Initial Review

Information by State  Print version   HOME Check-up   Monitoring Plan   Program wide Performance   Monitoring Program Activities Monitoring Program Activities   Homeowner Rehabilitation   Homebuyer Program   Rental Housing Programs   Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Want More Information? A more-in-depth list of Eligible and Ineligible TBRA Program Activities. Lean more about establishing a TBRA Payment Standard.

To ensure that HOME funds are allocated properly, TBRA awards must be initially monitored prior to the execution of the rental assistance contract.

During this review, the monitor must assess program compliance in the key areas listed below.

Tenant Eligibility

	Tenants must be at or below 80% of area median income to be eligible.
	For each fiscal year allocation of HOME funds, at least 90% of TBRA participants and household in HOME-assisted rental units (taken together) must have incomes at or below 60% of area median income, and the remaining participants must have incomes at or below 80% median income.
	To define annual income, programs may use the Section 8 definition of annual income, the Census long form of annual income, or the IRS definition of adjusted gross income.

Unit Requirements

	Households may select the unit of their choice; however, PJs must ensure that the unit meets HOME Program requirements.
	Units must meet local property codes and standards and Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.

Eligible and Ineligible Costs

PJs may use TBRA funds to help individual households pay for the following:

Rent
Utility Costs
Security Deposits
Utility Deposits

Maximum &Amp; Minimum Payment

The HOME program rules establish a maximum TBRA assistance payment and require the PJ to establish a minimum tenant payment.

	The PJ may use its discretion in setting this minimum payment level. The minimum payment may be established at a dollar figure (such as $50) or at a percentage of income (such as 10% of monthly income).
	The maximum amount that the HOME TBRA program may pay to assist any given household is the difference between 30% of the household's adjusted monthly income and the jurisdiction-wide rent limit established by the PJ, known as the payment standard.

Payment Standard

	All TBRA programs must use a payment standard.
	A PJ may develop a payment standard based on local market conditions.
	A Payment standard may also be based upon the Section 8 Fair Market Rents.

Length of TBRA Assistance

	Contracts with individual households may not exceed two years.
	Contracts can be renewed subject to the availability of HOME funds.

Lease Requirements

HOME TBRA programs have certain lease requirements.