HAR §15-302-14. Eligibility for assistance

(a) An applicant shall be eligible to participate in the rent-to-own program if the applicant meets all of the following requirements: (1) Is a qualified resident who is domiciled in the State; (2) Has not previously received assistance under a homeownership program designed and implemented under chapter 201H, HRS, by the corporation or any of the counties in the State. However, the corporation may, on an individual basis, allow a person who previously purchased a dwelling sponsored by the corporation or any of the counties to reapply provided that the corporation or the county repurchased the dwelling unit and there has been a significant change in one of the following: (A) Family size; (B) Place of employment; or (C) Income; provided that an applicant may become eligible again if the sale of such person's first dwelling was caused by extreme hardship such as family death, divorce, loss of employment, or a handicap, and the dwelling was repurchased by the corporation or the county; (3) Has an acceptable credit report; 302-6 §15-302-15 (4) At least one head of household family member must be gainfully employed or have an established source of continuing income; (5) Has a sufficient income such that the monthly rental payment will not exceed forty per cent of gross monthly income unless offset by other favorable factors, such as sufficient savings, as determined by the corporation; (6) Does not have a record or history of conduct or behavior, including past rent payment delinquencies, which may prove detrimental to other tenants or the corporation; and (7) Is at least eighteen years of age. (b) The corporation may also establish other requir~ments for participation in the program, such as asset limits. [EffJUN 152007 .] (Auth: HRS §§201H-4, 201H-181) (Imp: HRS §201H-181) §15-302-15 Occupancy guidelines for rent-to-own units. The following occupancy guidelines may be used for rent-to-own units when the number of applicants exceeds the number and types of units available: Dwelling Preferred Unit Size Family Size o Bedroom 1 person 1 Bedroom 2 persons 2 Bedroom 3 persons 3 Bedroom 4 persons 4 Bedroom 5 persons [Eff JUN 152007 .] (Auth: HRS §§201H-4, 201H-181) (Imp: HRS §201H-181) 302-7 §15-302-15 (4 ) At least one head of household family member must be gainfully employed or have an established source of continuing income; (5) Has a sufficient income such that the monthly rental payment will not exceed forty per cent of gross monthly income unless offset by other favorable factors, such as sufficient savings, as determined by the corporation; (6) Does not have a record or history of conduct or behavior, including past rent payment delinquencies, which may prove detrimental to other tenants or the corporation; and (7) Is at least eighteen years of age. (b) The corporation may also establish other requirements for participation in the program, such as asset limits. [EffJUN 1520J/ ] (Auth: HRS §S201H-4, 201H-181) (Imp: HRS §201H-181) §15-302-15 Occupancy guidelines for rent-to-own units. The following occupancy guidelines may be used for rent-to-own units when the number of applicants exceeds the number and types of units available: Dwelling Preferred Unit Size Family Size 0 Bedroom 1 person 1 Bedroom 2 persons 2 Bedroom 3 persons 3 Bedroom 4 persons 4 Bedroom 5 persons i Erf JUN 152007 (Auth: HRs ss2o1H-4, 201H-181) (Imp: HRS §201H-181) 302-7 `ab cd §15-302-16 §15-302-16 Participation in a homeownership counseling program required. (a) All participants in the rent-to-own program shall be required to participate in a homeownership counseling and training program approved by the corporation. (b) The homeownership counseling program shall minimally provide training to participants with adequate incomes and who are desirous of purchasing a home but lack sufficient funds for the downpayment and closing costs. The primary focus of the program is to facilitate the home purchase by providing strategies to save money and resolve credit problems; and to educate participants on how to shop for and purchase a home. [Eff JUN 152007 ] (Aut.h : HRS §§201H-4, 201H-171, 201H-181) (Imp: HRS §§201H-171, 201H-181)