Tiered Rent Overview

Tiered Rent Program

AMHA is a part of a special rent study with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ten public housing agencies across the country, including AMHA, will test an alternative method of calculating households’ rent portions. The new method that AMHA is testing is called Tiered Rent.

Only some households are eligible for the rent study. All households that are eligible will be randomly assigned to either the current Standard Rent rules or the new Tiered Rent rules during their annual reexamination process. The rent study will last for approximately 6 years to see if the Tiered Rent policy helps households. The study is being conducted by HUD and MDRC, a non-profit research organization.

If your household has been assigned to the Tiered Rent policy, please review the information below and contact your specialist with any questions. You can also view informational videos about Tiered Rent here.

Tiered Rent Information:

Tiered Rent Summary Sheet

Tiered Rent Frequently Asked Questions

The Tiered Rent policy determines households’ monthly rent payment based on which income range or “tier” the households’ income falls into
View the Tiered Rent Table

Every households in the same tier has the same tiered rent monthly payment.

The monthly rent payment is set and stays the same for 3 years.

Households only have to report their income and do a recertification every 3 years, but are still required to report if someone leaves or joins the household.

Hardship Information:

Hardship Summary Sheet

Hardship Frequently Asked Questions

If, at any point, a household has a financial hardship, they can request a temporary reduction in their monthly payment by completing a hardship request form.

To apply for a hardship, complete the online request form and be sure to include proof of the hardship and proof of all current income in the household. If proof of the hardship and all income are not attached, the hardship will be denied. Households may apply or re-apply for a hardship rent any time they are experiencing a hardship that may drop their income into a lower tier.

When the hardship expires, the household will return to the tiered rent assigned at their last triennial income reexamination.

Reasons for a Hardship:

Reason for Hardship	Length of Hardship	Hardship Rent - rent will only be lowered if the household drops to a lower tier
Temporary Decreased Income (unpaid leave, seasonal income – lasting more than 1 month up to 6 months)	6 Months	The tier corresponding to the household’s current income.
Decreased Income	12 Months	The tier corresponding to the household’s current income.
At least $2,500 in qualifying childcare expenses	12 Months	The tier corresponding to the household’s current income minus any qualifying childcare expenses.
Large Family (6 or more dependents)	12 Months	The tier corresponding to the household’s current income minus a $1,200 large family credit.
Newly Full-Time Student (not head, co-head, or spouse)	12 Months	The tier corresponding to the household’s current income excluding all but $480 of the full-time student’s income.
Other Circumstances (such as significant increase in expenses like a large medical bill, death in the family, etc.)	6 Months	Determination will be made on a case by case basis.