On July 28, 2014, City Council approved, as part of the FY2014-2015 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs, the utilization of $220,000 of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds to provide direct assistance through the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to low-income, chronically homeless families. The City desires to enter into this funding agreement with the Orlando Housing Authority (OHA) to administer the City’s TBRA program. The OHA administers the federal government’s Section 8 housing voucher program after which the TBRA program is modeled. The City agrees to pay OHA an administration fee not to exceed $15,400 (7% of program cost) for administering the TBRA program.

The TBRA program is a tenant-based rental subsidy program that assists low-income families, which includes individuals, with housing costs such as rent, utilities, utility deposits and security deposits.  The rental subsidy funds the difference between what a tenant can afford and the actual rent charged for an affordable unit.  The program enables eligible households to receive assistance for rental units of their own choosing, provided the units meet basic program requirements. TBRA provides households with a stable and secure place to live while they increase their ability to be self-sufficient.

The City of Orlando 2011-2015 Consolidated Plan identifies rental housing options for people who are low-income as a high priority.   The purpose of the City’s TBRA program is to assist low-income, chronically homeless families.  This population continues to experience an unmet housing need.