Tenants who are eligible for an Additional Funding Request may submit requests for rental and utility assistance for the current month and two future months. 2n -.-&) 1 1 Information in this guide is subject to change at any time. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . We will accept new applications for rent and utility assistance from Tuesday, March 14 at 8 a.m. CT to Tuesday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m. CT. COVID-19 has affected Texans across the state. Departments Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Texas Housing Assistance | Texas.gov Find a complete list of them here. 0000068016 00000 n Whoops! Eligibility: For anyone who currently rents in the United States and resides in any of the properties Esusu works with. For the past year, housing advocates have been pointing to the slow-rolling housing crisis brought on by the pandemic. Texas Housing Conference Then in December, the property owner filed an eviction case against Gates and gave her a notice to vacate. 2 0 obj For example, the program bars landlords from accepting rent relief payments after they evict a tenant. Esusu Rent Relief Fund | esusurent.com *L#H0o=M6S:{D A^o l'a7*, Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. An employee at Blazers office who answered the phone declined to answer questions. 0000006939 00000 n Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates. Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. Those constituents were told they were unable to receive their eligible assistance while the agency recouped the funds, the lawmakers wrote Thursday to TDHCA board Chair Leo Vasquez. Here we are at the beginning of April and still only about 200 Texas families have actually received direct help from this billion dollar program, which is unacceptable, and we need to continue to get this worked out quickly, committee chair state Rep. Philip Cortez, a San Antonio Democrat, told Texas Public Radio. Things To Do Are you looking for rent assistance resources, help with utility bills or reduced rent apartments? PDF ERA Program and Overall Ranking - Texas Housers First-time TRR applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of rent and utility bill assistance, either with past due payments or a combination of past due and up to three months of current and future payments made on their behalf. Even if the rent relief check was in hand, it wouldnt have covered the amount sought by the landlord, Musselman said. A group of Austin-area lawmakers state Reps. Celia Israel, Sheryl Cole, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, Donna Howard and Eddie Rodriguez alerted TDHCA this week that they have seen alarming calls from constituents whose rent relief money went to the wrong address, and called on the agency to fix the problem. This guide is updated to reflect information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. Find the program in your area by state , territory, or tribe and apply for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA). Many landlords have tried to work with their tenants to try to avoid evictions for back rent during the pandemic, said David Mintz, vice president of government affairs for Texas Apartment Association, a trade group of rental property owners. Texas Tech Today | Texas Tech Today | TTU When Dallas County Justice of the Peace Juan Jasso heard about the check and phone call, he asked the property manager whether they had received the check, Johnson said. 0000002863 00000 n Payment in Process Good news! 30j($>H&L&Q.]Ky,YIR _I@*v+ Larry Berman New Keynote Speaker For Vietnam War Conference Banquet. According to the report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. Texas Rent Relief Program The Texas Rent Relief program was set up to help people pay their bills. ) Attempts to reach the property owner RDRH Holdings Inc., an Austin-based corporation and its president were unsuccessful. COVID-19 This news article provides an overview of the Texas Public Utilities Commission's recent order and how it will affect customers in Texas. The industry standard here is fraud, said Stuart Campbell, managing attorney at Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, speaking generally about instances in which landlords receive rent relief funds and evict tenants. Eviction Intervention Program For Renters If you live within Harris County or Houston city limits and your landlord has already taken you to court for eviction, you may be eligible for eviction intervention rental assistance through the Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program. To qualify for rental assistance from the Texas program, tenants had to fall below a certain income level, prove they experienced some kind of financial hardship during the pandemic and make the case that they would be at risk of losing their home if they didnt receive rent relief. If you need help paying rent in Katy, or other financial assistance, reach out to Katy Christian Ministries for more information on their programs. TDHCA says it has received more than 7,500 complaints through the hotline not all of them related to fraud, waste or abuse but the agency wont say how many times it has referred cases to outside agencies for investigation. pk}b=^ ;+2b4+rU:"KOJF&. According to CW33, TDHCA executive director, Bobby Wilkinson advised those applying to gather all necessary paperwork ahead of time to have them ready by March 14, 2023, when applications will open. For households who applied directly for unpaid or future rent or utilities. Greg Abbott for comment on the report. The Texas Rent Relief Program provides emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Tarrant County Renters Can Still Get Assistance Katy Texas Rent Assistance: Nonprofits To Help With Rent Payments This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. KPRC 2 Investigates Texas Rent Relief program: Single mother served Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings. %PDF-1.7 % The TRR application portal goes live Tuesday, March 14 at 8 a.m. and ends Tuesday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m. to help eligible households with rent and utility payments. Visit the TDHCA contact us page for information. Maybe the money will be returned to Treasury and the wrong will be righted for the government, Ordua said. endobj Housing experts say they expect expiration of the eviction rules will make the already spotty protections of the eviction moratorium even more unevenly applied. Founded in 1997, the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP) is a non-profit trade association serving as the primary advocate and leading resource for the affordable housing industry in Texas. