Texas has nearly $692 million available through its statewide rent relief program. In these cases, payments will be made directly to the tenant, who then is required to pay the landlord. Texas Tech To Host Art Gallery. 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. 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. Texas Rent Relief Program has $96M remaining to help Texans affected by the pandemic. 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). That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. 0000030653 00000 n 0000048118 00000 n After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. Payment is in process. Texas Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 0000098050 00000 n When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. 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. 8. Let the judge know if any of these things have happened. You can also call the TDHCA's fraud hotline if you think your landlord may be mishandling the funds: (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. 0000012097 00000 n Two landlords, like Scotts, evicted their tenants in the period between the initial rent relief application and when the government money arrived and then kept it an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords. In order to receive federal rent relief funds through the state, landlords had to sign an agreement that forbids them from evicting tenants for nonpayment during the time period covered by the assistance. As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. In Texas, two state agencies the TDHCA, which oversees the statewide rent relief program, and the State Auditors Office have the authority to look into allegations of waste, fraud or abuse within the program. ;+h-WZXi ZrzOK4-X6~PR,JtV J5G! Her former landlord had taken the rent relief funds after they evicted her. TDHCA has taken very seriously the responsibility of helping Texas renters and landlords overcome the financial burden brought on by the pandemic, Tirloni said. 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. Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to court. endobj 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. Then you can type what your issue or concern. See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. The department . Mattingly said more than 400 of his companys residents have tried to apply to the program. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. A switch to a new software caused system outages and forced applicants to reapply. Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. 0000025788 00000 n 0000006939 00000 n Check status periodically. 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. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. They were very well informed that that money was there and it was coming to them, said Scott, whos now living in a short-term rental in Missouri City with her four kids. 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. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. But the program had fixed that error, the email said. Mailbag: Evermore. These landlords are the prime beneficiary of these rental assistance programs and just en masse have been violating the provisions of the programs and on top of that consistently misleading judges and securing judgments and evictions, even when theyre receiving funds.. If both payments came from our program, the duplicate payment must be returned. These changes go into effect on April 21st, 2021. 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 rent and utility payments. 0000047797 00000 n You can even upload documents for an attorney to review. 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. A scathing staff report from the Texas House Urban Affairs Committee released Monday details a host of issues that have plagued the more than $1 billion rent relief program. 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. Reporting: On February 15, 2023 Treasury released ERA1 & ERA2 Quarterly Demographic Data for Q1 2021 through Q3 2022; January 2023. 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. Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. Click here to search the TDHCA database. Member Newsletters (MEMBERS ONLY) On Jan. 27, Williamson County constables came to execute the eviction. Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. But Johnsons victory was short-lived. 3 0 obj Job Listings 2 0 obj 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. Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. April 8, 2022 Applicant will receive an email notification of approval. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Wilkinson told the House Committee on Urban Affairs that a few hundred more people had had payments sent to them over the past week, and that two additional contractors and hundreds of new analysts were being added to work through the backlog of applications. I was a good tenant, Gates said. by Christopher Connelly, KERA News It turns out the state program had sent the check in September to the wrong address. Are you a Texas resident looking for affordable housing? The reallocation process only applies to duplicate payments between our program and Texas Rent Relief. Eligibility for all applicants who have not yet received the maximum amount of 15 months of assistance will receive an email invitation to submit an additional request for assistance 60 days after their previous payment was disbursed. They lose their jobs, they lose their health, they have trouble with their relationships, they have trouble getting back on their feet, said Christina Rosales, deputy director for the advocacy group Texas Housers. %PDF-1.7 % As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Applications to the relief program can be submitted beginning March 14. QAP Alerts (MEMBERS ONLY) When you click on the link for the first time, you will need to be prepared with a valid email address. 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. 0000015708 00000 n 0000003417 00000 n Failure to respond would only delay the application process. Member Grand Openings (MEMBERS ONLY) Eligibility: For anyone who currently rents in the United States and resides in any of the properties Esusu works with. Depending on each applicants needs and eligibility, this could include past-due payments or a combination of past-due and up to three months of current and future payments made on their behalf. Health 0000002863 00000 n "Funding is limited, so anyone who needs help paying their rent and utility bills should review the program requirements now, gather all the necessary paperwork ahead of time, and be ready to apply on March 14.". -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 $600 in assistance from the program during the 2021 . your Phone number -Specify Landlord or tenant rental assistance. This tool helps find state and local rent and utility assistance near your location. They told her there was no way to see if they had received it, she said. Other organizations That help paying rent in Houston. If you are concerned that a community is not in compliance, please contact the TDHCA at 512-475-3800. Read on for a look at these new changes, and visit our Rent and Legal Assistance page on the COVID-19 & Texas Law guide for more information. Some tenants who spoke to the Tribune about their cases said they called a hotline used to report fraud, waste and abuse in the state rent relief program and never heard back about their complaints. At a Jan. 10 eviction hearing, Gates said she told Williamson County Justice of the Peace KT Musselman she had been approved for rent relief and explained that the check went to the wrong address facts she said the property manager, who represented the landlord in court, backed up. :>W:lfD;)SHK(r$Iy2lj\*vj-Wf8+GfJs &Xsua9fqsJYKk~(FbD*fwG[VEiG]e29^Qv($6,9arts1y$ GS?u(-4Wc-J(,_@&U 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. 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. 2 '.&& ,f1. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. But Musselman expressed sympathy for the landlord, noting that they had gone 11 months without rent from Gates. The fund is designed to provide rent relief for renters experiencing financial hardship. TAAHP Scholarships The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program provides Texas tenants with financial help with rent and utility bills. Residents of McNair, Baytown, Highlands or Chambers County. Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. The ERA program makes funding available to states, U.S. territories, local governments, and tribes to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities. On Wednesday, the head of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took questions from lawmakers about the troubled rollout of the program. While applications can be made online through the programs portal, the TDHCA call center at (833) 9TX-RENT (833-989-7368) will be available to submit applications over the phone. Since February the state of Texas has paid landlords more than one billion dollars for tenants who can't afford to pay rent. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. AUSTIN - 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. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Section 8 housing voucher Low-income residents may be eligible to get help paying rent. The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has compiled a list of state and local rental assistance programs. We strive to always do better, Tirloni said in an email. Most went into the statewide Texas Rent Relief program, and the rest when to city and county governments. UPDATE: Accepting New Applications For Limited Time, March 14-28, 2023. 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. Of the maximum $65,000 available per household, up to $10,000 can be used for utility assistance (inclusive of past due balance and prospective assistance). Exactly how many people have fallen behind on rent over the past year is unclear. If a landlord is not paid, the payment will be made directly to the tenant. requested do not exceed the program limit of 15 months. Nov. 9, 2021 - (Tarrant County) - As of Friday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m., the Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR), the State of Texas' rental assistance program, stopped accepting applications. All rights reserved. 0000020271 00000 n These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. 0000001467 00000 n Neighborhood Centers Inc: 713-665-3600. As the tenant was evicted from the unit associated with this application, pursuant to program policies, rental arrears are only approved for the time period the tenant was in the unit, the email reads. Do you value our journalism? Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. 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. The first payment never came because they had a Covid outbreak. Assistance continues to grow with an average of $6 million approved per day in the last week, with marked increases seen weekly. 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. When asked if he had a set targets for performance going forward, he said I can and I will, but that he wanted to for a couple weeks before committing to specific goals. 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. Weve been expecting there to be aid [for renters] for months and months so there should have been a plan in place.. 0000002829 00000 n We've provided over $2B in emergency funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, passed in December 2020, included $25 billion in urgently needed emergency rental assistance (ERA1) for tenants with low incomes and established the Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERA) administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). Governor Abbott and TDHCA launched the Texas Rent Relief program in February 2021 the first statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households throughout Texas. Texas Rent Relief Program P.O. I think any landlord that accepted money or got money directly for rent absolutely should not have evicted anyone, Garcia said. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . Shes impressed by how many do persevere. Its unclear whether landlords face any penalties from state agencies for improperly evicting tenants while receiving rent relief dollars intended to help those tenants stay housed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effectiveness of. Federal aid has gotten to only a fraction of Texans applying for assistance because they're behind on rent and trying to avoid being evicted. #4'x= 3r8 #TH(fY'O3 }~\N |iz$&dr_~azLN~u($~^ K H!K @gq4. Find a complete list of them here. Home By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of. In each expanded section, there are . In our view, the judge made a mistake letting the trial proceed as soon as [the property manager] confirmed that the owner had a pending application for rental assistance, Stamm said in an email. A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. 