---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12908"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12908"
heading: "Rental assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12908"
units:
  - "Chapter 131 — Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids"
---

# §12908. Rental assistance

- (a) **Use of funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** Grants under this section may be used only for assistance to provide rental assistance for low-income [eligible persons](/usc/42/12902.md?p=12). Such assistance may be [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) based or tenant based and shall be provided to the extent practicable in the manner provided for under [section 1437f of this title](/usc/42/1437f.md). [Grantees](/usc/42/12902.md?p=4) shall ensure that the housing provided is decent, safe, and sanitary.
  - (2) **Shared housing arrangements—** Grants under this section may be used to assist individuals who elect to reside in shared housing arrangements in the manner provided under [section 1437f(p) of this title](/usc/42/1437f.md?p=p), except that, notwithstanding such section, assistance under this section may be made available to nonelderly individuals. The [Secretary](/usc/42/12902.md?p=8) shall issue any standards for shared housing under this paragraph that vary from standards issued under [section 1437f(p) of this title](/usc/42/1437f.md?p=p) only to the extent necessary to provide for circumstances of shared housing arrangements under this paragraph that differ from circumstances of shared housing arrangements for [elderly families](/usc/42/13641.md?p=1) under [section 1437f(p) of this title](/usc/42/1437f.md?p=p).
- (b) **Limitations—** A [recipient](/usc/42/12902.md?p=7) under this section shall comply with the following requirements:
  - (1) **Services—** The [recipient](/usc/42/12902.md?p=7) shall provide for qualified service providers in the area to provide appropriate services to the [eligible persons](/usc/42/12902.md?p=12) assisted under this section.
  - (2) **Intensive assistance—** For any individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases who requires more care than can be provided in housing assisted under this section, the [recipient](/usc/42/12902.md?p=7) shall provide for the locating of a care provider who can appropriately care for the individual and referral of the individual to the care provider.
- (c) **Administrative costs—** A [project sponsor](/usc/42/12902.md?p=14) providing rental assistance under this section may use amounts from any grant received under this section for administrative expenses involved in providing such assistance, subject to the provisions of 12905(g)(2)[^1] of this title.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–625, title VIII, § 859, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4381; Pub. L. 102–550, title VI, § 606(h)(1), (j)(6), (7), (11)(D), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3810, 3811.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(A), substituted “Rental assistance” for “Short-term rental assistance” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(B), (j)(11)(D), struck out “short-term” before “rental assistance” and substituted “eligible persons” for “individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(j)(6), substituted “eligible persons” for “individuals”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(j)(7), inserted “with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related diseases” after “any individual”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–550, § 606(h)(1)(C), added subsec. (c).