RENTAL AND MOVE-IN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (RMAP)

Under the direction of Mayor Jane Castor, the Rental & Move-In Assistance Program was launched in March 2022 in order to help local renters with their rising rent bills. The Castor Administration and the Tampa City Council were both willing and eager to create a program that could be put in place quickly and used to help as many residents as possible.

Though the award amount for each approved household varies and is based on Area Median Income (AMI), in most cases, the average award a household receives, for up to a year, totals approximately $5,000. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application and helping you through the process. We understand the need for assistance is great and it is our mission to provide you answers, and ultimately financial relief, as soon as possible. However, given the overwhelming amount of interest the program has received, please be patient as we work to process every case thoroughly and fairly.

1. Current Lease

Types of Assistance:

• Up to 12 Months of Subsidy Assistance
• Limited Monthly Subsidy amounts are based on household AMI%

Program Requirements:

• Must have an active 12-month lease agreement (More than 90 days remaining)
• Unit must be located within the city limits of Tampa
• Must have a stable source of income that demonstrates the ability to pay monthly rent (Up to 140% AMI)
• Household has not received RMAP assistance previously

2. New Move-In

Types of Assistance:

• Move-in Costs (Not to exceed 3x Rent)
• Eligible to Receive Limited Monthly Subsidy

Program Requirements:

• Must have been approved for a unit (Move-in date within 45 days)
• Unit must be located within the city limits of Tampa
• Must have a stable source of income that demonstrates the ability to pay monthly rent (Up to 140% AMI)
• Household has not received RMAP assistance previously

3. Eviction Prevention

Types of Assistance:

• Past due rent + late fees (Not to exceed 2 months)
• Can be eligible to receive limited monthly subsidy assistance

Program Requirements:

• Must have an active 12-month lease agreement (More than 90 days remaining)
• Unit must be located within the City of Tampa limits
• Must have a stable source of income that demonstrates the ability to pay monthly rent (Up to 140% AMI)
• Household has not received RMAP assistance previously
• No more than 2 months of past due rent

Due to the high volume of applications received, in combination with the city experiencing Hurricanes Helene and Milton, submission of applications for the City’s Rental Assistance Program (RMAP) will be placed on hold as of December 1, 2024, to allow for processing of existing applications. RMAP will resume accepting and reviewing applications on Thursday, January 2^nd, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Housing Information Line, Monday-Friday (excluding holidays), 9 am – 3 pm, at (813) 307-5555.

Limited Monthly Subsidy

To calculate monthly subsidy amounts, the household’s gross income and monthly rent are used. An eligible household can receive up to $1,000 per month based on their AMI group.

*Subsidy payments are subject to change based on rental amount

The total number of months of assistance is determined by the applicant’s lease end date.

Move-In Assistance

The maximum move-in assistance awarded is based off 3 times the tenant’s monthly rent. Move-in assistance can include security deposit, 1^st month’s rent, and last month’s rent if required by the landlord.

Eviction Prevention

Applicants are required to submit a rent ledger detailing their past due balance. No more than 2 months of past due rent (plus late fees) can be awarded.

Total Award

Not all eligible households qualify for the move-in assistance, eviction prevention, and limited monthly subsidy. Households that are already receiving subsidized assistance are not eligible for the limited monthly subsidy but may qualify for move-in assistance. If you have received RMAP assistance previously, you are ineligible.

All approved applicants will receive a letter via email outlining their total assistance amount.

Since its start, the program has received widespread attention. Once you submit your application, please be patient as our staff works to process your case as efficiently as possible. In general, most applicants receive an update regarding their application status within 14 business days.

For questions about the program, please contact the Housing Information Line at (813) 307-5555

(Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm)