To be eligible, applicants must generally:

• Have a household income at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for household size.
• Be seeking to rent an eligible unit located within the City of Orange.
• Meet HOME Program eligibility requirements.
• Provide required income and household documentation.
• Select a rental unit that passes a housing inspection and meets HUD property standards.
• Not receive duplicate rental assistance for the same housing costs.

Preference may be given to eligible applicants who are:

• Current City of Orange residents intending to remain in the City
• Households experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
• Referred by a Continuum of Care or other approved service provider
• Families with children under 12 years of age
• Veterans with an honorable discharge (DD-214)
• Adults 62 years of age or older

Meeting a preference does not guarantee assistance. Applications are processed based on program eligibility, available funding, and waitlist procedures.

The rental unit must:

• Be located within the City of Orange.
• Meet HUD property standards (NSPIRE).
• Have a rent that is determined to be reasonable compared with similar units in the area.
• Comply with applicable lead-based paint requirements, when applicable.

HOME TBRA funds cannot be used for:

• Monthly rent payments
• Late fees
• Pet deposits
• Non-refundable fees
• Temporary or overnight shelter
• Duplicate rental assistance already provided through another housing subsidy program.

Applicants must submit a completed application and supporting documentation demonstrating program eligibility. To start an application, click here.

Required documentation may include:

• Government-issued identification
• Proof of household income
• Documentation of household members
• Proposed lease information (if available)
• Utility deposit documentation (if requesting utility assistance)

Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility. If program funding is unavailable, eligible applicants may be placed on a waiting list.