Texas has only made 3 rent relief payments 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.. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. Emergency Rental Assistance Program | U.S. Department of the Treasury This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. TXHAF provides eligible homeowners with . The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. We have more than $1 million of unpaid rent dating back to March of last year, said Ian Mattingly, president of LumaCorp, which manages about 7,000 rental apartments in Texas. Also, the application status in the Neighborly system will be updated when the payment has been made. Member Grand Openings (MEMBERS ONLY) On Wednesday, the head of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took questions from lawmakers about the troubled rollout of the program. Check status periodically. Governor Abbott and TDHCA launched the Texas Rent Relief program in February 2021 the first statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households throughout Texas. The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program provides Texas tenants with financial help with rent and utility bills. 3 0 obj Newly homeless, Gates stood on the curb in the cold guarding her belongings until a friend could get off work to help her move them. 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. When Dallas County Justice of the Peace Juan Jasso heard about the check and phone call, he asked the property manager whether they had received the check, Johnson said. Landlord associated with the application will receive an email notification of . COVID-19 :>W:lfD;)SHK(r$Iy2lj\*vj-Wf8+GfJs &Xsua9fqsJYKk~(FbD*fwG[VEiG]e29^Qv($6,9arts1y$ GS?u(-4Wc-J(,_@&U 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. Member Editorials (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. Report Details How Texas Rent Relief Program Has Been Plagued By April 7, 20215 PM Central. All rights reserved. Our constituents experienced significant unreliability during an already challenging set of circumstances, all the while, both renters and landlords alike had unclear direction from TDHCA for weeks or months if and when the approved funds would finally arrive, the lawmakers wrote. 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. 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. The idea of landlords taking rent relief dollars and still evicting tenants is outrageous, she said, and could warrant investigation. Scott wanted to know: What happened to the rent relief money? 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. Renter approved for $5,000 in relief. How to apply for rental aid - CNBC Postal Mail: We continue to see a strong need for assistance, and eviction filings statewide have now returned to pre-pandemic levels. 0000001407 00000 n I trusted them, Scott said. The Texas Rent Relief program was set up to help people pay their bills. Her former landlord had taken the rent relief funds after they evicted her. We are learning more about why there are delays in the. Tenants in New Units: Tenants who are living at a new address may request funds through the AFR process for the rent expenses of the new primary residence. Houston, TX 77258. Approvals have. 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. Yet they still pushed us out.. 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. 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=>` 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. Were adding added significant resources to attack the backlog and get the money out the door. Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. hb``b``yX01 $J|*]gw"sq7X>6>^`hD"0Q{in00 Y? ` q endstream endobj 5 0 obj <> endobj 6 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 792.0 612.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 7 0 obj <> endobj 8 0 obj <> endobj 9 0 obj [/ICCBased 22 0 R] endobj 10 0 obj [/Separation/Red 9 0 R<>] endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <>stream 0000002022 00000 n 0000005047 00000 n 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. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. Katy Texas Rent Assistance: Nonprofits To Help With Rent Payments Other organizations That help paying rent in Houston. Print Feedback. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. 4 45 TRR is processing applications . 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. Texas Rent Relief Home Page | Texas Rent Relief 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. But in September, Gates received good news: Not only did she qualify for help paying back rent, but the program would cover her rent through November 11 months all together, totaling $12,740. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. 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. 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. 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. Applications can be also made . The rent relief checks cleared RDRHs bank account on Feb. 4 less than two weeks after Gates was evicted. Interests TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 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. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. 2 0 obj Scott had landed a new job as a dietician at a local hospital when she returned from work one afternoon in early October to find most of her belongings spread out on the lawn and the locks changed. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. After logging in, click on the application status and check with the details provided. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. 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. PDF DIRECT-TO-TENANT PAYMENT IMPLEMENTATION - National Low Income Housing Texas family evicted after rent relief program paid the wrong landlord 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. Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) Closed from 12 to 1pm for lunch. But I dont want to give up.. Even if the rent relief check was in hand, it wouldnt have covered the amount sought by the landlord, Musselman said. 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. 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. Food + Drink 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. Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Programs - Weekend Landlords Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. "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.". According to the program rules laid out in the agreement Gates landlord signed July 13 to receive the funds, if a landlord receives rent relief money after evicting the tenant, theyre supposed to send the money back to TDHCA within 10 days. Most went into the statewide Texas Rent Relief program, and the rest when to city and county governments. 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. cy,a`G|~OOsQ>gR-"F HT$uUD$>@he^? Mon: 8 to 5pm. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. Texas Rent Relief Program: Landlord Duties | Texas Law Help requested do not exceed the program limit of 15 months. 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. 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. Texas closed the rent relief program to new applicants in November, citing overwhelming demand for rental assistance dollars. Texas Rent Relief Program: Tax Forms and Other Updates - TAAHP 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. r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 In her case, the check arrived in time but went to the wrong place. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter? They can visit https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral or call 855-270-7655 for help understanding their options and to seek free or low-cost legal assistance. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created the Texas Rent Relief program to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Updated information and a lease for the new unit will be required in the AFR application. The Texas rent relief program has only made three payments despite being online for over . The state of Texas has more than one billion dollars to give out to people who need help paying their bills. In Texas, focus shifts to state rental relief as eviction moratorium 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. Some Texas landlords took rent relief money but evicted tenants anyway 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. 