Thanks to a generous grant from the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Columbia Housing Center is participating in a pilot program to help Howard Community College (HCC) students find and rent apartments in Columbia, MD. This program includes a rent subsidy to alleviate the financial constraints that students face in securing suitable accommodations during their educational journey.

This program is open to students who already have a rental agreement in place as well as those who need help finding housing near HCC. Please note, rent subsidies are only available for apartments located WITHIN HOWARD COUNTY.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Students must carry a minimum of 6 credits per semester and must be enrolled in both the Fall and Spring semesters.
• The student’s annual household income must be less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Howard County as defined by DHCD.
• Students must remain in good academic standing with HCC and be eligible for financial assistance based on their FAFSA application.
• Student must complete two hours of renter education with CHC.

Students must be referred to this program by HCC after verification of enrollment and financial aid eligibility.

Do you want to be considered for a rent subsidy?

Students who are eligible for the program should have been notified of their eligibility in an email from the Howard Community College Office of Financial Aid. If you believe you may be eligible for this program but have not received any information, contact HCC’s Office of Financial Aid Services by emailing [email protected] or calling 443-518-1260. You may also complete HCC’s Interest & Authorization Form.

Have you already been referred by HCC?

Complete the CHC intake form to get started. Please note that ONLY students who have been referred by Howard Community College should complete this form. You should have received a passcode by email.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How will program participants be selected?

We anticipate that the number of applicants for this program will exceed the number of people we are able to serve. We will attempt to serve as many students as possible and will prioritize applications based on the severity of need and the ease with which we can begin making subsidy payments.

What documentation will I need to provide?

If you are selected to participate in this program, all household members must provide 3 months’ income verification to CHC (typically paystubs) to confirm income eligibility. Additional documentation may be required depending on student circumstances. CHC will communicate with you about the income verification process if you are selected for the program.

How long will I be eligible to receive subsidy payments?

Students will be eligible to receive the subsidy for up to two years from the time they are enrolled in the program, assuming that funding remains available and the student continues to meet the eligibility requirements.

Can I live with a roommate?

Yes, if the total household income from all members of the household does not exceed the DHCD guidelines.

How long will it take to receive the subsidy?

Your first subsidy payment will be issued after you have met all program requirements and we have been able to sign a lease addendum with your landlord. The time between your initial application (if accepted) and the first payment will vary based on whether you need to find housing or are already under a lease agreement. We anticipate the time frame to be between two and 8 weeks depending on your individual circumstances. Rent payments will made directly to landlords, and the remaining rent will be the responsibility of the tenant according to their lease terms.

Where does the funding for this project come from? Couldn’t this money be put toward the budget shortfall for HCPSS?

The HCC Rental Subsidy program is funded from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Renewal Fund (CRF). This fund is supported by transfer tax revenues that are required to support housing affordability programs and initiatives in the county. Funding from CRF is restricted and can only be spent on housing-related programs.