Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§12908 Rental Assistance

Title 42 › CHAPTER 131 — HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS › § 12908

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Grants must be used only to help low-income, eligible people pay rent. The help can be tied to a building or follow the person who rents. As much as possible, the rules used should match federal rental voucher rules. The housing must be decent, safe, and clean. People may live in shared homes, and shared-housing rules can apply to nonelderly people too. The federal housing official may set shared-housing standards, but only change them when needed for different shared-living situations. Recipients must arrange for qualified local service providers to help the people getting rent aid. If someone with AIDS or a related disease needs more care than the housing can give, the recipient must find and refer that person to an appropriate care provider. Project sponsors may use grant money to pay administrative costs, subject to related grant rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §12908

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Use of funds
(1)In general
Grants under this section may be used only for assistance to provide rental assistance for low-income eligible persons. Such assistance may be project based or tenant based and shall be provided to the extent practicable in the manner provided for under section 1437f of this title. Grantees shall ensure that the housing provided is decent, safe, and sanitary.
(2)Shared housing arrangements
Grants under this section may be used to assist individuals who elect to reside in shared housing arrangements in the manner provided under section 1437f(p) of this title, except that, notwithstanding such section, assistance under this section may be made available to nonelderly individuals. The Secretary shall issue any standards for shared housing under this paragraph that vary from standards issued under section 1437f(p) of this title only to the extent necessary to provide for circumstances of shared housing arrangements under this paragraph that differ from circumstances of shared housing arrangements for elderly families under section 1437f(p) of this title.
(b)Limitations
A recipient under this section shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)Services
The recipient shall provide for qualified service providers in the area to provide appropriate services to the eligible persons assisted under this section.
(2)Intensive assistance
For any individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases who requires more care than can be provided in housing assisted under this section, the recipient shall provide for the locating of a care provider who can appropriately care for the individual and referral of the individual to the care provider.
(c)Administrative costs
A project sponsor providing rental assistance under this section may use amounts from any grant received under this section for administrative expenses involved in providing such assistance, subject to the provisions of 12905(g)(2) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(A), substituted “Rental assistance” for “Short-term rental assistance” in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(B), (j)(11)(D), struck out “short-term” before “rental assistance” and substituted “eligible persons” for “individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(j)(6), substituted “eligible persons” for “individuals”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(j)(7), inserted “with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases” after “any individual”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(C), added subsec. (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 12908

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110