Public Housing Agency

What is a reasonable accommodation?

A reasonable accommodation is a change, modification, alteration or adaptation in policy, procedure, practice, program of housing facility that provides a qualified individual with a disability the opportunity to participate, or benefit from a housing or non-housing program or activity. 

Qualifying for a reasonable accommodation

An individual may qualify for a reasonable accommodation, upon request and health provider verification, if considered to be a person with disability under the following ADA definition:

• A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities
• A record of such impairment
• Regarded as having such impairment

If the individual qualifies for the accommodation, and it does not create an undue administrative and financial burden or result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of its programs or activities, PHCD will make the necessary efforts to grant the request or present an alternative accommodation that will meet the needs of the request.
Forms to request a reasonable accommodation can be obtained as follows:

• Persons on the waiting list, from the Applicant Leasing Center, located at 2925 NW 18 Avenue, telephone: 305-638-6464;
• Residents of the Public Housing program, from corresponding site managers;
• Participants of the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation program, from corresponding housing specialist; or
• By accessing the following links, requestors can download, print and present the forms to corresponding staff for review and process. 

Reasonable Accommodation Request Forms

• Reasonable Accommodation Request To be used by applicants or program participants to request a reasonable accommodation. It also provides examples of reasonable accommodations (also available in Spanish  and Creole ).
• Reasonable Accommodation Verification To be used by the health care provider to verify the person's functional limitations and explain how the accommodation will assist the person. Not used when a live-in aide is requested.
• Live-in Aide Verification To be used by health care provider to verify if the person requires a live-in aide.
• Authorization to Release Information To be signed by the person with disabilities authorizing the health provider to release disability verification information (also available in Spanish  and Creole ).

If the reasonable accommodation request is denied, an informal hearing may be requested in writing to PHCD Administrative Services, attention ADA Coordinator, 701 NW 1st Court, Miami, Florida 33136, or by calling the ADA Coordinator at 786-469-4229. A notification of scheduled appointment to discuss the case will be sent by mail with date, time and location of the hearing.

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) forms

Participants of the Section 8 Housing Voucher Choice (HCV) Program can also obtain the forms to request reasonable accommodation from the Miami-Dade Housing Choice Voucher program office at 305-403-3222. The forms to request a reasonable accommodation used by Section 8 HCV Program are different from PHCD's forms and are reviewed and processed by the Miami-Dade Housing Choice Program's ADA Coordinator.

• Reasonable Accommodation Request (HCV)
• Solicitud de Adaptaciones Razonables en español (HCV, Spanish)

Other Services

The ADA requires that communication with individuals with hearing loss, visual or speech requirements must be effective and that requested auxiliary aids and services must be available to facilitate communications. Interpreters and other auxiliary aids must be provided free of charge. To request assistance in communicating, use the Auxiliary Aids Request form below.

In the event of emergency evacuation, should a Public Housing program household member with disability need assistance, a Release of Disability-Related Special Needs in Case of Emergency Evacuation form must be completed. Also, the form for pre-registration for special needs with evacuation is available at the Miami-Dade County's Emergency Evacuation Program page.

• Auxiliary Aids Request To be used by applicant or program participant to request assistance in communicating.
• Release of Disability-Related Special Needs in Case of Emergency Evacuation To be completed by head of household in case of emergency evacuation for household member with disabilities).