The Rent Assistance Program (RAP) is designed to help low and moderate income single mothers rent privately owned housing.  The rental subsidy known as a housing assistance payment is paid directly to the property owner or designated payee each month.  This program is available to a limited number of families and allows them to pay approximately 30% to 40% of their income towards their monthly rent.  The program pays the balance of the rent directly to the landlord in the form of a monthly check.

A Mother’s Village Inc. requires that the Rent Assistance Program must determine that the requested rent for each unit be reasonable.  AMV further requires the program to compare the requested rent to private sector units which are similar in size, type, quality, and amenities which are located in the approximate vicinity.  The Rent Assistance Program also compares the unit's assessed value when making rent reasonableness determination.  If the requested rent appears to be unreasonable, program staff will contact the owner and enter into rent negotiations.  If staff is unable to amicably negotiate the rent with the owner and the tenant wishes to remain in the program, the tenant must seek suitable housing elsewhere.

People with disabilities may sometime need reasonable accommodations in order to fully utilize the housing program services. Such accommodations are granted to make the program accessible to disabled persons in a way that would otherwise not be possible due to their disability. All reasonable accommodation requests will be verified in order to ensure that the accommodation is reasonable.

The general criteria for tenant screening are:

•Applicants pay their rent on time
•Maintain their units in a clean, safe manner
•Abide by the terms of the lease
•Have the ability to live independently with or without supportive services

Screening materials include, but are not limited to:

•A letter from current employer stating length of employment, job duties and salary.  (If not employed, a letter from previous employer stating the same information and why the applicant is no longer employed or from college professor if currently a full time college student).
•A letter from a community advocate (ex. Pastor, Teacher, College Professor, Counselor, etc.) stating character of applicant and why the applicant should be selected for housing assistance.
•Letter from current landlord stating monthly rent and recommendation with rental payment history (any late payments need letter of explanation from applicant).
•Copy of current lease.
•An essay from the applicant stating why she is in financial need for housing payment assistance, what her housing vision is for her family and what her future plans are to provide housing without assistance (ex. Pursue college, job skill training, technical school, etc.).
•An essay stating why the applicant is a single mother (abuse, divorce, widow, never married, etc.)
•Birth certificates of children or other documentation that provides evidence of motherhood to the children in her home.

Housing payment assistance will be provided for duration of time that will meet the specific need of the applicant not longer than five (5) years.

Awardees will be selected through a committee that will review all applications including letters and essays submitted.