Rental Assistance

Opening Doors to Independence
Speaking from personal experience, it is the only program that I have yet come across that actually provides incentives to become self sufficient and invest in homeownership. I simply cannot describe the feeling of being able to pay my own way through life. The self confidence that I feel now, as a direct result of the choices I have made and the people who were there to help guide me, has opened doors to all sorts of new possibilities.” ~ Hallie Bissett, former TBRA/FSS client

A Program to Build Self-sufficiency
The Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program is designed to provide rental assistance funds to Native American individuals and families to effectively reduce their monthly housing cost (rent + tenant paid utilities) to an affordable level (30% of their household income). The TBRA program works hand in hand with a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, requiring that clients work with CIHA staff to set and attain goals related primarily to education and employment.

The FSS Program also includes a counseling component related to future homeownership, i.e., planning for future home purchase, money management, credit repair, and homeowner responsibilities. Additionally, it includes a significant opportunity to access matching funds to assist in future down payment requirements.

Program participants may choose from all available rental units in the market, subject to some limitations. Individual participation in the program is limited to a total of five years.

The TBRA Program includes several different types of rental assistance vouchers, including those for families, elderly persons (62+), and persons needing temporary or transitional housing assistance due to medical reasons.

The program is available to families earning 60% or less of area median income or, for example, as much as (approximatley) $47,000 annually for a family of four.

Rental units occupied by participating clients must meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS) established by CIHA at initial occupancy and throughout the term of the tenancy. Staff will complete unit inspections prior to occupancy and at least once annually to ensure HQS compliance and continued eligibility of the unit in the program.

Interested?
The TBRA Program accepts applications on a limited basis. For information about the program or the next open application period, call our Housing Services Department at 793-3000 or stop by our office located at 3510 Spenard Road, Suite 100, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.