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. Texas closed the rent relief program to new applicants in November, citing overwhelming demand for rental assistance dollars. Sign up here. Expected time in this status: less than one week. Anticipated time to receive payment: 7-14 days Request for assistance has been denied. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. Read on for a look at these new changes, and visit our Rent and Legal Assistance page on the COVID-19 & Texas Law guide for more information. Box 580314 She said the past few months have been hard. Faced with a pot of federal money larger than the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' annual budget, the state agency contracted Houston-based management consultancy Horne LLP to run the Texas Rent Relief program, agreeing to pay the company more than $42 million. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. 0000078000 00000 n In late January 2023, Local Profile reported that starting this March, the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to cut SNAPs COVID-19 emergency benefits, adding even more pressure on families who are struggling with rising rents and inflation pushing up prices. Tirloni said the agency doesnt track what portion of those clawed-back funds came from landlords found to have improperly evicted their tenants after receiving assistance or categorize what scenarios would result in recapturing the money. Were adding added significant resources to attack the backlog and get the money out the door. As of August 11, 2021, TRR has paid over $658 million in rent and utility assistance to assist over 107,000 households, and funding is still available. While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST Help is available in multiple languages. Prior to 2019, there was often confusion about what counted as a "reasonable" late fee. Business But it's not a fast process. This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. How are we doing? The following provides performance of the Texas Rent Relief Program, as of May 12, 2021: More than $110 million has been paid or is in the process of being paid. 0000048118 00000 n Education / Webinars Her landlord gave her until the end of May to do so. As of Wednesday, the program has assisted more than 300,000 households. The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program provides Texas tenants with financial help with rent and utility bills. The Texas rent relief program has only made three payments despite being online for over . Even now, despite our challenges, were ahead of most states in processing applications and making payments, Wilkinson testified, comparing Texas to other large states like California and Florida. One landlord received federal money through the Texas Rent Relief program and later chose not to renew their tenants lease which was legal in that case. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. Texas rent relief program slow to make payments and - The Texas Tribune The money was considered crucial to prevent a wave of tenants losing their homes as eviction bans expired; in recent months, three Texas metro areas Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth have seen some of the highest eviction case filings in the country among the 31 cities tracked by Eviction Lab, a research center based at Princeton University that tracks eviction filings. trailer <]/Prev 155979>> startxref 0 %%EOF 48 0 obj <>stream What you need to know about Texas' new rental relief program - KHOU But none of the agencies contacted by the Tribune would say whether any landlord has been credibly accused of taking rent relief money and improperly ousting their tenants, or whether they have imposed penalties on landlords for doing so. Depending on eligibility and needs, this could include past-due payments or a combination of past-due and up to three months of current and future payments. Payment in Progress If your request has been approved Tenant and landlord, if participating, will receive email notifying of approval and, separately, to set up payment in Bill.com. Our Legal Help guide has information on free legal hotlines, legal clinics, and legal aid organizations, as well as information on how to find a lawyer who could represent you. Please reload the page and try again. According to the TRR portal, the program provided over $2 billion in emergency funds since its launch, helping more than 310,000 Texas families remain stably housed during the pandemic. You cant get paid directly, and also break the promises you made that were designed to keep someone in their home.. You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. Under the program rules, landlords are allowed to evict only in specific situations, such as lease violations related to criminal activity, property damage or physical harm to others, Mintz pointed out. If your landlord breaks their agreement with the Texas Rent Relief program, you may file a complaint with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. All rights reserved. This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. Housing Assistance Program - San Antonio This page has answers to questions about the Texas Rent Relief Program for both landlords and tenants. