HOUSE BILL NO. 289 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 3, 2008 A BILL to direct the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish a rental assistance pilot project. ---------- Patron-- Englin ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  § 1. That as part of the homeless intervention program established in accordance with subdivision 21 of § 36-139 of the Code of Virginia, the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development shall establish a three-year rental assistance pilot project in geographic regions of the Commonwealth. The purpose of the pilot project is to fill the gap between family income and the cost of housing for very low income working families with priority to recipients of assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) created pursuant to § 63.2-600 of the Code of Virginia and working families and individuals living in shelters. The funding for the pilot project shall be from such moneys as are provided for that purpose in the general appropriation act.

§ 2. The Director shall require biannual reports from the participating localities in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, including (i) the number of eligible applicants for the pilot project, (ii) the number of eligible applicants served, (iii) the average monthly rental assistance amount, (iv) the average income of such persons from employment, and (v) such other information as the Director deems necessary.

§ 3. At the end of the three-year period, the Director shall make a final report to the Governor and the Housing Commission on the effectiveness of the pilot project indicating overall family outcomes of the eligible recipients relative to employment, income, and housing status, and such other relevant information as the Director deems appropriate. The Director shall include in the final report his findings and recommendations.