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 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. At the federal level, that job falls to the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Inspector General. Member Editorials (MEMBERS ONLY) Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . . Do you value our journalism? Advocacy Alerts Then she gave up her job at the Katy hospital to care once more for her youngest daughter. In her case, the check arrived in time but went to the wrong place. I trusted them, Scott said. Yet they still pushed us out.. Please take our patron satisfaction survey! This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. 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. All past-due rent and utilities (back to March 13, 2020) will be paid first. 0000032141 00000 n r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. 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. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> For more information on returning a payment, email [email protected]. by Joshua Fechter To a question about whether the application website is mobile-friendly, he replied, its mobile-compatible. We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. 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. You will get a 30-minute legal consultation with information, advice, and resources. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. Visit the TDHCA contact us page for information. 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. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. 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. KPRC 2 Investigates has received dozens of complaints from people all . Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 0000088072 00000 n 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 Eligible households can apply online or over the phone for first-time or additional program assistance. Eligible households can apply for assistance online at TexasRentRelief.com or over the phone by calling the TRR call center at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). Cherice Scotts landlord evicted her and her family in October, then cashed a check for rental assistance funds intended to keep them housed. The program has emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). We continue to see a strong need for assistance, and eviction filings statewide have now returned to pre-pandemic levels. Greg Abbott for comment on the report. A free legal hotline available to South Texas residents. 0000020386 00000 n 1 0 obj You know, we just had the problems from [the pandemic] last year, which everybody did.. Prior to 2019, there was often confusion about what counted as a "reasonable" late fee. 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. Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. 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. Show us with your support. It is kind of a miracle that they are able to do it.. My landlord has signed up with bill.com to receive payment via ACH, so hopefully, he will receive payment sooner than later. 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. But housing advocates and lawyers who represent tenants facing eviction say they routinely see cases of Texas landlords accepting thousands of dollars from the government and evicting the tenants the money was intended to help. However, Tarrant County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), along with programs administered by the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, will . rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. Feb 27, 2023. 0000002022 00000 n 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. 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. 0000058095 00000 n Sharing of Certifications: As outlined in the Tenant and Landlord certifications, the program may share a copy of the tenant, landlord, or utility provider certification with the tenant applicant, a user approved by the tenant, or an associated landlord or utility provider, as well as counsel for any of these parties. To apply for residency, you may contact the onsite leasing staff for the development you wish to apply for or contact your local housing authority for assistance. Approvals have. According to the National Housing Law Project, 86% of the 119 lawyers across the country who responded to a survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants said they had seen cases where landlords either declined to apply for assistance from rent relief programs or took the money and proceeded to kick out their tenants. I hope everyone gets the assistance that they need. 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. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. 0000000016 00000 n Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations. Things To Do Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. 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 property manager quickly confirmed that they had and Jasso tossed the eviction. In a phone interview, Musselman declined to say why he ruled in favor of Gates landlord. Some households will still qualify for the program while others will not. Stephanie Gates rental assistance check initially went to the wrong address and reached her landlord less than two weeks after she was evicted from her Round Rock home in January. The landlord submits any information or documentation to receive payment as part of a rent relief program. 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. 0000009428 00000 n How are landlords going to have faith in a rental relief program, and how are they going to hang on their tenants when this is happening? Rosales said. If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. Wilkinson said hed be open to exploring more options to get that message out. Appeals must be submitted within 30 days. 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. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. About the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Texas law allows landlords to collect "reasonable" late fees if any portion of the rent remains unpaid more than two full days after it was due. 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.. The application software issue has been resolved. 0000068016 00000 n Interests 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. The program was originally launched in February 2021 and is administered by the . 2. 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 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. 0000088009 00000 n Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. 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.
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