HUD HCV Guidebook § 4.1
Occupancy (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
Elderly persons and/or persons with disabilities may live in group homes. If approved by the PHA, a live- in aide may live in the group home with an elderly person and/or person with disabilities. The PHA must19 approve a live-in aide if needed as a reasonable accommodation so that the program is readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. Except for live-in aides, all persons living in a group home, whether assisted or not, must be elderly persons and/or persons with disabilities. PHA approval of a live-in aide is subject to HCV program regulation 24 CFR 982.316. Persons living in a group home must not require continual medical or nursing care.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 4.1, group homes participating in the HCV program are reserved for elderly individuals and/or persons with disabilities — this applies to all residents, whether they receive housing assistance or not. A live-in aide may also reside in the group home if the Public Housing Authority (PHA) approves it, and approval is required as a reasonable accommodation when necessary for a person with a disability to access the program. However, the provision draws a clear line: no resident of the group home, assisted or otherwise, may require continual medical or nursing care.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of group homes under HCV Guidebook § 4.1 generally ensure that every occupant — assisted or unassisted — qualifies as an elderly person and/or person with disabilities, and that no resident requires continual medical or nursing care. When a prospective tenant with a disability requests a live-in aide, compliant operators submit that request to the PHA for approval, recognizing that approval is mandatory when the aide is needed as a reasonable accommodation under 24 CFR 982.316. Maintaining documentation of PHA approval for any live-in aide is a standard practice for operators seeking to remain in compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under HCV Guidebook § 4.1, tenants who are elderly or have disabilities have the right to live in a group home under the HCV program, and if a live-in aide is necessary for a person with a disability to use the program, the PHA is required to approve that aide as a reasonable accommodation. If a PHA denies a live-in aide request that appears to qualify as a reasonable accommodation under this provision and 24 CFR 982.316, tenants may have grounds to raise that denial as a program violation. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or consulting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on next steps.
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 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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