To find out if you are in a Rapid Rehousing Program, you may look up your program.
Recertification
- Regular Recertification. Since Rapid Rehousing assistance is time-limited, tenants must only certify their income at the beginning of their tenancy
- Interim Recertification. If there are changes in household size or income during the first year of tenancy, Rapid Rehousing tenants must ask their case manager or program manager for an interim recertification within 30 days to add/remove a household member or adjust their rent according to the new household income.
- Rent Calculation. Rapid Rehousing tenant rent is calculated as approximately 30% of monthly income minus a utility allowance. All tenants who pay for utilities must have a utility allowance included in their rent calculation.
- For more information about recertifications in Rapid Rehousing, go to the HUD Handbook 4350.3, Chapters 5 and 7.
Transfers / Moves
- Requesting transfer. Tenants who need to move from their rapid rehousing property before the end of their 12-month lease may ask their case manager or program director to transfer their assistance to a new rental property. Such transfers can be difficult because the program may only be able to offer a subsidy for the number of months remaining on the lease. The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) may also facilitate a transfer to a different unit or a different Rapid Rehousing program as need arises.
- Domestic Violence Transfers. If a tenant needs to move for reasons related to violence in the home from an intimate partner or family member, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) requires the Rapid Rehousing program to assist with transferring the subsidy to a new unit. The Office of Homeless Services may also assist with such transfers.
- Moving Out. If a tenant moves out of a Rapid Rehousing unit voluntarily, they do not automatically lose their housing subsidy and can request to lease up a different unit with the subsidy for the number of months remaining on the lease.
Repairs
- Requesting repairs. Rapid Rehousing tenants may request repairs by phone or by mailing a letter to the management office or owner. They may also ask their case manager to advocate on their behalf.
- Inspections. The Office of Homeless Services may inspect the property, issue violations and stop subsidy payments to the owner, if the property does not meet Housing Quality Standards.
- Complaint Line. Tenants may submit complaints regarding repairs or other administrative issues by contacting the Office of Homeless Service at 215-686-4700 or ohs-generalinfo@phila.gov.
- For more information about a tenant’s legal rights to address repair issues, go to Repairs.
Subsidy Termination
- Due Process Protection. In terminating assistance to a Rapid Rehousing program participant, the program must provide a formal process that includes providing written notice of termination, a review of the decision in which the program participant is given the opportunity to present written or oral objections, and prompt written notice of the final decision. This decision is appealable to the Court of Common Pleas.
- Hard to House Population Protection. The program providing Rapid Rehousing for hard-to-house populations of homeless persons must exercise judgment and examine all extenuating circumstances in determining when violations are serious enough to warrant termination so that a program participant’s assistance is terminated only in the most severe cases.
- For additional information about the termination process see the Continuum of Care Interim Rule Section 578.91