Landlord

The following information and forms will be part of the HCDVCC Rapid Rehousing process. Please do not hesitate to ask our team questions as needed.

Although Rapid Rehousing is a recent innovation, several agencies have continued to receive this funding for 20+ years. This is not a section 8 Housing Choice Voucher administered by the housing authority. HCDVCC is a 501(c)(3) agency that strives to help clients increase their wellness and housing stability. The supportive services we provide include case management/trauma support, counseling, employment assistance, educational services and rental and utility assistance. Services are voluntary.

Rapid Re-Housing is an intervention designed to help those who are homeless using the Housing First approach. Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life. While many Housing First programs provide rental assistance, or help clients to access rent subsidies, Rapid Re-Housing programs provide supportive services including case management/trauma support.

The goals are to help our clients obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and remain housed once all services end. The Core Components of rapid re-housing—housing identification, rental and move-in assistance, direct care and services-operationalize Housing First principles. Rapid Re-Housing programs are designed and developed to be flexible and responsive to the complexity of human needs. Our programs focus on nurturing the client’s own strengths, gifts, talents and agency to achieve their self-determined goals.

We will pay the application fee, deposit (up to two months rent to mitigate the risk you are taking working with our special needs population), and monthly rent. HCDVCC is guaranteeing one-year of rental assistance and a monthly utility stipend. Once rental assistance terminates, the client can continue with case management for an additional 6 months.

HCDVCC has several Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Rapid Rehousing Programs. Some of the programs are directly implemented by HCDVCC direct care staff, Trauma Support Partners (Case Manager) and some are subcontracted with other provider agencies in the community.

The federal statutes and regulations that govern these programs can be found on the following page Code of Federal Regulations (govinfo.gov). In addition, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA) ensures that:
A landlord cannot refuse to rent to a tenant solely because they are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking.

Landlords cannot evict tenants from their unit on the basis of criminal activity directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence or stalking – unless you can show there is an actual and imminent threat to the safety of other tenants if the tenant is not evicted.

Rental assistances cannot be revoked on the basis of criminal activity directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking – unless you can show there is an actual and imminent threat to the safety of other tenants or staff if the rental assistance is not revoked.

If the abuser is a member of the household, a landlord can evict the abuser for his or her acts of domestic violence but may not evict or otherwise penalize the victim or other members of the household — unless (as described above) you can show there is an actual imminent threat to the safety of other tenants or staff if the tenant is not evicted.

If the tenant or the tenant’s abuser share the rental assistance unit, the abuser can be removed from the subsidized unit for his or her acts of domestic violence, but (assuming the victim continues to qualify for the rental assistance) on this basis, unless (as described above) HCDVCC can show there is an actual and imminent threat to the safety of other tenants or staff if the rental assistance is not revoked.

Landlords may evict tenants for serious or repeated lease violations that are unrelated to domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, as long as it does not hold victims to a more demanding set of rules than it applies to tenants who are not victims of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking.

HCDVCC certifies all served with rental assistance are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, which entitles the victim to the above rights.

We will need a W9 from whomever we will be sending payments to whether it is application fee, rent, or deposit, the person accepting the rent must be willing to accept 3rd party checks that will come straight from the agency or accept a direct deposit (ACH). You will also need to complete our Landlord Form. This form is used to provide the agency with the move in fees that are being requested. The check or direct deposit will be issued to the person who is listed on the W9 before the client moves in. You must also allow the agency to complete an inspection on the unit.

The following forms are required (Right-click, download, click read-only, complete fields, and then save as):

Part 2a1 Landlord Packet
Part 2a2 W-9 English
Part 2b2 HUD Inspection (Our inspection is to make sure the home is safe, sanitary, and secure. We will be checking windows to ensure they open, close, and lock, doors lock properly, all smoke detectors are in working order, and a few other things. The water, gas, and electricity must be on and we will check that the water runs cold and hot. It is also a requirement that a refrigerator and stove be present at the time of the inspection. If they are not, then unfortunately the property will not pass inspection. Please let us know ahead of time if this is the case so we can discuss other options. If the previously mention items are done, we are sure the home will pass inspection. We are unable to make any payments, except the application fee, until the home passes the inspection.)
VAWA Addendum (included in landlord packet excel link above in number 1)

After the lease has been signed, we will need a copy, including any addendums, to include in the client’s file. We request the client only be in a 12-month lease. We have allocated funds to guarantee a year of payments for each client. However, if a client vacates a unit, then we can no longer pay for a client that is no longer in the unit. If we have other clients which the property owner is willing to house, we will work to get a new client into that residence, to hopefully prevent any gaps in payments. In addition, the lease is between the property owner and the lease holder, and the lease holder is responsible for the lease and all its provision not HCDVCC.

Landlord Benefits

You will get timely and dependable monthly payments from HCDVCC.
You will get your full rental payment.  Utility allowances (pdf link) are paid to utility providers.
You may request annual reasonable rent increases. HUD CoC Program uses a rent reasonableness payment standard evaluating the proposed unit and 3 other comparable units in the area.
You have the opportunity to help families with children by providing affordable housing.

Landlord Dos

Do call the assigned direct care worker if you have any tenant problems that we may be able to assist with.
Do follow the Texas laws in terms of landlord and tenants’ rights (Renter’s Rights | Office of the Attorney General (texasattorneygeneral.gov)
Do expect us to advocate for our client.

Landlord Don’ts

Do not expect HCDVCC to evict or have control over the client’s choices.
Do not provide a different lease to tenant than HCDVCC.
Do not agree to allow tenant to pay over the rental amount on the lease with their own funds.
Do not tell us not to send the payment because you are evicting the tenant.  We will send the payment until a judge approves the eviction.

Additional information links on housing rights for survivors of domestic violence from the: