Rent Assistance

The Rental Assistance Program(RAP) is the major state-supported program for assisting very low-low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants find their own housing, including apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes. The participant is free to choose any private rental housing that meets the requirements of the program. RAP certificates are fielded through the Department of Housing (DOH) and are administered statewide by DOH and its agent, J. D'Amelia & Associates(JDA). JDA subcontracts operation of RAP to six local Public Housing authorities (PHAs) and one Community Action Agency in the state. A family that is issued a RAP certificate is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of quality and safety as defined by the State of Connecticut, which has adopted the federal Housing Quality Standards(HQS) as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). A housing subsidy is paid by JDA directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Who is Eligible?  Eligibility for a RAP cetificate is determined based on the household's annual gross income and the state's definition of a family. Participation is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration statues. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the annual median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live.  How does a family apply? The Department of Housing will re-open the waiting list to accept applications when most people on the waiting list have been served.  When the list is about to be opened, a notice and pre-application form will be placed in local newspapers as well as on the DOH web-site.   The waiting list -- what is it and how does it affect me? Because the demand for housing assistance always exceeds the limited funds available, long waiting periods are common.  For example, DOH closes the waiting list when more families are on the list than can be assisted in the near future.