About the Tenant Resource Network Program

The purpose of the Tenant Resource Network (TRN) is preservation of HUD-assisted affordable housing through grants to qualified applicant organizations to assist, inform, educate and engage tenants of eligible Section 8 assisted properties regarding their rights, responsibilities and options. Eligible properties are those at risk of losing affordability protections or project-based rental assistance (PBRA).

To be eligible for TRN activity, properties must have expiring Section 8 HAP contracts and be experiencing one or more of the following triggering events:

1. an FHA insured or Direct mortgage maturity date that falls within the 24-month period following July 1, 2012;
2. receipt by HUD of an owner election to Opt-out, as evidenced by receipt of an Owner Election Form selecting “Option 6: Opt Out,” on or after date of publication of the NOFA through July 1, 2014;
3. receipt by HUD of an owner 12-month notification of Opt Out on or after the date of publication of the NOFA;
4. a notice of prepayment filed by the owner on or after date of publication of the NOFA; and/or
5. the receipt of two consecutive Below 60 REAC scores (where the Section 8 project based rental assistance contract is not yet under abatement), with the most recent score issued on or after the date of publication of the NOFA.

TRN is developed under the authority of Section 514 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA). The program aims to engage tenants in efforts to preserve eligible properties as affordable housing, and to provide tenants with information on their rights and responsibilities based on 24 CFR, Part 245 and guidance in HUD Handbook 4381.5.

 A total of $10 million dollars has been appropriated from the Department’s Fiscal Year 2010 PBRA account to make grants available for tenant outreach activities. The funds will be awarded through a competitive FY 2011 NOFA to private nonprofit organizations that satisfy eligibility criteria and demonstrate capacity to develop and administer tenant outreach activities to meet the stated goals of the program.

The Tenant Resource Network Program (FR-5500-N-31) was posted on Grants.gov on October 17, 2011 and a Technical Correction was made on December 4, 2011 and then again on January 3, 2012. The due date was February 2, 2011.

HUD received 25 unique applications for the program. Fifteen organizations were selected for award in June 2012.  To view the organizations selected for the award and award amounts, please see the press release using the link to the right.