1. Calculating Resident Rent
Homelessness 101:
Managing HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grants
Calculating Resident Rent
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), San Francisco Regional Office
Training provided by [Insert Agency Name Here]
Materials created by HomeBase/ The Center for Common Concerns, Inc.

2. Big Picture: What this Training Covers
There are specific rules that govern the amount of rent that can be charged of participants in HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant-funded programs. Rental amounts must be
calculated
correctly
THIS TRAINING COVERS TENANT RENTAL CALCULATIONS --
NOT THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE LANDLORD TO LEASE THE PROPERTY AND
NOT PROGRAM FEES

3. Overview: 6 Responsibilities
We have organized what you need to know about accurately calculating resident rent into 6 responsibilities:
1. Fix policies 4. Review rental amounts
2. Calculate rent 5. Use/account appropriately
3. Maintain documentation 6. Monitor

4. Responsibility 1: Rental Calculation Policies, Procedures, & Systems
Your agency should have
Published written policies and procedures
Created systems to ensure compliance with resident rent requirements.
Overcharging or Undercharging Rent Has Serious Consequences!

5. 1A. Requirement to Charge Rent
Not required, but may charge rent
Supportive Housing Programs (SHP)
Required
Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO

6. 1B: Amount of Rent Tenant rental amounts are the highest of
30% of monthly adjusted income (specifically, 1/12th of annual adjusted income)
10% of monthly gross income
Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO or S+C SRO: a minimum monthly payment (e.g., $25.00 to $50.00 a month) as the Housing Authority specifies, with one exception (refer to the manual for more information)
Exception (SHP only): If an SHP recipient charges rent, then the rental amount cannot exceed, but may be less than, the amount calculated above.

7. 1C. Verified Information
The amount of rent will be a function of:
household composition
anticipated income
anticipated expenses
anticipated “allowances”
anticipated household-paid utilities
Rental calculations must be based on “verified information”
Residents must supply the necessary certifications, releases, information, or other documentation to verify information.

8. 1D. Other PP&S
Your agency needs to have policies, procedures and systems supporting these other responsibilities:
Calculating Rent (Responsibility 2)
Proving Compliance (Responsibility 3)
Reviewing Calculations (Responsibility 4)
Managing Financial Obligations (Responsibility 5)
Monitoring Compliance (Responsibility 6)

9. Responsibility 2: Calculate Rental Amount
The goal – what is the highest of:
30% of monthly adjusted income (specifically, 1/12th of annual adjusted income)
10% of monthly gross income
Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO or S+C SRO: a minimum monthly payment (e.g., $25.00 to $50.00 a month) as the Housing Authority specifies, with one exception (refer to the manual for more information)

10. Step 1: Determine the Household’s Annual Income
Identify household members
Categorize income sources as “included” or “excluded” using Appendices C and D
Input information into Rent Calculation Worksheet tab: “Included and Excluded Income”
Determine whether Mandatory Earned Income Disallowance applies (SHP, Section 8 SRO projects only)

11. Step 2: Determine the Dependent Allowance
$480 per dependent
Dependents are
minors;
household members who are disabled or handicapped; and
full-time students
But, dependents are NOT
head of household or spouse;
in SHP and S+C, a person living with the eligible participant because he or she is important for the care of the eligible person; or
foster children

12. Step 3: Determine the Child Care Allowance
Anticipated, unreimbursed, reasonable child care costs for children 12 years old and under
needed to permit a household member to work; or
needed to permit a household member to pursue education.
The deduction amount cannot exceed the income received from work.

13. Step 4: Determine the Disabled (Handicapped) Assistance Allowance
The reasonable, unreimbursed expenses for either
attendant care for a disabled household member provided by a non-household member; or
“auxiliary apparatus” that enables a disabled household member or another household member to work.
The amount that is deducted from income is the amount of the unreimbursed expense
that exceeds 3% of gross income,
up to the amount earned by the adult household member(s) as a result of the Disabled Assistance.

14. Step 5: Determine Medical Expenses Allowance (Elderly or Disabled)
Unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding 3% of annual income
Incurred by the household’s head, co-head, spouse, or sole member
who is at least 62 years of age; or
disabled
The amount of this allowance depends on the amount of the Disabled Assistance expenses calculated in Step 4.

15. Step 6: Determine the Elderly/Disabled Household Allowance
Any household with a head, co-head, spouse of sole member who is
at least 62 years of age or
disabled
is entitled to a $400 per household allowance

16. Step 7: Determine the Amount of Resident Rent
What is the rental amount – highest of:
30% of monthly adjusted income
10% of monthly gross income
For SHP, your agency’s lesser rental amount
For Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO or S+C SRO, a minimum monthly payment, but . . .
hardships
40% of adjusted income

17. Step 8: Determine Household-paid Utilities Offset/Reimbursement
Obtain verified information of the anticipated cost of utilities that the household must pay
Assess reasonableness: compare to your public housing authority’s schedule of utility allowances
If the cost of utilities is less than the permitted monthly rental amount, the amount of rent is reduced by the cost of utilities
If the cost of utilities is more than the permitted monthly rental amount, the household receives a utility reimbursement

18. Responsibility 3: Maintain a Filing System and Documentation to Prove Compliance
Documentation to keep in the tenant’s file
All pieces of rent calculations
Critical pieces to include
Verification of anticipated income
Verification of anticipated expenses including those relevant to allowances and utilities offset/reimbursement calculations
Rental calculation
Notes regarding deviations and special circumstances

19. Responsibility 4: Review Rental Amounts
Review Timing
Must occur at least annually.
Interim reviews: a tenant may request if changes in family or income occur that would decrease rent.
Residents with Increased Income
Programs may, but do not need to, increase rent before the next scheduled (at least annual) review
Program policies should apply to all tenants equally

20. Responsibility 5: Use of Program Income & Accounting for Rental Income
For SHP programs, rent = “program income.”
Program income should be
Treated as additional SHP funds subject to all applicable requirements for SHP
Used for previously approved eligible activities in the project (although rent can be put into client savings accounts)
Used before additional cash withdrawals are made from SHP funds
For S+C programs, ensure that each tenant pays rent on time and in the correct amount. 
All grantees, ensure that rent is used per the grant agreement (pp of Calculating Resident Rent booklet)

21. Responsibility 6: Monitor for Compliance and Quality Control
HUD requires monitoring all policies and procedures to ensure quality control, including compliance with HUD requirements.

22. MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
Your agency must have policies and procedures that comply with HUD’s requirements.
Rent calculation errors have serious consequences.
Help is available if you have questions.
Document, document, document!

23. Other Resources
A list of other resources can be found in your Calculating Resident Rent booklet.
Grantees should call their local HUD representative with questions; sponsors should call their grantees.
For other support, you can also contact:
[Insert Contact Information]

24. For additional information, contact:
[Insert Contact Information]
Or visit HomeBase’s webpage to access the Calculating Resident Rent materials at: