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City staff outlines HOME and HOME-ARP rental-assistance eligibility, inspections and landlord requirements
Summary
Staff described two federal rental-assistance programs — HOME and HOME-ARP — including income limits, inspection requirements and the need for landlord participation; applications will be triaged to the funding pot that fits each applicant’s income.
City staff provided an overview of two federally funded rental-assistance programs, HOME and HOME-ARP, explaining who qualifies, what paperwork landlords must provide and inspection requirements for units built before 1978.
Staff said tenant-based rental assistance can provide up to 12 months of rental help and may also cover deposits. The programs require a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection and, for pre-1978 housing, a lead-based paint inspection. Staff emphasized that landlord participation is required — landlords must complete IRS W-9 and other vendor paperwork — and that a qualified tenant cannot receive assistance if a landlord will not participate.
Under the traditional HOME program, the staff presentation said income limits for eligibility are set at 60% of area median income: an individual (one-person household) cannot exceed $33,003.60 and a family of four cannot exceed $47,640. By contrast, HOME-ARP (the American Rescue Plan allocation) targets lower-income households; the presentation listed the 30% income limit for a single-person household at $16,700. Staff said applicants will be screened on intake to determine which funding source they qualify for.
Staff asked commissioners and the public to refer struggling tenants to the office so eligibility can be assessed and the appropriate funding source identified. The presentation did not specify application deadlines or the total dollar amount available for these rental programs.
Looking ahead, staff said further program criteria and the application process would be covered in a later presentation. No formal action or vote on program rules occurred during the remarks.
