Reasonable Accommodations

A person with a disability may require special accommodations in order to have equal access to the HCV program. The types of reasonable accommodations MHA can provide include changes, exceptions, or adjustments to a rule, policy, practice, or service.

Federal regulations stipulate that requests for accommodations will be considered reasonable if they do not create an “undue financial and administrative burden” for Marin Housing, or result in a “fundamental alteration” in the nature of the program or service offered. A fundamental alteration is a modification that alters the essential nature of a provider’s operations.

Types of reasonable accommodations that may provide for qualified participants include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting home visits
• Using higher payments standards if Marin Housing determines this is necessary to enable a person with disabilities to obtain a suitable housing unit
• Providing time extensions for locating a unit when necessary because of lack of availability of an accessible unit or disability-related challenges of the family seeking a unit
• Approving the family to have a live-in attendant
• Approving a higher voucher size that the family size qualifies for if Marin Housing determines it is necessary to allow the person with disabilities equal access to Marin Housing’s programs

Through HUD Section 504, MHA ensures that a “qualified” person with a disability:

• Is afforded an opportunity equal to that afforded to others
• Is provided housing and benefits as effective as those afforded to others
• Is not provided different or separate housing or benefits unless necessary to provide the person with a handicap with housing and benefits that are as effective as those provided to others

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?     

A reasonable accommodation is a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy practice or service that may be necessary for the person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to the Housing Authority’s programs and services.

What is the definition of a Person with a Disability?

A person with a disability is any person who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual; or
• Has a record of having such impairment; or
• Is regarded as having such impairment

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What is MHA’s Staff Role and Responsibility?

MHA’s employees are responsible for ensuring that the agency does not discriminate against a person with a disability by refusing to make a reasonable accommodation that may be necessary to allow that person equal access under any of the programs administered by MHA.

Requesting Reasonable Accommodation

A reasonable accommodation request(s) may be made by or on behalf of a person with a disability to any MHA staff. If a participant or applicant indicates that an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service is needed because of a disability, the MHA must treat that information as a request for a reasonable accommodation even if no formal written request is made.

Verbal requests are the most common types of requests. In cases such as these, the participant is provided a “Request for a Reasonable Accommodation” form. Be advised that if the participant or applicant does not complete the “Official RA form,” it does not negate or cancel out the fact that a reasonable accommodation request was made.