RIHousing announced a new rental assistance program for eligible Rhode Island renters struggling to pay their rent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency’s HOME Emergency Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program (HOME E-TBRA) will help low- to moderate-income families negatively impacted by the unprecedented loss of jobs and income due to COVID-19. RIHousing is utilizing $500,000 in funding from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to establish the COVID-19 E-TBRA program. Tenants that meet income eligibility guidelines and live in multifamily rental units, duplexes and single-family residential units owned and operated by individuals or apartments owned by corporate landlords are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to households that are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of imminent homelessness as a result of COVID-19, and/or have experienced a loss of job/income as result of the pandemic.
The E-TBRA will assist approximately 60 to100 income eligible households with security deposit and/or housing payment assistance from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Assistance payments will be made directly to landlords, who will be required to meet certain housing standards and enter into a contract with the agency.