0000001196 00000 n The details for each program are available below. Tarrant County Renters Can Still Get Assistance 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. 0000020158 00000 n Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates. 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 . Top Listings 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. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . Renters: How to Get Rent Relief - Investopedia Advocacy Alerts A free legal hotline available to South Texas residents. In a phone interview, Musselman declined to say why he ruled in favor of Gates landlord. UPDATE: Accepting New Applications For Limited Time, March 14-28, 2023. Please take our patron satisfaction survey! 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. 0000015708 00000 n Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program Low Income Family 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. 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. Payment in Process Good news! 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. T!KE) A8(x;)-GlrHqZ:%>)c#x/MoJ5K=Tj=M,dIj)h MQ7ey#5xp uwA4@!5GM3e mXI#JR!g.H?##B-|qz^^(p7r`>G>M'PF4LLLu*n_"!/N`nxxbQ9CkK4eSB[Rl7x,E $R6W9203#g~=jxPcIyH.MSLhuY9K^cPM|>Q|hfb#PxFAcL,/>~5W(oqXiU&u When tickets go on sale in May, Tribune members will save big. 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. $96 Million Available For Rent Relief In Texas - localprofile.com GTranslate - Rent Relief Resources | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of This program has specific eligibility requirements and not all households may be eligible. 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. 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. Disclosure: The Texas Apartment Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. 0000032141 00000 n 0000078000 00000 n 2021 Program Information. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 12 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 792 612] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Texas Rent Relief Program Provides Over $550 Million in Assistance While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. Whoops! Click here to search the TDHCA database. About the Texas Rent Relief Program Both landlords and tenants were able to use this website to create an account and submit their application. 2n -.-&) 1 1 TAAHP does not have regulatory or compliance authority for any affordable housing communities or developments. Effectiveness of. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Click Here For Information about Accepting Payments. Call to schedule an appointment with a legal representative. Texas Rent Relief Program Re-Opens Applications for Limited Time, March Show us with your support. Tirloni, the TDHCA spokesperson, declined to discuss individual tenants cases, including Scotts, citing state law that prevents TDHCA from disclosing information about people who receive benefits from programs administered by the agency. KPRC 2 Investigates Texas Rent Relief program: Why some renters have This Plano family got evicted after the Texas Rent Relief program paid the wrong landlord. View The Texas Eviction Diversion Program Highlights. 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. QAP Alerts (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. 4 0 obj <> endobj xref Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. 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. Find a complete list of them here. 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. As of Wednesday, the program has assisted more than 300,000 households. 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. The money was considered crucial to prevent a wave of tenants losing their homes as eviction bans expired; in recent months, three Texas metro areas Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth have seen some of the highest eviction case filings in the country among the 31 cities tracked by Eviction Lab, a research center based at Princeton University that tracks eviction filings. We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. Around that time, Johnson said she caught COVID-19 and had to miss a month of work. Tenant applicants who have received a notice of utility disconnection are now prioritized for application review similarly to those applicants being sued for eviction. 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. endobj 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. 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. 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. But she still hasnt found a place to live. PDF TEXAS RENT RELIEF PROGRAM Understanding the Status of your Application How to Apply for an Emergency Rental Assistant in Houston While many have gone back to work, the unemployment rate remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. Texas' rental assistance program will soon run out of money I was a good tenant, Gates said. 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). #4'x= 3r8 #TH(fY'O3 }~\N |iz$&dr_~azLN~u($~^ K H!K @gq4. According to the report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords, survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants. 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. Altogether, about $2 billion of the federal rental and utility assistance funds approved by Congress last year were earmarked for Texas. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. Texas Rent Relief: Payment disbursed : r/texas - reddit 8. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. V o l . The Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) provides financial assistance to qualified Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing of Certifications: As outlined in the Tenant and Landlord certifications, the program may share a copy of the tenant, landlord, or utility provider certification with the tenant applicant, a user approved by the tenant, or an associated landlord or utility provider, as well as counsel for any of these parties. It hurts, that really hurts. TXHAF is administered by TDHCA with funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Service, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), NLIHC COVID-19 State and Local Rental Assistance, Housing Legal Advice Hotline (St. Mary's School of Law), Nearly 600,000 Texans Will Lose Access to a Program That Prevented Electricity Shut-Offs During the Pandemic on Oct. 1 (8/27/2020), Texas Regulators Vote to Ban Residential Utility Shut-Offs During Pandemic While Buoying Companies (3/26/2020), Please take our patron satisfaction survey. 30j($>H&L&Q.]Ky,YIR _I@*v+ Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings. To request this information, please contact us toll-free at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). 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. Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. Mar 1, 2023. events. Texas rent relief application under review - This is what to do 0000098112 00000 n Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. 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. <> I hope everyone gets the assistance that they need. In late March she started a new job teaching at an early learning center. Eviction - COVID-19 & Texas Law - Guides at Texas State Law Library Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program The program will also have a call . But those are the exact grounds that RDRH Holdings cited when it sued to evict Gates, Stamm said. To get that protection, you'll need to attest on a declaration form that you meet a few requirements, such as that you earned less than $99,000 in 2020 or 2021. 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. The state is using the more than $1 billion in money from the latest federal COVID-19. Show us with your support. 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). 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.