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RENTAL AND VENDOR PAYMENTS 11.4

A Rental Vendor Payment (RVP) is a restricted TANF payment made to an individual or organization providing living accommodations to a TANF recipient. The purpose of the RVP is to reduce the frequency in which TANF families face eviction or the threat of eviction by assisting recipients in meeting their monthly rent obligations.

RVPs can be made by the Department on a voluntary or involuntary basis. In both cases, the TANF benefit is split. A direct deposit is electronically issued directly to the bank account of the landlord or entity providing housing to the TANF group for the amount of the rental charge. The balance of the TANF benefit (the grant level minus the RVP) is posted to the recipient’s EBT account.

Voluntary Participation 11.4.1

A discussion of a voluntary RVP agreement is generally initiated by the TANF recipient (often at the urging of the individual’s landlord), but may be initiated by an SSR or FSA staff member.

When discussing the agreement with the recipient, the SSR must explain the following to the recipient:

 the purpose of the agreement is to assist the recipient in paying the rent regularly;  the agreement will initially be in place for six months;  the payment will be made directly to the landlord in the amount of the full rental obligation;  the agreement is voluntary and can be terminated prior to six months;  if the recipient chooses to terminate the agreement, s/he must provide 30 days advance notice and sign a request to withdraw from the rental vendor program; • the recipient’s benefit after payment of the rent charge must be $10 or more;  the execution of the agreement requires notifying the landlord of the tenant involved; and  the agreement should not be established, if the recipient does not want the landlord to know who is paying the rent or that the family is receiving TANF.

No pressure or coercion should be applied to force an agreement. The SSR, however, should explain to the recipient that involuntary agreements may also be initiated by the Department.

If the recipient chooses to participate in the Rental Vendor Program, the SSR must complete a voluntary agreement for Direct Rental Payment. This agreement must be signed by the recipient and witnessed by a third party. The agreement is sent to the RVP unit for processing.

Involuntary Participation 11.4.2

To initiate an involuntary or mandatory RVP, a complaint must be filed by one of the following: staff of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, staff of the Office of Emergency Shelter and Support Services, FSA, private landlords, or an adult relative of the recipient. The complaint must be submitted in writing on the prescribed form and must be signed and dated by the complainant. It should include as much identifying information as possible on the TANF recipient and the family’s current housing arrangement. In addition, the complaint should include:

 a description of the events which took place, including the months and years in which non-payment of rent, or late payments, occurred;  an explanation of how rent was paid, if it was paid late. For example, if the rent was paid late and the complainant knows the rent was paid by contributions made by relatives or charitable organizations, that information should be on the complaint filed.; and