Sec.17b-811a-2. Program administration and description

(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the commissioner shall implement and administer a transitionary rental assistance program for families that meet the eligibility requirements of section 17b-811a-3 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(b) An eligible family, whether or not it has received a transitionary rental assistance certificate, shall not receive assistance under this program if funds are not available.

(c) The department may administer the transitionary rental assistance program directly or it may designate one or more agents to administer the program. If an agent is designated to administer the program, the department shall enter into a contract with that agent. Such agent shall be required by contract to keep records in accordance with applicable state requirements.

(d) The commissioner may provide, on a one-time basis, up to twelve consecutive months of transitionary rental assistance.

(e) The department or its agent shall make transitionary rental assistance payments directly to an owner on behalf of an eligible family. No payment shall be made until (1) a lease has been executed by the family and the owner; (2) tenancy has been approved by the department or its agent; (3) the dwelling unit has passed a housing quality standard inspection; and (4) the department or its agent and the owner have entered into and executed a transitionary rental assistance contract. An eligible family shall make a monthly tenant contribution directly to the owner pursuant to an executed lease. The amount of the tenant contribution shall be determined in accordance with section 17b-811a-6 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(f) The commissioner shall develop a schedule of maximum allowable rent. Except as provided in section 17b-811a-6 (c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the department or its agent shall not grant a request for tenancy approval if it determines that the proposed rent under the lease is greater than the amount allowed pursuant to the schedule of maximum allowable rent. In developing the schedule, the commissioner shall consider the cost of rent in the different municipalities in which rental property is located; the type of housing (e.g., single family, apartment building); and the number of, and size of, bedrooms in the dwelling unit. The maximum allowable rent shall include a utility allowance that the commissioner shall develop. Said utility allowance shall include an allowance for all utilities paid by the eligible family except telephone service. The department or its agent shall use the utility allowance when determining the tenant contribution pursuant to section 17b-811a-6 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(g) Administrative responsibilities for the transitionary rental assistance program shall include family selection, family and landlord briefings, family and landlord outreach, family mobility counseling, promotion of housing choice and encouragement of racial and economic integration, dwelling unit inspection for compliance with housing and health codes, income and rent verifications, maintenance of records and other responsibilities as required by the commissioner.

(h) Participation by a landlord and by the department or its agent in the transitionary rental assistance program shall require compliance with all applicable federal and state fair housing law, rules and regulations.

(i) In accordance with section 17b-811a-3(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, a family may be eligible for transitionary rental assistance if an adult member is employed at the time the family leaves the TFA program and either; (1) has income which exceeds the TFA payment standard or (2) is employed for a minimum of 12 hours per week. The commissioner may determine at any time, in his discretion, that funding limitations require a priority to be established for allocating limited transitional assistance benefits. In such an eventuality, families with income that exceeds the TFA payment standard shall be afforded priority over families with an adult member who is employed for a minimum of 12 hours per week.

(Adopted effective March 9, 2006; Amended June 1, 2010)