This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. 0000010218 00000 n Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. *L#H0o=M6S:{D A^o l'a7*, The TRR program will be accepting online applications from March 14 to 28, providing aid with rent and utility bills for up to 18 months for first-time applicants. 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. 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. Around that time, Johnson said she caught COVID-19 and had to miss a month of work. Cherice Scotts son, 6-year-old Teegan McKinney, plays at a park in Houston. This news article provides an overview of the Texas Public Utilities Commission's recent order and how it will affect customers in Texas. Exactly how many people have fallen behind on rent over the past year is unclear. Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings. The Texas Rent Relief Program, a COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), will be receiving an additional $47.8 million to help address the backlog of assistance requests. 0000088072 00000 n 0000048118 00000 n Also, the application status in the Neighborly system will be updated when the payment has been made. First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. PDF Application Response Times For Initial Funding Requests - Texas Rent Relief What you need to know about Texas' new rental relief program - KHOU TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 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. Payment cannot be released until 90 days after the initial disbursement date; however, be advised that review and approval timelines will often exceed 90 days from the last disbursement. Our vision is to inspire and engage our members and stakeholders to end the affordable housing crisis in Texas. 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 Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. Anticipated time to receive payment: 7-14 days Request for assistance has been denied. Recent updates February 2023. 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). Applied for Rent Relief? What Happens Now Friday is last day to apply for Texas Rent Relief Other program limitations may also apply please see https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/covid19-response.htm for details. All past-due rent and utilities (back to March 13, 2020) will be paid first. You cant get paid directly, and also break the promises you made that were designed to keep someone in their home.. The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has compiled a list of state and local rental assistance programs. But Johnsons victory was short-lived. 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. . Yet they still pushed us out.. And more is on the. But none of that recovered money is helping tenants ousted from their homes, said Julia Ordua, Southeast Texas regional director for Texas Housers, a nonprofit low-income housing advocacy group. Updates to the Texas Rent Relief Program If you need help paying rent in Katy, or other financial assistance, reach out to Katy Christian Ministries for more information on their programs. Interests I dont know if its greatbut youre supposed to be able to use it on your mobile device.. Assistance continues to grow with an average of $6 million approved per day in the last week, with marked increases seen weekly. 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. 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. Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. Landlord Application Information | Brazoria County, TX PDF ERA Program and Overall Ranking - Texas Housers Tarrant County Renters Can Still Get Assistance % 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. Lifestyle Late Fees. Info about the decision to end the program and eviction diversion is included as well. 0000003018 00000 n For households who applied directly for unpaid or future rent or utilities. This program has specific eligibility requirements and not all households may be eligible. During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. To a question about whether the application website is mobile-friendly, he replied, its mobile-compatible. 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. 0000088009 00000 n 0000001407 00000 n P.O. In each expanded section, there are . Her landlord gave her until the end of May to do so. We look at Texas Tech's award-winning magazine. 0000025788 00000 n And only 250 of payments have been sent. <> 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). Texas' rental assistance program will soon run out of money 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. In other words, Scott had already been evicted, but Texas Rent Relief was letting the landlord keep the money more than $11,000 in apparent contradiction of its own policy. 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. 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. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. 2021 Program Information. Events / Networking Opportunities This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. Landlord Application Information. Governor Abbott, TDHCA Commit 95% Of Total Funds From Texas Rent Relief Since the program launched in February 2021, TRR has provided over $2 billion in emergency funds for rent and utility relief, served 250 Texas counties and prevented evictions for over 21,000 households. But I dont want to give up.. 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 service staff will examine your application and once it is approved you will be able to claim emergency rental . Texans shouldnt have to overcome so many bureaucratic and technological challenges just to get help that Congress already funded, Rosales said. Whoops! 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. Housing Assistance Program - San Antonio Her former landlord had taken the rent relief funds after they evicted her. Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. Since February the state of Texas has paid landlords more than one billion dollars for tenants who can't afford to pay rent. He took the car, which made it difficult for Scott to hunt for work and shelter. This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March. Houston, TX 77258. We're thankful for the opportunity to re-open the application portal for two weeks to help more Texas tenants and landlords," said Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA Executive Director. Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. 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. TAAHP Scholarships Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. Housing experts say they expect expiration of the eviction rules will make the already spotty protections of the eviction moratorium even more unevenly applied. Texas Rent Relief: Payment disbursed : r/texas - reddit The TDHCA runs the Texas Rent Relief program. 0000068016 00000 n 2401 E 6th Street, Ste 3037, PMB 153, Austin, TX 78702. By clicking the plus sign by one of the listed programs, the page will expand and provide the full details of that program. the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Texas. Do you value our journalism? 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. Please take our patron satisfaction survey! She said the past few months have been hard. 0000012097 00000 n Shes impressed by how many do persevere. The public is also invited to share such concerns. Questions? The state's $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more . 0000014023 00000 n In order to receive federal rent relief funds through the state, landlords had to sign an agreement that forbids them from evicting tenants for nonpayment during the time period covered by the assistance. Sharing of Certifications: As outlined in the Tenant and Landlord certifications, the program may share a copy of the tenant, landlord, or utility provider certification with the tenant applicant, a user approved by the tenant, or an associated landlord or utility provider, as well as counsel for any of these parties. For the past year, housing advocates have been pointing to the slow-rolling housing crisis brought on by the pandemic. I hope everyone gets the assistance that they need. Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) Federal aid has gotten to only a fraction of Texans applying for assistance because they're behind on rent and trying to avoid being evicted. Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. Things To Do Find programs to help you with rent or utility payments, help you find a rent-reduced apartment, help you find emergency housing or homeless shelters, and more. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. 0000078000 00000 n News from Members (MEMBERS ONLY) #4'x= 3r8 #TH(fY'O3 }~\N |iz$&dr_~azLN~u($~^ K H!K @gq4. Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. Texas Emergency rental assistance That help Paying Rent 0000002829 00000 n I"OqC)RrQBY( ,VN?4Tmj|e@O)&$O&WrVRKT0X5Vrs'O. {wKPK?c- C <=fL5h|'(d-$7(r ~9 qFP9v8i-LKp Nx@`{>-aB58c$f_Q. In late March she started a new job teaching at an early learning center. We have more than $1 million of unpaid rent dating back to March of last year, said Ian Mattingly, president of LumaCorp, which manages about 7,000 rental apartments in Texas. requested do not exceed the program limit of 15 months. Texas Rent Relief Program Provides Over $100 Million in Assistance Scott and her husband had fallen behind on rent in June after Scott stopped working to take care of her youngest daughter, who has Down syndrome, and the medical bills piled up. The email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. On Wednesday, the head of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took questions from lawmakers about the troubled rollout of the program. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. ?$.#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, To request this information, please contact us toll-free at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). Applicants must still provide all other required program documentation and must provide evidence of the notice of utility disconnection. Call to schedule an appointment with a legal representative. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. <> 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. 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. I was a good tenant, Gates said. 0000020386 00000 n At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Gates, a 42-year-old Round Rock resident, saw her hours as a temp working in guest services at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport cut in half, and by January 2021 she was behind on rent for her two-bedroom apartment. 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. 0000048055 00000 n Your rent and/or utility relief payments will be made directly to your landlord and utility companies. Texas Rent Relief Program But receiving rent relief dollars wasnt guaranteed, so some landlords filed for eviction in case the money didnt come through and as a last resort after months of going without rent, Mintz said. KPRC 2 Investigates Texas Rent Relief program: Why some renters have 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). 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. ) 0000047797 00000 n Texas rent relief program applications now open - msn.com Most went into the statewide Texas Rent Relief program, and the rest when to city and county governments. an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords, survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants. Texas Rent Relief Home Page | Texas Rent Relief 0000000016 00000 n Advocacy Alerts Governor Abbott, TDHCA Announce Statewide COVID-19 Rental Relief 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.
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