With housing costs continuing to rise across the region, Osceola County is stepping up to help its most vulnerable residents keep a roof over their heads.
The county will begin accepting pre-applications for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program on Tuesday.
The program is designed to help low-income seniors who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, with preference given to elderly applicants.
Damaris Rentas knows firsthand how difficult it has become to stay afloat. The Osceola County resident spent 42 years working as a nurse, but after her daughter passed away, she found herself raising her granddaughter on a fixed Social Security income — and it is not enough to cover her housing costs.
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“I remember, like a couple of months ago, I wasn’t able to pay my rent here. The building is low-income, but they keep raising the rent,” Rentas said.
Even while living in an affordable housing complex, Rentas said the financial pressure never lets up.
“Right now, I pay my rent with my check from Social Security,” she said. “Everything is more, more and more expensive.”
Still, she holds on to hope that programs like TBRA can make a difference.
“For me, it’s very important because right now I have a kid. You know, I started over again. So, I think that is very important. It’s one of the things in my head every single day. What can I do?” Rentas said.
“So, I just try to keep my hope that one day it is going to be better again.”
The TBRA Program offers a range of support services for those who qualify, including:
• Rental subsidies for up to 24 months
• Tenant preference units
• Inspected, quality housing
• Rental security deposit assistance
• Case management services
Eligibility requirements
To qualify, applicants must be Osceola County residents with a household income at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Applicants must also meet HUD’s definition of homelessness or be at risk of homelessness.
Income limits vary by household size. A single-person household must earn no more than $48,300 annually, while a two-person household’s income must not exceed $55,200. For larger households, the limits increase incrementally — up to $91,020 for a household of eight.
Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1, 2026, through Sept. 6, 2026. Eligible applicants will be selected through a lottery process. The online application will be available on the TBRA Program page. For more information, email CDBG@Osceola.org