Ch 8. RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

    Ch 8 Outline

  1. 1. APPLICABILITY
  2. 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
  3. 3. PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS
  4. 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE
    1. A. Participant Requirements and Terms of Agreement
      1. 1) No Outstanding Debts
      2. 2) Eligible Units
      3. 3) Written Agreement
      4. 4) Location
      5. 5) Principal Residence
      6. 6) Proof of Registration
      7. 7) Signatory Requirement
      8. 8) Direct Payments
      9. 9) Changing Rental Units
      10. 10) Termination of Tenancy
      11. 11) No Subletting
    2. B. Certification by LNHA Maintenance
    3. C. Agreement with Landlord
  5. 5. SELECTION PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS
    1. A. General Provisions
    2. B. Order of Selection
    3. C. Acceptance Time Limit
  6. 6. INCOME REQUIREMENTS
  7. 7. PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
    1. A. Amount of Assistance
      1. 1) Studio and One-Bedroom Units
      2. 2) Two-Bedroom Units
      3. 3) Units with Three or More Bedrooms
    2. B. Initiation of Assistance
    3. C. Denial and Termination of Assistance
      1. 1) Bedroom Size Limits
      2. 2) Ratio of Bedrooms to Occupants
      3. 3) Ratio of Assistance to Rent and Indians to Non-Indians
      4. 4) Non-Indian Participant’s Loss of Custody Over Enrolled Child
  8. 8. SPECIAL GUIDELINES FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
  9. 9. CERTIFICATION
  10. 10. STUDENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
    1. A. Full-Time Enrollment
    2. B. Grade Point Average
    3. C. Financial Aid Award Letter
    4. D. Program of Study Progress
    5. E. Income Eligibility

1. APPLICABILITY

The following policies apply exclusively to the Rental Assistance Program.

2. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

The Rental Assistance Program is designed to assist low-income Lummi Tribal Members with rental payments for units not covered under any other LNHA programs.

3. PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS

Participants in the Rental Assistance Program shall not pay more than thirty percent (30%) of their adjusted income towards monthly rental payments. For income calculation criteria, refer to Appendix A.

4. REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE

A. Participant Requirements and Terms of Agreement

In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria detailed in Chapter 2 of these policies, applicants/participants must satisfy the following requirements:

1) No Outstanding Debts

Participants must have no outstanding debts to LNHA or must have been in compliance with a Payback Agreement for at least six months.

2) Eligible Units

The unit for which the applicant is receiving assistance must not be part of any LNHA program. However, this limitation does not apply to units located in Little Bear Creek that are not funded by LNHA.

3) Written Agreement

Applicants must have, and provide to LNHA, a written rental or lease agreement prior to receiving assistance.

4) Location

The rental unit must be located in Whatcom County, WA.

5) Principal Residence

The rental unit must be the participant’s principal place of residence.

6) Proof of Registration

Participants must provide proof that the rental unit is registered and licensed as a rental unit with the appropriate governing authority.

7) Signatory Requirement

Participants must be signatories on the rental or lease agreement.

8) Direct Payments

All assistance payments will be made directly to the owner/landlord of the property.

9) Changing Rental Units

Participants may change rental units and continue receiving assistance under the program.

10) Termination of Tenancy

Participants must inform LNHA upon termination of tenancy, at which point assistance will cease. Former participants wishing to receive assistance again must reapply.

11) No Subletting

Participants may not sublet or lease their units, regardless of the terms of the rental agreement.

B. Certification by LNHA Maintenance

Prior to receiving Rental Assistance, LNHA Maintenance staff must certify in writing that the rental unit is safe and habitable.

C. Agreement with Landlord

Before providing assistance, LNHA will execute an agreement with the landlord stipulating that the funds provided by LNHA will be used exclusively for monthly rental costs. The agreement also requires the landlord to notify LNHA of the unit’s vacancy within ten (10) days following the participant’s termination of occupancy.

5. SELECTION PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS

A. General Provisions

LNHA will select eligible applicants from the Rental Assistance Program waiting list based on the selection preferences (priority groups) outlined below and the applicant’s respective eligibility dates. Availability of this program is dependent on fiscal year program funding and remainder of program funds availability and program participation. Also, program availability may change from time to time without notice based upon funding.

