Criteria

An eligible displacee who rents a replacement dwelling is entitled to a payment, not to exceed
$9,570
, for rental assistance. Such payment shall be 42 times the amount obtained by subtracting the
base monthly rental
 for the displacement dwelling from the lesser of:
  • the monthly rent and estimated average monthly cost of utilities for a comparable replacement dwelling; or
  • the monthly rent and estimated average monthly cost of utilities for the DSS replacement dwelling actually occupied by the displacee.
The base monthly rental for the displacement dwelling is the lesser of:
  • the average monthly cost for rent and utilities at the displacement dwelling for a reasonable period of time prior to displacement; or “fair market rent” if the displacee is an owner-occupant or a tenant that pays “little or no rent.” TxDOT defines “little or no rent” as less than half of the estimated rent of displacement dwelling on the open market;
  • thirty percent (30%) of the displacee’s average monthly gross household income if the amount is classified as “low income” by HUD
    in its most recently published Uniform Relocation Act Income Limits (“Survey”);
  • the total of the amounts designated for shelter and utilities if the person receives a welfare assistance payment from a program that specifically designates that amount only for shelter and utilities.