Housing & Community Development Department - City of Melbourne, Florida
Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program
 
  Is your household headed by a person who is elderly or disabled?
  Are you having trouble finding a decent, affordable rental unit because your income is low?

If you answered yes to these questions, the City of Melbourne’s Housing and Community Development Department may be able to assist you! 

The information below provides a brief overview of the City of Melbourne’s Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program. Individuals interested in finding out more specific information about the program should call the Housing and Community Development Department at (321) 674-5734.
 
What is Tenant Based Rental Assistance?   Applicant Eligibility

The City of Melbourne’s TBRA program is funded by the HOME Investment Partnership Program. This Federal source provides the City with funding to assist extremely low- and very low-income households with monthly rental and utility expenses.

The TBRA program provides temporary monthly rental assistance - a maximum of two years - to households headed by a person who is either elderly or disabled.  It is expected that assistance recipients will transition to a permanent housing subsidy program.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. For more information, contact Florida Commission on Human Relations 1-800-342-8170 or the Housing and Community Development Office.

Income Limits

Total income from all sources for all household members must not exceed the following limits for family size:

Household Size

Income Limits*

1

$20,050

2

$22,900

3

$25,800

4

$28,650

5

$30,950

6

$33,250

7

$35,550

8

$37,800

* 2007 Income Limits 
adjusted to family size

How To Apply

For additional information please contact the Department at (321) 674-5734. If you require special accommodations to participate, please notify City staff.

Persons who wish to apply for assistance through the City of Melbourne’s Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program must meet certain eligibility requirements.

Household income may not exceed 50% of the median income adjusted for family size for the Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay MSA as determined annually by HUD.
The household head must either be a person who is elderly or a person with a disability.
Households currently residing in Public Housing or other rent subsidized housing are not eligible for TBRA.
Applicants may not have been evicted from Public Housing or other rent subsidized housing during the last five years and must not have any outstanding debt owed to a federal or state housing program (unless an approved repayment plan is in effect and current).
No member of the household may have engaged in drug related or violent criminal activity during the last three years.
Assistance cannot cause the applicant to exceed the $75,000 lifetime City housing assistance cap.
The total assets of the household must not exceed $7,500.

Unit Eligibility

If approved for TBRA, the rental unit chosen by the TBRA recipient must meet the following eligibility guidelines:

The unit must be located in the city limits of Melbourne.

The unit must comply with the more restrictive of the International Property Maintenance Code and the Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.
A lease of at least 12 months is required.  Assistance for overnight or emergency shelter is prohibited.
Units receiving project-based Section 8 assistance are ineligible.
Contract rent for the unit must be reasonable for the unit size as determined by the City.
 

Housing & Community Development
 695 E. University Boulevard
Melbourne, FL  32901-7121

Phone:  (321)  674-5734
Fax:      (321)  674-5738
E-Mail:  housingcdbg@melbourneflorida.org

 
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