Determining Family Unit (Voucher) Size

[24 CFR 982.402]

The THA does not determine who shares a bedroom/sleeping room, but there must be at least one person per bedroom on the Voucher. The THA's subsidy standards for determining voucher size shall be applied in a manner consistent with Fair Housing guidelines. For subsidy standards, an adult is a person 18 years or older. All standards in this section relate to the number of bedrooms on the Voucher, not the family's actual living arrangements. The unit size on the Voucher remains the same as long as the family composition remains the same, regardless of the actual unit size rented. One bedroom will generally be assigned for each two family members. Consideration will also be given for medical reasons and the presence of a live-in aide.

Generally, the PHA assigns one bedroom per two people within the following guidelines:

• Head of household (spouse/significant other) will be assigned a bedroom. Resolution 2021-4211 Approved November 17th 2021.
• Children five and under will be required to share a bedroom regardless of sex of the children.
• Children age five and under will be required to share a bedroom with said mother, father, guardian or caregiver.
• Individuals of the same sex ages 6 and older will be required to share a bedroom.
• Members will only be added to the household composition through court awarded custody, birth, or adoption. Resolution 2014-3884.
• A child who is temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care is considered a member of the family in determining the family unit size.
• A family that consists of a pregnant woman (with no other persons) must be treated as a two-person family and will receive one bedroom.
• Any live-in aide (approved by the PHA to reside in the unit to care for a family member who is disabled) must be counted in determining the family unit size.
• Unless a live-in-aide resides with the family, the family unit size for any family consisting of a single person must be either a zero or one-bedroom unit, as determined under the PHA subsidy standards.
• Participants must report the addition of household member(s) within 10 days of the change in household composition that is a result of court awarded custody, birth, or adoption.
• THA may also allow the addition of household members based on civil union, marriage, or domestic partnership. The addition of the member(s) will not allow for an increase in voucher size or allow for overcrowding of the unit.
• Consideration will also be provided to allow for the addition of elderly or disabled that are considered immediate family member(s) who are only being added due to the necessity of care. This must be verified by a professional competent who can render the opinion about the person’s situation using normal verification procedures. The addition of the member will not allow for an increase in voucher size or allow for overcrowding of the unit. The term immediate family member will be defined as an individual with any of the following relationships to the head of household:
  • Son or daughter.
  • Parent.
  • Brother or sister.
  • Grandparent.
  In addition, all members requested to be added to the household must have prior approval of the owner except for birth, court awarded custody, and adoption. Consideration will also be provided to allow for the addition of elderly or disabled that are considered immediate family member(s) who are only being added due to the necessity of care that cannot be provided by any other person/entity that must be verifiable. This must be verified by a professional competent who can render the opinion about the person’s situation using normal verification procedures. The addition of the member will not allow for an increase in voucher size or allow for overcrowding of the unit.

EXCEPTIONS TO SUBSIDY STANDARDS [24 CFR 982.403(a) & (b)].
THA will grant an exception upon request as an accommodation for persons with disabilities. Circumstances may dictate a larger size than the subsidy standards permit when persons cannot share a bedroom because of a need, such as a:

• Verified medical or health reason or
• Persons with disabilities who may require a live-in attendant

Request for Exceptions to Subsidy Standards
The family may request a larger sized voucher than indicated by the THA’s subsidy standards. Such request must be made in writing within ten (10) days of the THA’s determination of bedroom size. The request must explain the need or justification for a larger bedroom. Documentation verifying the need or justification will be required as appropriate. The THA will only issue a larger voucher due to additions of family members through birth, adoption, marriage, court-awarded custody, or the addition of an approved co-head. THA will not add additional members to the household. Requests based on health related reasons must be verified by a doctor and must qualify through the reasonable accommodation policy.