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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 14. HOUSING |
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Chapter 14-91. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM: RENT REFORM DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM |
Section 14-9199. DEFINITIONS
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Control Group – HCVP participants who are randomly selected for the program, but have their vouchers administered pursuant to the existing DCHA HCVP Administrative Plan. These families shall be followed for the entire length of the program and their progress toward self-sufficiency shall be compared to the study group.
Current/Anticipated Income – Prospective annual income based upon the earnings and benefits received at the time of the certification. It may be used in calculating income used to determine TTP in certain circumstances.
Elderly Household - Elderly households are defined, for the purposes of participation in the Rent Reform Demonstration, (both the experimental and control groups), as households whose head, spouse or sole member is 56 years or older at the time the family would enter the study group.
Family Share - The Family Share is calculated by subtracting the amount of the total housing assistance payment (HAP) from gross rent.
Interim Recertification – a certification of a household’s income that occurs in between regularly scheduled triennial recertification. Households may request one interim recertification if they experience a reduction in income each year.
Minimum Rent – The minimum amount a Head of Household must contribute toward their lease rent. This amount must be paid directly to the owner each month, even if 28% of monthly income is less than the minimum rent. The minimum rent for study participants is $75.
Rent Reform Demonstration – a study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to evaluate a Housing Choice Voucher (HCVP) alternative rent reform policy. The demonstration implements alternative rent calculations and recertification strategies at several PHAs across the country in order to fully test the policies. DCHA is one of the participants in the study.
Rent Burden – When a family is initially certified for the Rent Reform Demonstration, and when they move to a new unit, the maximum rent burden is 40% of the household’s gross monthly income. If the family’s TTP exceeds this amount, the unit shall be disapproved. This maximum rent burden does not apply in future certifications if the household remains in the same unit.
Rent to Owner - The amount payable monthly by the Family as rent to the unit owner which equals the TTP minus the utility allowance, if applicable. However, if the Family Share is less than the Minimum Rent the rent to owner equals minimum rent.
Retrospective Income – Total household income that was received in the 12 month (look-back) period prior to the recertification being conducted.
Study Group - HCVP Participants who are randomly selected for the program and shall have the alternative rent policies of the Rent Reform Demonstration applied to their subsidy participation. This family shall be followed for the entire length of the program and their progress toward self-sufficiency shall be compared to the control group.
Temporary Total Tenant Payment – a Total Tenant Payment set for a six-month grace period.
Total Tenant Payment (TTP) – The TTP is 28% of the Family gross income or minimum rent, whichever is higher.
Triennial Recertification – certification of a household’s income and family composition that is used to establish the household’s TTP three years from the date of the initial recertification for entry into this program.