Disability Lifeline Cuts Affect Housing for Clients
Christine Johansen
DSHS will be cutting Disability Lifeline benefits by 21% effective January 1, 2011, reducing a one person grant from $339 to $266. Any Disability Lifeline client who receives a federal housing subsidy that is income based (Public Housing, Section 8 Voucher, HOME TBRA, HUD Project Based Section 8, USDA Rural Development, Rental Assistance, and various McKinney Act programs), should immediately report the reduction to whoever calculates their rent and ask for a rent deduction, preferably by the date their benefits are cut, i.e. January 1, 2011.
If assistance is needed call the CLEAR Hotline. Outside King County: Call 1-888-201-1014 weekdays from 9:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.
In King County call: (206) 461-3200
Attached is a letter that WLIHA, WSCH, TU and CLS sent to HUD asking for proactive steps to ensure that those whose Disability Lifeline benefits are cut, receive a prompt rent reduction.
We should also affirmatively reach out to Disability Lifeline clients now residing in housing, where rents are income based, and adjust their rent now for January 1, 2011, rather than wait until these clients report the change. These clients are disabled and many lack the wherewithal to report changes in income, provide verification, etc. None of them likely have savings or any ability to replace the income they will lose and simply cannot afford to pay rent based on income they no longer will have.
For more detail or information contact:
Greg Provenzano
Christine Johansen
Washington State Coalition for the Homeless
Fax 253.761.7436