Overview and Description

Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) is a rental subsidy given directly to a person/household and is not tied to a specific residential unit or property. The most common TBRA program is the Housing Choice Voucher program, which is administered by public housing authorities and allocated by the federal government. HOME funds (also federally allocated to some local governments and the State Division of Housing) and local funding may be allocated toward TBRA as well. TBRA can be time-limited and linked to supporting residents who are pursuing economic mobility opportunities, including higher education.

In addition to the financial support in the form of a voucher, TBRA programs often include other components such as mobility counseling for voucher recipients and landlord registry and engagement programs designed to improve the willingness of landlords to accept tenants with housing vouchers.

Program Lead: Local Government or Non-Profit

Role for Local Government: In addition to administering federally-funded vouchers, state and local government can dedicate local funds to provide additional TBRA, which can be more flexible to local needs without federal requirements. They can also undertake landlord engagement and partner with counseling organizations to provide mobility counseling support.

Overview and Description

When facing unfair eviction, landlord harassment, fair housing discrimination or hazardous conditions vulnerable renters may require legal intervention. A non-profit legal organization can provide programs to expand access to legal support for renters who cannot afford these services or may not know where to look for support. Programs may provide proactive services to educate renters and landlords about their rights, as well as reactive legal representation, counseling or assistance.

Program Lead: Legal Services Organization

Role for Local Government: Local governments can provide resources to help fund legal clinics. They can also leverage relationships with other entities (state government, philanthropy, anchor institutions) to provide additional resources. Some jurisdictions have created a legal "right to counsel" that guarantees (i.e. commits to funding and finding) legal representation for all tenants facing eviction.

Overview and Description

Emergency short-term rental assistance aims to reduce displacement and/or homelessness by supporting renters who cannot cover their rent due to unforeseen circumstances, including medical emergencies, sudden rent increases, unexpected loss of a job or other income. Emergency housing assistance is most often offered as a direct grant to households to support payment of rent or utilities. Community navigators have been proven to increase access to emergency rental and legal assistance resources for the most vulnerable populations – those who have language barriers, BIPOC households and extremely low-income households. In addition to targeting those who are already homeless, many programs also include prevention components that include eligibility for those at significant risk of becoming homeless due to eviction.

Program Lead: Local Government or Non-Profit

Role for Local Government: Local governments can implement the program or fund a non-profit organization to implement a rental assistance program, or provide support to pay for community navigators. Either way, they can support the marketing of the program to the most at-risk households. In addition, they can work with partners to identify pathways to longer-term solutions that address underlying cause of instability.