Documentation of Lease: Tenants who are requesting AFR to pay for rent at a new unit must provide a copy of their new lease. Eligible households can apply online or over the phone for first-time or additional program assistance. 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. 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. A switch to a new software caused system outages and forced applicants to reapply. Failure to respond would only delay the application process. 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 It hurts, that really hurts. Reporting: On February 15, 2023 Treasury released ERA1 & ERA2 Quarterly Demographic Data for Q1 2021 through Q3 2022; January 2023. The TRR portal will accept new applications starting Tuesday, March 14 at 8 a.m. CT through Tuesday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m. CT, to help eligible households with . The state of Texas has more than one billion dollars to give out to people who need help paying their bills. Anticipated time to receive payment: 7-14 days Request for assistance has been denied. the service staff will examine your application and once it is approved you will be able to claim emergency rental . When you click on the link for the first time, you will need to be prepared with a valid email address. The morning of her March 18 eviction hearing, a Texas Rent Relief staffer told Johnson that her landlord had cashed the check two days earlier and gave her the check number. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. Policy and Regulatory Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. 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. 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. 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. These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. The application process is managed through a software application called Neighborly. 0000020158 00000 n This is our third or fourth round of rental assistance for some of these folks, and the documentation process for each round has been different and the application process has been a little bit different, he said. Check status periodically. The first payment never came because they had a Covid outbreak. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. endobj 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. A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. by Christopher Connelly, KERA News New applications are not being accepted. For more information on returning a payment, email [email protected]. 0000020271 00000 n For the past year, housing advocates have been pointing to the slow-rolling housing crisis brought on by the pandemic. Were adding added significant resources to attack the backlog and get the money out the door. After submitting, applicants should watch for communication from TRR in case additional information is needed for application. [n6[_.7jSz Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. Once the application is submitted, applicants need to remain alert for emails or calls from TDHCAs representatives who could ask for additional information. Prior to any payment being made to a tenant directly, TRR will make three attempts to request that the landlord participates in the program via email, phone, or text, over no less than a 5 calendar-day period. Let the judge know if any of these things have happened. Is there any communication that were making, saying we messed up, give us a minute and give them a minute so that we can get them the relief that they need, and everyone will be made whole in a few weeks? Bernal asked. As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. 2. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. Greg Abbott for comment on the report. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. 0000017510 00000 n Alexander Stamm, an attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid who is representing Gates, said Musselman shouldnt have let the trial take place at all because of a Texas Supreme Court order requiring judges to postpone eviction cases if a landlord confirms they have joined a tenants application for rent relief. When Cherice Scott received a notice last September that she, her husband and their four children would soon be kicked out of their Katy apartment, she said employees at the complex told her not to worry about it. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . You cant have it both ways with Texas Rent Relief, Stamm said. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. Johnsons landlord a partnership owned by Mark Musemeche, a Houston developer had already accepted more than $4,200 in federal money in August to pay four months of rent, according to a copy of Johnsons rent ledger she provided to the Tribune. Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. To receive help from Katy Christian Ministries you must live in one of the following zip codes: 77084, 77094, 77406, 77423, 77441, 77449, 77450, 77464, 77476, 77485, 77493, 77494 Feb 27, 2023. Info about the decision to end the program and eviction diversion is included as well. Other program limitations may also apply please see https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/covid19-response.htm for details. As of Wednesday, the program has assisted more than 300,000 households. Its awesome. I shouldnt have.. And a large and growing percentage of that is over a year old at this point.. But she said the program doesnt allow landlords to receive back rent if theyve evicted a tenant the opposite of what the email to Scott said. Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations. 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. <> Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings. Altogether, about $2 billion of the federal rental and utility assistance funds approved by Congress last year were earmarked for Texas. She said she has spent thousands of dollars on application fees to at least 10 homes and apartment complexes and all of them have denied her because she now has an eviction on her record. Find a complete list of them here. It's embarrassing, Scott said. You will be asked to create an account and then . You cant get paid directly, and also break the promises you made that were designed to keep someone in their home.. The reallocation process only applies to duplicate payments between our program and Texas Rent Relief. Print Feedback. 