D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 29-13007
Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 33, August 16, 2024
Rule 29-13007 - RENTAL ASSISTANCE13007.1Each Program participant whose monthly rent is more than thirty percent (30%) of the household's monthly net income is eligible to receive time-limited rental assistance that consists of a monthly rental subsidy that shall be paid by the Department or its designee directly to the landlord of an authorized rental unit.
13007.2The Department or its designee shall only provide rental assistance for authorized rental units.
13007.3The amount each Program participant shall pay toward rent each month is its monthly rental obligation, which shall be thirty percent (30%) of the household's monthly net income unless the household is:
(a) Eligible for additional rental reductions specified in § 13007.4 and 13007.7; or(b) Subject to sanctions, such as those specified in § 13016, that may increase this amount.13007.4A Program participant's maximum monthly rental obligation shall not exceed the total rent charged for their rental unit, regardless of what percentage of the household's net income that equates to.
13007.5Program rental assistance provided by the Department shall be the difference between the cost of rent and the household's rental obligation.
13007.6If the Department determines that funding is insufficient to fully fund the benefits described in this chapter, the Department shall identify the maximum rental cost per household it can cover while still fully funding other program benefits, and shall not exceed that level of per-household rental assistance for any Program participant.
13007.7The Department shall provide the following benefit-unavailability rental obligation discounts, which it shall use to determine the amount of a Program participant's discounted rental obligation:
(a) A Program participant that receives District cash assistance benefits, and that has its District cash assistance benefits reduced or terminated due to increased gross or net income resulting at least in part from documented earned income or self-employment income, shall have its monthly rental obligation reduced by the difference between the maximum monthly District cash assistance benefit amount for its cash assistance unit size and the actual amount of District cash assistance benefits it is receiving each month.(b) A Program participant that applies for District cash assistance benefits after enrolling in Career MAP but is denied District cash assistance benefits due to exceeding a gross or net income limit resulting at least in part from documented earned income or self-employment income shall have its monthly rental obligation reduced by the maximum monthly cash assistance benefit amount for its cash assistance unit size.(c) A Program participant that receives District Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and has its District SNAP benefits reduced or terminated due to increased gross or net income, or because 30% of its net income exceeded the level at which benefits are paid for its household size, resulting at least in part from documented earned income or self-employment income shall have its monthly rental obligation reduced by the difference between the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount for its SNAP household and the actual amount of District SNAP benefits it is receiving each month.(d) A Program participant that applies for District SNAP benefits after enrolling in Career MAP but is denied District SNAP benefits due to exceeding a gross or net income or asset limit, or for having thirty percent (30%) of its net income exceed the level at which benefits are paid for its household size, resulting at least in part from documented earned income or self-employment income shall have its monthly rental obligation reduced by the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount for its SNAP household size.(e) If a Program participant is subject to any District cash assistance or SNAP sanctions that reduce the amount of District cash assistance or SNAP benefits received, the calculations in Sections 13007.7(a)-(d) shall be performed excluding the sanctioned monthly District cash assistance or SNAP benefit amount.13007.8Each month's rental obligation, factoring in any discounts, shall be paid in one of the following two ways, depending on the terms of the payment plan:
(a) The Program participant pays its total rental obligation to the Department or the Department's designee, and the Department or the Department's designee pays the landlord the full amount including any late fees or court costs that accrue due to the Department's late or non-payment of rent; or(b) The Program participant pays its total rental obligation to the landlord, and the Department or the Department's designee pays the landlord the remaining rent owed.13007.9A Program participant shall either execute a release permitting the Department to access its household members' District cash assistance and SNAP benefits records for the duration of the Program or report any changes in the amount of its household members' District cash assistance and SNAP benefits to the Department or its designee within fifteen (15) business days of the change occurring. If the Department cannot verify a reported change independently, the Program participant shall provide supporting documentation.
13007.10If a Program participant, due to an emergency, needs additional funding to pay monthly rental obligations, the Department may approve the use of emergency funds for this purpose.
13007.11If a Program participant, due to significant health issues or a financial emergency, is temporarily unable to pay its monthly rental obligation without significant hardship, the Department may temporarily waive the Program participant's monthly rental obligation.
D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 29-13007
Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 8238 (6/9/2023)