Renton will see more affordable housing for very-low income households of folks with disabilities after U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $2.7 million in vouchers to the Housing Authority of King County and Renton Housing Authority (RHA).

The Housing Authority of King County was awarded 198 vouchers at $2.38 million and RHA was awarded 25 vouchers at $340,608.

This was part of a HUD announcement of $131.3 million in additional mainstream vouchers to 325 public housing authorities in the country to provide affordable housing to an estimated 15,363 non-elderly people with disabilities.

“Mainstream vouchers are a critical tool in reducing the risk that people with disabilities might be institutionalized or experience homelessness,” HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Jeff McMorris stated in a HUD press release. “And enable them to live independently in the communities they choose to call home.”

Housing assistance is provided through the HUD’s Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, providing funding to housing agencies to assist these folks, especially those who are transitioning out of an institution or non-residential setting, at risk of being institutionalized, at risk of, in or previously experienced homelessness and/or those in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project.

This program also helps further the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the press release states, by helping folks live in the most integrated setting, encouraging partnerships with health and human services agencies and showing the ability to coordinate volunteers and enabling folks to live independently in their community.