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. An employee at Blazers office who answered the phone declined to answer questions. Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. Recent updates February 2023. Home You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. Please reload the page and try again. I trusted them, Scott said. 3 0 obj Now, with a remaining $96 million in rent relief funds, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) re-opened the Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) and online applications through the portal will be accepted for a limited time from March 14 to 28. I am amazed at the strength and resilience that these folks have to figure out how to get on the internet, when they dont have internet at home, and their resourcefulness in getting rent relief at this point, she said. 0000032455 00000 n Departments Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Rental assistance payments will generally be made directly to landlords participating in the program, unless they cannot be reached, their relationship with the tenant application cannot be established in a timely manner, or they do not agree to accept the payment. The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. Other organizations That help paying rent in Houston. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. Job Listings 0000003018 00000 n To a question about whether the application website is mobile-friendly, he replied, its mobile-compatible. Find programs to help you with rent or utility payments, help you find a rent-reduced apartment, help you find emergency housing or homeless shelters, and more. 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 next month, their landlord started the eviction process, even though Scott, 37, had taken the rental office staffs advice and requested help from Texas $2 billion, federally backed rental assistance fund. 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. He was asked whether he planned to reduce the $42 million contract with Horne LLP due to the troubled rollout, and said his team is reviewing the contract. On Jan. 27, Williamson County constables came to execute the eviction. 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. On July 28, 2021, the FHFA announced protections for tenants of multifamily properties with loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Macrequiring landlords to give tenants 30 days' notice before. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Texas. In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. If you need assistance with a previously submitted application, our customer service staff can assist you by phone by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368). Some areas still ban evictions outright. The more I sit here and think about it, I just know to just go ahead and do what I need to do, Johnson said. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. Late Fees. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. Cherice Scotts son, 6-year-old Teegan McKinney, plays at a park in Houston. TAAHP Scholarships Request for assistance has been verified and approved. However, Tarrant County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), along with programs administered by the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, will . Sign up here. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. Residents of McNair, Baytown, Highlands or Chambers County. COVID-19 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST Help is available in multiple languages. A collection of state and federal agencies including the TDHCA are tasked with looking into allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in rent relief programs. This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. 30j($>H&L&Q.]Ky,YIR _I@*v+ In those cases, the check was initially sent to the wrong property and only arrived after the tenant was kicked out. Call to schedule an appointment with a legal representative. 0000010218 00000 n HWmo6_qf&..WVmFJ=GRIOtK^Sq|}"SiSm%S@xS|,NXAC,g uW,,myVH!eMJA^Te**gNx7{uFw vW\uMru JWMu;C,^NJvgVt>(,Y*-.=-zq5t:ATi:w#GG7/V=ohM{3wi5omHo;lpFEMBL%%-P|=fsWv@>f;&X6gji#~L8Uhg JVt`E\L+@j8J:,acf)#--iU)'bc/s/PK3d JC#p0;~mY>VORqiK:JOFrPTgfF:*c! Questions? Less than two weeks after Gates eviction, she spotted something in her online account with the rent relief program: A pair of checks totaling $12,650 had cleared the property owners bank account. Landlords who received rent relief dollars cant evict tenants for any reason related to rent or fees during the time period covered by the funds, according to the program requirements. The program will also have a call . Governor Abbott and TDHCA launched the Texas Rent Relief program in February 2021 the first statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households throughout Texas. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. The Tribune contacted government agencies involved in the program and found that none of them including the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which runs the state rent relief program track how often this happens. Theres no excuse, Rosales said. Show us with your support. -Per federal guidelines for Emergency Rental Assistance funding, Texas Rent Relief will provide a completed IRS Form 1099-MISC to all landlords and utility providers that received at least $600 in assistance from the program during the 2021 . This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Requests for Proposals/Quotes (MEMBERS ONLY). If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. Member Grand Openings (MEMBERS ONLY) It turns out the state program had sent the check in September to the wrong address. But the tenants are still the ones holding the bag.. 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. 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. Fo;o7d0ywL|JR!xM%|{GGk#x5OOs=cj ldk6yQhvuFPH:A3w7p^km,xa5qJCzGn` Qm;\]RR)RfZzua!v" ExqKgp?NLR}.ka2`Rpbtm!#9#OF4?1B&|2ousE?