occupancy of a manufactured home, see § 982.620(a). (c) Program funding for special housing types. (1) HUD does not provide any additional or designated funding for special housing types, or for a specific special housing type (e.g., the homeownership option). Assistance for special housing types is paid from program funding available for the PHA's tenant-based program under the consolidated annual contributions contract. (2) The PHA may not set aside program funding or program slots for special housing types or for a specific special housing type. (d) Family choice of housing and housing type. The family chooses whether to use housing that qualifies as a special housing type under this subpart, or as any specific special housing type, or to use other eligible housing in accordance with requirements of the program. The PHA may not restrict the family's freedom to choose among available units in accordance with § 982.353. (e) Applicability of requirements. (1) Except as modified by this subpart, the requirements of other subparts of this part apply to the special housing types. (2) Provisions in this subpart only apply to a specific special housing type. The housing type is noted in the title of each section. (3) Housing must meet the requirements of this subpart for a single special housing type specified by the family. Such housing is not subject to requirements for other special housing types. A single unit cannot be designated as more than one special housing type.
Section 982.601 establishes an overview of seven "special housing types" recognized under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, including single room occupancy housing, congregate housing, group homes, shared housing, manufactured homes, cooperative housing, and the homeownership option. A Public Housing Authority (PHA) generally has discretion over whether to allow voucher holders to use these special housing types and may cap participation, but must permit any special housing type as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Funding for special housing types comes from the same pool as standard tenant-based assistance — no separate or additional HUD funding is designated for them — and a single unit can only be classified under one special housing type at a time.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 982.601, property owners and managers offering units that fall into a special housing type category should be aware that a family's eligibility to use that type depends on whether the administering PHA has opted to permit it. Compliant operators generally confirm with the relevant PHA that the desired special housing type is available in their program before proceeding with a voucher-assisted tenancy in that category. Because a unit can only be designated as one special housing type, operators typically ensure the housing type is clearly identified and consistent with the applicable subpart requirements from the outset of the assisted tenancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 982.601 affirms that the choice of whether to use a special housing type — such as a manufactured home, cooperative unit, or shared housing arrangement — belongs to the family, and the PHA may not restrict a family's freedom to choose among available units as outlined in § 982.353. If a PHA does not generally offer a particular special housing type, a tenant with a disability may have the right to request that type as a reasonable accommodation under 24 CFR part 8. Tenants who believe their housing type options are being improperly limited can explore raising the issue with their local PHA, contacting a HUD field office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for general information about their 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 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.