HOME-Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program—administered in Arkansas through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)—offers a powerful opportunity for local agencies and organizations to strengthen housing security for low-income households.

About the Program

About the Program

TBRA provides direct rental assistance to eligible low-income households, helping them afford safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private rental market. Unlike project-based rental programs that are tied to a specific property, TBRA follows the tenant, allowing families the flexibility to choose where they live—fostering neighborhood choice, mobility, and long-term stability.

Assistance can cover:

  • Monthly rental payments
  • Utility deposits and security deposits for households in transition

Why Should Agencies Apply?

Participating as a TBRA administrator positions your organization as a leader in community housing solutions. Through partnership with ADFA, applicant agencies can directly impact housing affordability, reduce homelessness, and support individuals transitioning from temporary or unstable housing situations. Benefits of participation include:

  • Strengthening your community’s housing network
  • Leveraging federal HOME funds to expand local impact
  • Providing critical support for vulnerable populations, including families with children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities
  • Enhancing your agency’s capacity for future HUD and community development initiatives

How TBRA Strengthens Communities

The TBRA program is more than just rental assistance—it’s a pathway to stability and independence. By empowering families to choose where they live, communities experience:

  • Increased access to education and employment opportunities
  • Reduced housing insecurity and homelessness
  • Stronger local partnerships between housing agencies and landlords

Join the Effort

ADFA encourages eligible agencies to apply for TBRA funding and become a vital part of Arkansas’s mission to expand affordable housing opportunities. Together, we can ensure that every Arkansan has a place to call home.

Eligible applicant agencies include:

  • Units of local government
  • Public housing authorities
  • Non-profit housing organizations
  • Community development agencies with history of managing housing programs

 

Agencies must show:

  • Administrative and financial capacity to manage federal funds
  • Experience with housing program compliance and tenant eligibility
  • A clear plan for outreach, case management, and program reporting

 

Household Eligibility Requirements Under Eligible Agency Administration

Households assisted under TBRA must:

  • Have incomes at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
  • Reside in HUD-inspected, standard housing units
  • Agree to participate in the program and comply with lease terms

 

Priority is often given to households experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or facing displacement due to domestic violence or other qualifying hardships.

Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) funding will be in the form of a grant.

Contact Our Team

Patricia Cearns

Grant Administrative Assistant

Daniel Booth

Program Coordinator

5016825861