Rent Assistance

Rental Assistance Program (RAP) :  The Rental Assistance Program is the major state-supported program for assisting very low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants find their own housing, including apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes. The participant is free to choose any private rental housing that meets the requirements of the program, as described below. RAP certificates are funded through the Department of Housing (DOH) and are administered statewide by DOH and its agent, J. D'Ameila & Associates (JDA). JDA subcontracts operation of RAP to six local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and one Community Action Agency in the state.  A family that is issued a RAP certificate is responsible for finding a suitable housing unity of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of quality and safety as defined by the State of Connecticut, which has adopted the federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS) as established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A housing subsidy is paid by JDA directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family pats the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.  Who is Eligible? : Eligibility for a RAP Certificate is determined based upon the household's annual gross income and the state's definition of a family. Participation is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the annual median income (AMI) for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. Connecticut has adopted the AMI levels published by HUD. These levels vary by location throughout the state. How does a Family Apply? : The Department of Housing will re-open the waiting list to accept applications when most people on the waiting list have been served. When the list is about to be opened, a notice and pre-application form will be placed in local newspapers as well as on the DOH web-site. RAP Certificates - How do they Function? : The Rental Assistance Program leaves the choice of housing up to the family or individual. A very low-income family selected by JDA to participate is encouraged to consider several housing choices to secure the best housing for its needs. A certificate holder is advised of the unit size for which their family is eligible, based on family size and composition. The housing unit selected by the family must meet an acceptable level of quality and safety before the PHA can approve the unit. When the certificate holder finds a unit that she or he wishes to occupy and reaches an agreement with the landlord over the rental agreement terms, the PHA must inspect the dwelling and determine that it meets housing quality standards.