COVID Response Update: Texas Rent Relief Program

The State of Texas will begin implementing the Texas Rent Relief Program to help Texans who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency funds will be available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills. This includes past due rent and utilities dating as far back as March 13, 2020.

Applications will open on February 15, 2021 at 8 a.m. and both landlords and tenants may apply.

Payments will be made directly to the landlord and/or utility provider unless they do not agree to accept the payment. If they do not accept the payment, the payment will be made directly to the tenant after 21 days of outreach to the landlord or utility provider to confirm refusal.

Priority will be given to tenants who fall within any these two groups: Tenants who have incomes at or below 50% Area Median Income OR any household where one or more household members are unemployed as of the date they apply for assistance AND one or more household members were unemployed for 90 days prior to the date applied for assistance.

To qualify, a household must have income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by TDHCA. Additionally, one or more of the tenant household members must qualify for unemployment benefits OR attest in writing that due to or during the pandemic, they experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship.

Households must also demonstrate that they are at risk of homelessness or housing instability by providing an eviction notice or past-due utility or rent notice OR live in unsafe and unhealthy housing conditions. The unit that the tenant is renting must also be the primary residence and be located within the State of Texas.

For more detailed information, please visit: https://texasrentrelief.com/ or call 1-833-989-7368. Help is available in multiple languages.

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