Reasonable Accommodations

One type of discrimination prohibited by The Fair Housing Act is the refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services when such accommodation may be necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a program or dwelling under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Section 8 program.

Tarrant County Housing Assistance Office (TCHAO) ensures that persons with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect, and have full access to the agency's programs and services.

If you or anyone in your family is a person with disabilities, and you require a specific accommodation in order to fully utilize our programs and services, please let us know immediately.

Before providing an accommodation, a family must obtain and complete a Reasonable Accommodation request form (or a letter of request) along with the Reasonable Accommodations Request Verification to be completed by your health care provider. TCHAO is required to verify the disability and determine that the person meets the definition of a person with a disability and that the accommodation will enhance the individual's access to the agency's programs and services. After a request for an accommodation is received, TCHAO will respond, in writing, within 10 business days.

Communication Service
 

The TCHAO TTY telephone number is: 817-531-7686.
For persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, TCHAO has replaced the obsolete TTD/TTY telephone with a new electronic computer system that automatically connects all callers via a modern, efficient and state-of-the-art computerized communication device.

Limited English Proficiency
 

At least 97 percent of program applicants and participants speak either English or Spanish. TCHAO has bi-lingual staff who are proficient in both languages. These members of our staff are able to communicate with our Spanish-speaking clients and we provide most major documents in both languages or we have the capacity to have them immediately translated. Applicants and program participants with limited or no ability to speak English or Spanish, and who are not accompanied by a friend or family member with fluent English skills, should have someone on their behalf to contact TCHAO in advance of their visit in order for us to make suitable interpretation arrangements.

Accessibility
 

In a Joint Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and The Department of Justice (March 5, 2008), recipients of federal funds are prohibited from refusing to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises, if such modifications may be necessary to afford a person with disabilities, full enjoyment of the premises. The housing accessibility and modifications provisions of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act all other applicable laws will be complied with.