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Long-Term Rental Assistance Program
The tenant-based long-term rental subsidy
program under HOPWA serves low income persons
with an AIDS diagnosis who require assistance
with rental payments for an extended period of
time (the program is hereafter referred to as
the Long-Term Rental Assistance Program or
“LTRA”). The goal of the program is to assist
program participants in achieving and
maintaining housing stability so as to avoid
homelessness and improve their access to, and
engagement in, HIV treatment and care
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Form of Assistance
The housing assistance
program provides eligible households with ongoing rental assistance, subject to
continued eligibility and the availability of HOPWA funds. Program participants
must pay a portion of the rent, usually 30% of their monthly adjusted household
income. The LTRA program pays the difference. Program participants select their
own rental housing (similar to the Section 8 Housing Choice Program) within
Miami-Dade County limits, however, the unit must pass a housing quality standard
inspection and the asking rent cannot exceed the HOPWA rent standard for
Miami-Dade County (100% of the annual Miami-Dade Fair Market Rents established
by U.S. HUD). Participants’ income eligibility must be recertified annually and
the rental units must pass re-inspection each year.
Housing Specialists Support
Clients participating in the LTRA Program receive the support of Housing
Specialists whose primary responsibilities are to perform initial eligibility
verification, enroll clients into the program and conduct annual
recertification, provide assistance to clients in understanding and completing
leases, and serves as a liaison between the client and landlord in lease
negotiation or in case of disputes. The Housing Specialist also serves as a
liaison between the client and Ryan White, PAC Waiver or other social service
case manager to ensure that the client receives the necessary services to
maintain independent living and that the client remains engaged in case
management, health care and other support services. The Housing Specialist also
shall assist an eligible person to locate affordable, suitable housing when the
need arises.
Who is Eligible?
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Applicant must be a resident of Miami-Dade County or will be taking residence in
Miami-Dade County.
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Applicant must have received a medical diagnosis of AIDS, as defined by the
Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”). In the case of a family unit applying for
HOPWA assistance, one (1) or more of the family members (regardless of age) must
have AIDS.
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Applicant’s income, or in the case of a family, the family’s income, must not
exceed 80% of the medium income for the Miami-Dade EMSA. In calculating income,
the HOPWA counts the income of all family members.
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Applicant may apply as an individual or as a family. A family is a household
composed of two (2) or more related persons with at least one person diagnosed
with AIDS. Persons in a family may be related by ties of blood, marriage, or
other legal sanctions or deemed to be important to the care or well-being of the
household member with AIDS.
Application Process:
The availability of funds and the opening of the application period is
advertised periodically in a general circulation newspaper with citywide
coverage at least 15 days prior to the acceptance of applications. Once the
application period expires, all applications are entered in an electronic
spreadsheet. This information is then used to generate a random lottery which
determines the order of the waiting list. Once the waiting list is established,
all applicants are informed, in writing, of their waiting list number. Receiving
a waiting list number does not directly qualify the applicant for the program.
When will the
City re-open the application period?
The City will re-open the application period once all of the applicants to our
current waitlist are served or as deemed necessary by the City of Miami.
Clients who encounter, or believe that they have encountered, discrimination on
the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national
origin, familial status, or disability shall be referred to fair housing and/or
legal counseling offered by local organizations such as H.O.P.E., Inc., H.E.L.P.,
Inc. and Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
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