What are Tenant-Based Vouchers (TBV) primarily used for?

Tenant-Based Vouchers (TBV) are primarily designed to provide rental assistance directly to low-income families or individuals, allowing them to choose their housing. This flexibility enables recipients to rent a unit in the private rental market, essentially giving them the ability to find affordable housing that suits their needs. The assistance is typically tied to the tenant rather than the property, offering portability – meaning the voucher can be used anywhere within the jurisdiction of the program as long as the tenant continues to meet eligibility requirements.

This characteristic distinguishes tenant-based vouchers from other types of assistance, such as funding for new housing units, which focuses on increasing supply rather than directly aiding individuals with rental costs. While the other options address important aspects of housing support, they do not genuinely align with the primary function of TBV, which is to facilitate independent living through rental assistance for participants.