Moving to Work (MTW)

Moving to Work (MTW) is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) demonstration program that gives participating housing authorities greater flexibility to develop and test innovative, locally designed approaches to housing assistance.

Through MTW, housing authorities can explore strategies that:

AMHA became a Moving to Work agency on September 1, 2021. AMHA was selected to participate in the second cohort of HUD’s MTW Expansion, which examines alternative methods for calculating the portion of rent paid by participating households.

Community input is an important part of AMHA’s MTW planning process. For information about upcoming public meetings and opportunities to participate, please visit the MTW Public Feedback section below.

Learn More

Visit HUD’s Moving to Work Demonstration Program webpage to learn more about the program and its goals.

AMHA is participating in a special rent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ten public housing agencies across the country, including AMHA, are testing an alternative method for calculating the portion of rent paid by participating households. The method being tested by AMHA is called Tiered Rent.

Only certain households are eligible to participate in the study. During the annual reexamination process, eligible households are randomly assigned to follow either the current Standard Rent rules or the new Tiered Rent rules.

The study will continue for approximately six years to evaluate how the Tiered Rent policy affects participating households. It is being conducted by HUD in partnership with MDRC, a nonprofit research organization.

If your household has been assigned to the Tiered Rent policy, please review the information and resources below. Contact your AMHA specialist if you have questions.

Watch informational videos about Tiered Rent

How Tiered Rent Works

Under the Tiered Rent policy:

  • A household’s monthly rent is based on the income range, or “tier,” into which its income falls.
  • Households within the same income tier generally have the same monthly Tiered Rent payment.
  • The monthly rent amount is established and generally remains the same for three years.
  • Households complete an income recertification every three years instead of annually.
  • Households must still report when someone joins or leaves the household.

View the Tiered Rent Summary Sheet

View the Tiered Rent Frequently Asked Questions

View the Tiered Rent Table

Financial Hardship Assistance

Households experiencing a qualifying financial hardship may request a temporary reduction in their monthly rent payment. A household may apply or reapply whenever a hardship causes its income to fall into a lower rent tier.

To request a hardship adjustment, complete the online form and submit:

  • Documentation verifying the hardship
  • Documentation of all current household income

Requests submitted without the required documentation will be denied. When an approved hardship period ends, the household will return to the Tiered Rent amount established during its most recent triennial income reexamination.

Hardship adjustments cannot extend beyond the household’s next triennial income reexamination.

Complete the Hardship Request Form

View the Hardship Summary Sheet

View the Hardship Frequently Asked Questions

Use the resources below to learn more about the Tiered Rent Program and understand how it may affect your household.

Watch the Videos

For a brief introduction to the program:

For more detailed information about Tiered Rent and the changes that may affect your household:

Complete the Knowledge Check

After watching both videos, complete the Tiered Rent Knowledge Check to test your understanding of the program.

Participants who watch the videos and complete the Knowledge Check will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card.

What is the Moving to Work Program?

Moving to Work (MTW) is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) demonstration program that gives participating public housing agencies greater flexibility to adapt their housing programs to meet the needs of their local communities.

The MTW Program has three primary objectives:

  1. Reduce costs and use federal funding more efficiently.
  2. Support employment and economic self-sufficiency through job training, education, and other services.
  3. Increase housing choices for low-income individuals and families.

What are housing agencies permitted to do under MTW?

Public housing agencies participating in MTW have greater flexibility in how they use federal funding and deliver housing assistance and supportive services. This allows agencies to develop locally designed strategies that respond to the needs of their residents and communities.

MTW agencies must continue to comply with applicable federal requirements, including the Fair Housing Act, the Civil Rights Act, labor standards, environmental regulations, procurement requirements, demolition and disposition procedures, and relocation regulations. Agencies must also establish hardship policies and other safeguards to assist households facing unforeseen circumstances.

What types of activities have MTW agencies implemented?

MTW activities must support at least one of the program’s three primary objectives. Activities implemented by MTW agencies across the country include:

  • Streamlining HUD processes and forms
  • Testing new rent-calculation policies
  • Improving inspection procedures
  • Expanding supportive services
  • Developing mixed-income and tax-credit properties
  • Supporting foreclosure-prevention efforts
  • Increasing the use of project-based vouchers

How will the MTW Program affect my rent?

AMHA is participating in the second cohort of HUD’s MTW Expansion, which is evaluating alternative methods for calculating the portion of rent paid by participating households. AMHA’s evaluation period is expected to run from approximately August 1, 2022, through July 31, 2029.

Eligible households are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

  • Standard Rent Group: Rent continues to be calculated under the current rules, generally based on approximately 30% of household income.
  • Tiered Rent Group: Rent is based on the income range, or “tier,” into which the household’s income falls. Households within the same tier generally pay the same rent portion.

Under the Tiered Rent policy, income reexaminations occur every three years instead of annually. If a household’s income increases and moves into a higher tier, its rent generally will not change until the next triennial income reexamination.

Will I be required to work?

No. Work requirements are not currently included in AMHA’s MTW plan. AMHA will continue encouraging economic self-sufficiency by connecting residents with job training, educational programs, and other supportive services.

Will I have to move?

No. You will not be required to move from your current home because AMHA participates in the MTW Program.

How long will AMHA be an MTW agency?

AMHA’s MTW agreement has a 20-year term.

Where can I find AMHA’s MTW plans?

View AMHA’s current MTW Supplement to learn more about planned activities and updates.

Please continue checking this page for the latest information. To ask a question or provide feedback, contact AMHA:

MTW Information Line

(330) 825-6987

emailmtw@akronhousing.gov