DEHCR > Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA)

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA)

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) was created to provide federal assistance to states to produce decent and affordable housing opportunities, particularly housing for low- and very low-income households. The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) allocates HOME funding to support the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program in non-HOME entitlement areas in Wisconsin. Contracts are awarded on a two-year funding cycle to provide rental assistance to individuals and households that have incomes at or below 60 percent of the County Median Income (CMI) and meet other eligibility requirements. Because the TBRA program allows local flexibility in many program design areas, DEHCR allows individual grantees to develop community-specific programs. TBRA programs must comply with HOME regulations such as tenant occupancy and income requirements, unit and rent standards, and administrative performance. Grantee agencies are subject to performance indicators, such as participation levels, affirmative outreach efforts, and availability of suitable housing. As with all HUD HOME programs, the TBRA program requires a best effort to provide 25 percent match. Eligible match items cannot include a client's portion of the rent or any federal funding sources.

HOME TBRA funds shall serve individuals and households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Grantee agencies may further define more specific populations to serve in their proposed TBRA service area.

Eligibility

Governmental entities and private-not-for profit agencies located in Wisconsin are eligible to apply under this application for TBRA funds. In addition, a non-stock, not-for-profit corporation organized under Chapter 181 or a religious society organized under Chapter 187 and housing authorities are eligible.

All applicants must be located outside of HOME entitlement areas and be in good standing (no unresolved monitoring findings, no outstanding required reports, no major audit finding, etc.) with the Department of Administration and DEHCR. These HOME entitlement areas include the cities of Eau Claire, Green Bay, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine and the counties of Jefferson/Ozaukee/Washington/Waukesha consortia, Milwaukee, and Rock. Applicants must also be registered with the Federal System for Award Management (SAM) and cannot be on the SAM debarred contractor list.

All grantee agencies receiving HOME TBRA funds will be subjected to a monitoring visit conducted by DEHCR staff at least once during the contract period.

Eligible Services

Security Deposit Assistance

The maximum amount of security deposit assistance per client is equivalent to two months' rent for the unit. Security deposit assistance must be provided to clients as a grant, not a loan.

Rental Assistance

The term of rental assistance with HOME funds may not exceed 24 months; however, contracts can be renewed, subject to the availability of HOME funds. Rental assistance must not exceed the difference between the client's rent and 30 percent of the client's household income.

Utility Assistance

Utility assistance can only be provided to clients who are also receiving rental assistance. Grantee agencies can define which utilities they will cover such as heat, electric, water, sewer, and trash. Phone, internet, and cable are ineligible utility expenses. Grantee agencies define the maximum amount of utility assistance per client by setting a flat dollar cap or by paying only for certain utilities (e.g. heat/electric or water/sewer/trash).

HQS Inspections

Grantee agencies can charge whichever is less to TBRA program funds: $50 per inspection ($35 per re-inspection) plus mileage reimbursed at the current federal rate or the actual staff or contractor costs of performing the inspection.

Household Income Determinations

Grantee agencies can charge whichever is less to TBRA program funds: $50 per income determination or the actual staff cost of completing the income determination. If income determinations are conducted outside a grantee agency's office, they may charge whichever is less for mileage reimbursement: the current federal rate or the rate at which the grantee agency reimburses for mileage.

The grantee agency may use up to ten percent of the total award for operational costs to support housing assistance activities, including staff salaries and administrative expenses.