The City of Memphis is seeking applications for its HOME-Funded Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program to provide rental assistance to low-income persons who are homeless and have special needs.
Donor Name: City of Memphis
State: Tennessee
City: Memphis
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $300,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The City’s HOME-funded Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) is a tool that agencies can use to assist homeless persons with special needs populations obtain stable, safe, decent and affordable housing. Targeting members of the populations they already serve, agencies may use the funds to complement services they currently provide. With the knowledge that housing by itself is ineffective in improving disabling conditions of many homeless and very low-income households, agencies may design programs that link existing services to the TBRA program. Through the required use of individual housing service plans, agencies can help link rental assistance to supportive services that help program participants cope with their disabilities and improve their economic circumstances.
The program is funded with HOME entitlement funds awarded annually to the City by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As such, all activities must comply with applicable HOME regulations, which are found in 24 CFR Part 92.
Program Design
- The City’s HOME TBRA program is similar to the Section 8 Housing Program in that it requires participant eligibility determinations, unit compliance with Housing Quality Standards, and payment of rents which cannot exceed HUD’s Fair Market Rent. However, the housing program is administered by the Program Sponsor (Applicant Agency) working with the City’s Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to enter into contract and inspect the proposed housing units. The Program Sponsor will be responsible for determining the eligibility of program participant, assisting them in finding appropriate housing and signing contracts leases and paying the appropriate portion of the monthly rent to the landlord.
- After being approved for TBRA assistance, the agency will enter into a contract with the City for funds to serve a specific number of households over a Two-year period. That number will be no fewer than 10 households. A workshop and individual training sessions will be available to program sponsors to familiarize them with the City’s policies and procedures and help them begin administration of their TBRA program
Priority Populations
Applications should address goals and objectives for homeless with special needs population listed in the City’s Fiscal Three-Year Strategy for serving the homeless with special needs population.
The following populations will be given priority for tenant based rental assistance funding. *
- Homeless individuals living in an emergency shelter or who would be living on the street or in an emergency shelter without HUD’s homelessness assistance who cannot maintain permanent housing due to low income and circumstances that made them homeless
- Households at imminent risk of homelessness through eviction or foreclosure because of their inability to make required payments
- Mentally ill individuals or households headed by a mentally ill person who are unable to maintain stable housing due to low income and the effects of the illness
- Developmentally disabled individuals who are unable to maintain residential stability due to low income and the effects of their disability
- Physically disabled individuals who are unable to maintain stability in housing due to low income and the effects of their disability
- Graduates of alcohol and drug treatment recovery programs (including families as well as individuals unaccompanied by children) who require assistance in paying rents in decent, safe and affordable housing to support and maintain their sobriety
- Homeless families including families who have children over the age of 11 years old, larger families, families with male primary caregivers, and two-parent families while the applicant agency provides supportive services to help them transition them out of homelessness
- Victims of domestic violence moving from a transitional housing program to housing independent of the abuser
- Elderly individuals or households headed by an elderly person who are at risk of homelessness due to low income and health problems
*Agencies serving persons with HIV/AIDS should seek HOPWA funding for TBRA assistance.
Funding Information
Funding Amount Available in 2024 – $300,000 to pay up to 2 years rental assistance for eligible low income households that are homeless and have special needs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, current TN charter, financial statements/audit, general liability insurance
- Must serve clients whose income is 60% or below the median income and who are at risk of homelessness and have a special need
- Clients must have an income and pay 30% of the rent and a portion of utilities.
For more information, visit City of Memphis.