B. Order of Selection

Applicants will be placed on waiting lists according to their qualifications in accordance with this policy. All applicants for the Rental Assistance Program must be enrolled Lummi Tribal Members. LNHA may also limit assistance based on the size of the unit to match the needs reflected in the waiting list.

C. Acceptance Time Limit

Upon being selected and receiving a notice of suitability, applicants have forty-five (45) days to provide LNHA with a signed lease for a unit. Failure to do so within this timeframe will result in termination of their selection and removal from the waiting list. The 45-day time limit begins once the applicant notifies LNHA of a prospective unit.

6. INCOME REQUIREMENTS

Participation requires household income at or below 80% of the applicable median income for Whatcom County or the United States, whichever is greater (see Appendix A). LNHA may allocate up to 10% of its funds to serve individuals with incomes between 80% and 100% of the median income, provided they demonstrate that their housing needs cannot be met through other means. Income eligibility will be determined at application, during suitability determination, and at each annual or interim certification. If an annual or interim certification reveals that a participant exceeds the initial income eligibility criteria, all assistance will cease.

7. PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A. Amount of Assistance

1) Studio and One-Bedroom Units

Eligible for up to $375 of assistance per month.

2) Two-Bedroom Units

Eligible for up to $475 of assistance per month.

3) Units with Three or More Bedrooms

Eligible for up to $575 of assistance per month.

B. Initiation of Assistance

Assistance will begin in the second month of the rental agreement. The security deposit and first month’s rent are the responsibility of the participant.

C. Denial and Termination of Assistance

Assistance will be denied or terminated under the following conditions:

1) Bedroom Size Limits

  1. Studio and One-Bedroom Units: If the monthly rent exceeds $750.
  2. Two-Bedroom Units: If the monthly rent exceeds $950.
  3. Three-Bedroom Units: If the monthly rent exceeds $1,150.

2) Ratio of Bedrooms to Occupants

Units with more bedrooms than occupants are ineligible for assistance under this program.

3) Ratio of Assistance to Rent and Indians to Non-Indians

  1. The ratio of monthly assistance provided by LNHA to the total monthly rent may not exceed the ratio of enrolled adult Indians to the total number of adults residing in the unit.
  2. Non-Indian participants residing in units due to custody over minor children who are enrolled members of the Lummi Nation will be considered Indians.
  3. When only one spouse of a married couple is an enrolled Indian, both spouses shall be considered Indians.

4) Non-Indian Participant’s Loss of Custody Over Enrolled Child

  1. If a non-Indian residing in a unit by virtue of their custody over an enrolled minor child loses permanent physical custody, they will be immediately terminated from the Rental Assistance Program.
  2. This also applies when the youngest enrolled minor child turns eighteen.
  3. Participants terminated from the program will receive at least 30 days’ notice prior to the termination effective date.

8. SPECIAL GUIDELINES FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Applicants enrolled full-time at a post-secondary educational institution will not have the income of housemates included in their income eligibility determination. Students must provide proof of full-time enrollment to LNHA.

9. CERTIFICATION

Participants are subject to the certification procedures detailed in Chapter 3, Section 11, Page 58. If certification reveals that a participant is no longer income eligible, LNHA will immediately cease assistance.

10. STUDENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE

A special provision of the Rental Assistance Program exists for full-time students attending accredited colleges or universities, excluding Northwest Indian College. Eligibility requirements are similar to the regular Rental Assistance Program, with the following exceptions:

A. Full-Time Enrollment

Participants must be enrolled full-time each quarter or semester. Full-time status is defined as a minimum of 12 quarter credits at community and technical colleges or 10 semester credits at universities. Participants must submit a full-time class schedule ten (10) days before the start of each new quarter or semester. Failure to submit a new class schedule or falling below full-time status will result in termination of assistance.

B. Grade Point Average

Participants must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better. Grades or transcripts must be submitted to LNHA within ten (10) days of the end of each quarter or semester. Falling below a 2.5 GPA will result in termination of assistance.

C. Financial Aid Award Letter

Participants must submit a Financial Aid Award Letter ten (10) days before the fall quarter or semester begins each year.

D. Program of Study Progress

Participants must submit a Program of Study Progress Letter ten (10) days before the fall quarter or semester begins each year.

E. Income Eligibility

The student’s household income must be at or below 80% of the median income for the county in which the residence is located, or the United States, whichever is greater. Participants must demonstrate that their housing needs cannot be met through other means.

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