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. Learn how Section 8 provides rental help Find housing services and information Texans can get housing assistance whether they live in rural or urban areas. Reporting: On February 15, 2023 Treasury released ERA1 & ERA2 Quarterly Demographic Data for Q1 2021 through Q3 2022; January 2023. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral, Texas Utility Help Program Receives More Energy Bill Assistance Funding, Expands Water Bill Assistance with Future Payments, Texas Utility Help Program Re-Opens Energy Bill Assistance. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Jeff Williams, a Harris County justice of the peace, had approved the eviction without Scott present in court a typical outcome in eviction cases when tenants dont show up to their hearings. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visitwww.tdhca.state.tx.usor theLearn about Fair Housing in Texaspage. Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. New applications are not being accepted. Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. Tenant applicants who have received a notice of utility disconnection are now prioritized for application review similarly to those applicants being sued for eviction. If a landlord is not paid, the payment will be made directly to the tenant. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. The TDHCA runs the Texas Rent Relief program. Access Invoices & ReceiptsRequest W9Questions & Special Requests, Update Your ProfileRequest Company Name ChangeAdding/Removing EmployeesFrequently Asked QuestionsContact Us, Mailing Address2401 E 6th St, Ste 3037, PMB 153Austin, TX 78702Email UsPhone: 512-476-9901, Aug 20, 2021 | COVID19, Latest News, Newsletter. Yet they still pushed us out.. Of the roughly 200 that have completed applications, only two have been approved for funding. TXHAF is administered by TDHCA with funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Advocacy Alerts 0000058032 00000 n Failure to respond would only delay the application process. As of July 26, more than 95,000 households have received assistance from the Texas Rent Relief Program, and almost $600 million in relief has been paid out, according to the TDHCA. Northwest Assistance Ministries: 281-583-5600. Renter approved for $5,000 in relief. How to apply for rental aid - CNBC By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of. View The Texas Eviction Diversion Program Highlights. [n6[_.7jSz They told her there was no way to see if they had received it, she said. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? I think any landlord that accepted money or got money directly for rent absolutely should not have evicted anyone, Garcia said. Since February the state of Texas has paid landlords more than one billion dollars for tenants who can't afford to pay rent. But The Texas Tribune interviewed tenants from across the state who were approved for federal rental assistance and were evicted anyway. He took the car, which made it difficult for Scott to hunt for work and shelter. Recent updates February 2023. % Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. How to Apply for an Emergency Rental Assistant in Houston Eligibility For tenants: Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) Household has been financially affected by COVID-19 pandemic For landlords: Assistance for rent no older than April 2020 When the state sent the rent relief check to the wrong address, Scott said the staff assured her they were working to get the money re-sent. Around that time, Johnson said she caught COVID-19 and had to miss a month of work. Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program When the pandemic hit last year, millions of people across the country lost wages after they were laid off, furloughed or saw work hours cut. By clicking the plus sign by one of the listed programs, the page will expand and provide the full details of that program. Additional Funding for Texas Rent Relief This interactive map and searchable database from the National Low Income Housing Coalition can be used to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you. Texas received more than $2 billion out of the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package President Joe Biden signed into law last year, to set up the Texas Rent Relief program, designed to help such families stay in their homes as the pandemic triggered a tsunami of business closures and hundreds of thousands of layoffs. Member Editorials (MEMBERS ONLY) Stamm alleges that RDRH Holdings violated six requirements set out by the program in a contract landlords must sign in order to receive funds. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served more than 316,000 households affected by the pandemic. SACRAMENTO - California's COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today - by the end of the day, more than $1 billion in funding will be obligated - meaning the money has either been paid or approved for payment and awaiting disbursement - and will assist over 74,000 additional households. Then they mailed it to the wrong address twice and they want to evict me. By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of 72,000 completed applications. 0000025788 00000 n Researchers have offered estimates of past-due rent in the U.S. ranging from $8.4 billion to $52.6 billion. Some rent relief programs, including the Texas Rent Relief Program, will make your landlord forgo all unreasonable late fees. Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) And if they did, it should be audited and reviewed by [government investigators] so that we can recoup our funds for the misuse of the dollars.. Rent Relief Programs 2021 - Apartment Association of Greater Dallas Johnsons trying not to dwell on the saga. GTranslate - Rent Relief Resources | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Texas Rent Relief Program Re-Opens Applications for Limited Time, March Diana Johnson, 35, was waiting on rent relief in January when her landlord tried to evict her and her seven children from their three-bedroom apartment in Southeast Dallas. 5309 Decker Dr. 281.424.5752. Texas Rent Relief Program Landlord Tips - YouTube 0000002829 00000 n 0000032141 00000 n 2 '.&& ,f1. Falsification of documents or any material falsehoods or omissions in an Application to this program, including knowingly seeking duplicative benefits, is subject to state and federal criminal penalties. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. 0000026104 00000 n Then you can type what your issue or concern. the service staff will examine your application and once it is approved you will be able to claim emergency rental . *Must make an appointment. Federal aid has gotten to only a fraction of Texans applying for assistance because they're behind on rent and trying to avoid being evicted. "I urge qualifying households to apply for this program once applications open on February 15th. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. AUSTIN, Texas, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) announced it will re-open the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) application portal from March 14-28 in order to accept new applications for a remaining $96M in TRR funds. 0000003018 00000 n All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. The Texas Rent Relief Program will be run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created the Texas Rent Relief program to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 0000005047 00000 n Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. It hurts, that really hurts. Latest Report Details How Texas Rent Relief Program Has Been Plagued By Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . Mar 1, 2023. events. About the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. You can even upload documents for an attorney to review. Interests We cant wait to welcome you in person and online to the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, our multiday celebration of big, bold ideas about politics, public policy and the days news all taking place just steps away from the Texas Capitol from Sept. 22-24. I shouldnt have.. See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. As of today, the program has distributed nearly $2 billion, with more than 300,000 Texan households having been assisted or in the final payment process. Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. stream The states leadership shouldve been prepared to get money out to struggling renters as soon as Congress approved the funding, Rosales said, but instead have focused on their own political interests. A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. Donate to join or renew today. Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. 0000000016 00000 n Community A free legal hotline available to South Texas residents. Late Fees. The Texas Rent Relief Program was launched by TDHCA on February 15th to solve this problem and bring relief to millions across the United States. Apr 20, 2021 Like Dislike Share Save Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs 2.97K subscribers The Texas Rent Relief program can provide utility and rental assistance to. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. It's embarrassing, Scott said. Do you value our journalism? Health In March 2022, Texas Rent Relief received additional funding to the tune of $47.8 million from the U.S. Treasury Department. These changes go into effect on April 21st, 2021. As of last week, $20.1 million in rent relief has been recaptured, TDHCA spokesperson Kristina Tirloni said, adding that not all of that was connected to allegations of fraud, waste or abuse. Applicants that have received help from the program before but have not received the maximum of 18 months of assistance allowed, can submit an additional funding request using their existing online user account. Newly homeless, Gates stood on the curb in the cold guarding her belongings until a friend could get off work to help her move them. The state has already launched a website for the program, where both landlords and tenants facing a pile of bills will be able to apply starting at 8 a.m. Monday. Utility Payment Program Provides assistance to eligible Texas homeowners with qualified hardships to pay past due utility bills and up to three (3) months of prospective payments. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. ?$.#jq&LS1-b'u)N 2@x{'Y( V7\T ;z6!EDg"AGbDdWo,/si,TZp em;82os"zrD QV~ns+8ce1|NV ;H@>I]\IjA $_BM (2`n,e072 #q9u_)&er&s9%\!_kE\^9, Mattingly also heads the Dallas Apartment Association, which represents landlords. I can understand an apartment complex coming at this point in the process and saying, It's time to figure out what's going to happen here or move forward, Musselman said. Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. To request this information, please contact us toll-free at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). PDF TEXAS RENT RELIEF PROGRAM Understanding the Status of your Application The state is using the more than $1 billion in money from the latest federal COVID-19. Thats created a confusing patchwork of rental assistance across the state, with rules for how to navigate them still unclear, and its forcing landlords into an odd new role. First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. Some local governments still have money for rent help, but those funds may soon run out, as well. Mon: 8 to 5pm. 0000048055 00000 n UPDATE: Accepting New Applications For Limited Time, March 14-28, 2023.