-u@[2d(K8&8 \l=>` If issues are discovered or brought to our attention, like payments sent to an incorrect address, or payments sent to a landlord who has evicted the tenant, we will take corrective measures, like recapture or other necessary steps.. Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. 8. The report was released less than a week after the Supreme Court of Texas let lapse a set of rules for how courts in the state enforce a federal eviction ban, which the Biden administration extended through into the summer. QAP Alerts (MEMBERS ONLY) Mon: 8 to 5pm. Home ownership <> We continue to see a strong need for assistance, and eviction filings statewide have now returned to pre-pandemic levels. Food + Drink Shes impressed by how many do persevere. 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. Most states have lifted their . Houston, TX 77258. 0000001407 00000 n At a Jan. 10 eviction hearing, Gates said she told Williamson County Justice of the Peace KT Musselman she had been approved for rent relief and explained that the check went to the wrong address facts she said the property manager, who represented the landlord in court, backed up. 5309 Decker Dr. 281.424.5752. The landlord participates in the tenant's application for rent relief, or 3. Since being evicted from their home in Katy, Cherice Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings, most recently a short-term rental in Missouri City. Even if the programs software and staffing struggles have been addressed, Rosales still worries that the programs reliance on online applications will leave eligible renters unable to apply. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. In these cases, payments will be made directly to the tenant, who then is required to pay the landlord. All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. Applicants must still provide all other required program documentation and must provide evidence of the notice of utility disconnection. r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 If you need assistance with a previously submitted application, our customer service staff can assist you by phone by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368). This tool helps find state and local rent and utility assistance near your location. These changes go into effect on April 21st, 2021. The Texas Rent Relief Program will be run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Interests This page has answers to questions about the Texas Rent Relief Program for both landlords and tenants. Tenants who are requesting AFR and have remained in the same unit as their original request and for whom the months of assistance requested as part of the AFR are outside of the term for the lease submitted with the tenants initial application (including if the lease is now month-to-month), or if the tenant did not provide a lease as part of their initial application, verbal confirmation with the tenant or landlord to confirm the tenant is still in the unit is acceptable proof of tenancy. rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Section 8 housing voucher Low-income residents may be eligible to get help paying rent. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. Northwest Assistance Ministries: 281-583-5600. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Click here to search the TDHCA database. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has made some changes to the Texas Rent Relief Program in order to make the application and payout process easier. Scott said she spoke to the office staff and walked away believing she didnt need to worry about eviction as they waited for the relief money or to bother showing up to court. 0000008211 00000 n Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) Past due, current and up to 2 months of expected rent costs, Past due, current and up to 2 months of expected utility and home energy expenses, After the initial 3 months of current/future assistance, renters were able to apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds were still available, If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call, View the Texas Rent Relief Program Dashboard (Dashboard in English), https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/covid19-response.htm. Johnson, a manager of a hair salon and certified nursing assistant, had asked the program in October for help covering rent while she recovered from giving birth to her son and couldnt work. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. Since February the state of Texas has paid landlords more than one billion dollars for tenants who can't afford to pay rent. All TDHCA employees and contractor employees have a responsibility to report waste, fraud and abuse within the agency. But The Texas Tribune interviewed tenants from across the state who were approved for federal rental assistance and were evicted anyway. I hope everyone gets the assistance that they need. This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March. 0000047797 00000 n Texas' rent relief program has been plagued by problems that slow payments and could prompt evictions According to a legislative report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications. The application portal opens Tuesday, March 14th at 8 a.m. and closes Tuesday, March 28th, at 11:59 p.m. To contact the Texas Rent Relief program, please call 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368). Rosales said shes heard landlords say at eviction court that they're already so frustrated and tired by the slow pace and confusing nature of rental assistance programs that theyd rather evict tenants than hold out for assistance. And only 250 of payments have been sent. 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. After logging in, click on the application status and check with the details provided. This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. Some households will still qualify for the program while others will not. According to a legislative report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications for rental assistance, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. Just as the program launched, the state was hit with the massive winter storm in February, which sidelined a third of the contracted phone operators for days, the report said.