:>W:lfD;)SHK(r$Iy2lj\*vj-Wf8+GfJs &Xsua9fqsJYKk~(FbD*fwG[VEiG]e29^Qv($6,9arts1y$ GS?u(-4Wc-J(,_@&U The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has compiled a list of state and local rental assistance programs. The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. 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. 4 0 obj <> endobj xref Scotts former landlord Blazer Real Estate Services, a Houston property management company did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. Of the roughly 200 that have completed applications, only two have been approved for funding. 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. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. On January 24,2023, Treasury released the reallocation amounts for ERA2 Quarter 2 General Pool Reallocation and Designated Voluntary Reallocations; Guidance: On January 5, 2023 Treasury published an updated version of the ERA1 . 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. There have been nearly 50,000 eviction filings in Houston since the beginning of the pandemic. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. Click here to search the TDHCA database. 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. The State Auditors Office declined to say whether it has launched any investigations into potential fraud, waste and abuse of the program. After weeks of phone calls, a Texas Rent Relief program staffer told Scott that her former landlord had indeed received the rent relief money in mid-November more than $11,000, enough to cover the six months back rent they owed. V o l . Theres no excuse, Rosales said. This news article provides an overview of the Texas Public Utilities Commission's recent order and how it will affect customers in Texas. 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. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> I was a good tenant, Gates said. Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. 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. 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. Many people, especially women, have been unable to work because of child care responsibilities. 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. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. SOURCE Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 You cant have it both ways with Texas Rent Relief, Stamm said. Payment in Process Good news! 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.. This program has specific eligibility requirements and not all households may be eligible. Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. The Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) provides financial assistance to qualified Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This guide is updated to reflect information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Info about the decision to end the program and eviction diversion is included as well. ) 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. Policy and Regulatory Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. 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. 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. The federal government and the state of Texas both had people like Scott and her family in mind when they hurriedly created a safety net for struggling renters amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He took the car, which made it difficult for Scott to hunt for work and shelter. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter? Sign up for our Friends of TAAHP email list to learn more about TAAHP, critical industry issues, and hear about upcoming event and education opportunities. 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. The state-level program meant to help both Texas renters impacted financially by the pandemic and their landlords announced Thursday morning that it would stop taking new applications for . Then she gave up her job at the Katy hospital to care once more for her youngest daughter. 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. 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. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. Johnsons trying not to dwell on the saga. 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. Best of luck to you and anyone needing this assistance. Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. Shes impressed by how many do persevere. 0000000016 00000 n endobj 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. . For others, health issues made going to work unsafe while the pandemic raged out of control. 0000001407 00000 n 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. Top Listings Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) TXHAF provides eligible homeowners with . The public is also invited to share such concerns. 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 . I think any landlord that accepted money or got money directly for rent absolutely should not have evicted anyone, Garcia said. After submitting, applicants should watch for communication from TRR in case additional information is needed for application. When tickets go on sale in May, Tribune members will save big. Member Newsletters (MEMBERS ONLY) Latest Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. the service staff will examine your application and once it is approved you will be able to claim emergency rental . 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. Arts + Culture rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. According to the National Housing Law Project, 86% of the 119 lawyers across the country who responded to a survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants said they had seen cases where landlords either declined to apply for assistance from rent relief programs or took the money and proceeded to kick out their tenants. 0000078063 00000 n Executive director Bobby Wilkinson said the early days of the program delivered a bad customer experience for people, but that the issues are being fixed. The application portal opens Tuesday, March 14th at 8 a.m. and closes Tuesday, March 28th, at 11:59 p.m. To contact the Texas Rent Relief program, please call 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368). Find the program in your area by state , territory, or tribe and apply for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA). On Wednesday, the head of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took questions from lawmakers about the troubled rollout of the program. You will get a 30-minute legal consultation with information, advice, and resources. 0000015708 00000 n Those most affected by the pandemic and its economic devastation low-wage workers, Black and Latino Texans, and rural communities are also the least likely to have internet at home. It takes away your pride and makes me feel like I failed as a parent. #4'x= 3r8 #TH(fY'O3 }~\N |iz$&dr_~azLN~u($~^ K H!K @gq4. Even if the rent relief check was in hand, it wouldnt have covered the amount sought by the landlord, Musselman said. 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. Cherice Scotts son, 6-year-old Teegan McKinney, plays at a park in Houston. Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. Texas Housing Conference 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. All Rights Reserved.. Plano Dentist Pleaded Guilty To COVID-19-Related Fraud, $22.8 Million Grant To Help Prevent Homelessness In Dallas And Collin Counties, North Texas Judge Blocks Student Loan Forgiveness, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 2023 Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. 2401 E 6th Street, Ste 3037, PMB 153, Austin, TX 78702. 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. Do you value our journalism? 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. I did everything right, and to still have my stuff thrown down the street its just something that Im still trying to process, Gates said. Health If you live in Texas no matter if you are landlord or tenants this program will help you, the simplest way is to apply for Texas Emergency rent assistance for covid 19, Visit the website, Create a account, and apply online. 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. 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. Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. KPRC 2 Investigates has received dozens of complaints from people all . A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. COVID-19 When you click on the link for the first time, you will need to be prepared with a valid email address. No New Applications Accepted The program has emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. 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. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Section 8 housing voucher Low-income residents may be eligible to get help paying rent. If you are concerned that a community is not in compliance, please contact the TDHCA at 512-475-3800. 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. Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. Applicants must still provide all other required program documentation and must provide evidence of the notice of utility disconnection. Researchers have offered estimates of past-due rent in the U.S. ranging from $8.4 billion to $52.6 billion. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. On Jan. 27, Williamson County constables came to execute the eviction. Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Texas closed the rent relief program to new applicants in November, citing overwhelming demand for rental assistance dollars. 0000001467 00000 n 0000020158 00000 n But The Texas Tribune interviewed tenants from across the state who were approved for federal rental assistance and were evicted anyway. But Johnsons victory was short-lived. Questions? Reporting: On February 15, 2023 Treasury released ERA1 & ERA2 Quarterly Demographic Data for Q1 2021 through Q3 2022; January 2023. State of Texas | Statewide Search | Report Fraud in Texas | Texas Statutes, Site Map | Library Policies | Accessibility | Employment Opportunities, 205 West 14th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-1614. 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. Weeks after her eviction, Scott received an email from Texas Rent Relief on Nov. 9 acknowledging that it had initially sent the check to the wrong address. 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. About the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Funds may not still be available by the time a household applies. I dont know if its greatbut youre supposed to be able to use it on your mobile device.. By clicking the plus sign by one of the listed programs, the page will expand and provide the full details of that program. your Phone number -Specify Landlord or tenant rental assistance. Once the application is submitted, applicants need to remain alert for emails or calls from TDHCAs representatives who could ask for additional information. 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. You will be asked to create an account and then . Recent updates February 2023. 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 also offers a website about this program. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. Applications to the relief program can be submitted beginning March 14. 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). There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 2. Texas Rent Relief approved help for me August 27th. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 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. 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. 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. While many have gone back to work, the unemployment rate remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. 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. 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. 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. 4 0 obj My landlord has signed up with bill.com to receive payment via ACH, so hopefully, he will receive payment sooner than later. 0000024288 00000 n 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. If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to court. Mattingly said more than 400 of his companys residents have tried to apply to the program. 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. 0000058095 00000 n This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March. If you owe unpaid rent or utilities, that amount will be paid in one lump sum within 10 business days of your final approval. Texas has nearly $692 million available through its statewide rent relief program. Community 0000010218 00000 n 0000032141 00000 n 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. Eligible households can apply online or over the phone for first-time or additional program assistance. 0000098050 00000 n What do I do? "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant financial strain on many Texans, and the Texas Rent Relief Program will provide an incredible lifeline to households in need of assistance on their rent and utility payments," said Governor Abbott. 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. 3/11/2021 Funding Update: $918,238,535 available 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. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST Help is available in multiple languages. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. Then in December, the property owner filed an eviction case against Gates and gave her a notice to vacate. Texas Rent Relief gave me a second (or duplicate) payment for a tenant's month of rent. But the tenants are still the ones holding the bag.. Any allegations that either a renter or a rental property owner isnt following the program rules should be reported to the program to be investigated, he said. TRR is processing applications . Lq]0BLaOy\s^ADJ| If a landlord is not paid, the payment will be made directly to the tenant. 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. TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 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. QAP Alerts (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. Do you value our journalism? 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