0000002829 00000 n Housing advocates acknowledge the challenges of standing up such a massive program, but Christina Rosales from the group Texas Housers said theres a larger issue at play here: As a state, Texas regularly fails to focus its vast resources on helping people in the midst of a disaster. Click here to search the TDHCA database. Once the application is submitted, applicants need to remain alert for emails or calls from TDHCAs representatives who could ask for additional information. TDHCA has taken very seriously the responsibility of helping Texas renters and landlords overcome the financial burden brought on by the pandemic, Tirloni said. You will be asked to create an account and then . 0000020271 00000 n 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). Attempts to reach the property owner RDRH Holdings Inc., an Austin-based corporation and its president were unsuccessful. This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March. The statewide TEDP is funded through a set-aside of the Texas Rent Relief Program (texasrentrelief.com), which launched February 15, 2021, stopped accepting new applications for rental assistance as of November 5, 2021, and committed 99% of all total funds by January 13, 2022. 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. The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. Musselman sided with Gates landlord and granted the eviction. See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. by Joshua Fechter All those folks acted in good faith on something that we offered them, that theyre by definition entitled toand by some sort of error, theyre not getting the relief that they need, and then the state Supreme Court let its rules around the eviction moratorium lapse, Bernal said. Mailbag: Evermore. Sign up here. Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. TXHAF is administered by TDHCA with funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Mar 1, 2023. events. 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. SOURCE Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 Do you value our journalism? Access Invoices & ReceiptsRequest W9Questions & Special Requests, Update Your ProfileRequest Company Name ChangeAdding/Removing EmployeesFrequently Asked QuestionsContact Us, Mailing Address2401 E 6th St, Ste 3037, PMB 153Austin, TX 78702Email UsPhone: 512-476-9901, Aug 20, 2021 | COVID19, Latest News, Newsletter. All rights reserved. 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. In a phone interview, Musselman declined to say why he ruled in favor of Gates landlord. 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. TDHCA has provided the following updates regarding the program: ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS (AFR) INFORMATION. Job Listings They may also request assistance with any arrears that have not already been covered by previous TRR assistance or another provider, so long as the total months of assistance for each type of assistance (for example, rent, gas, water, etc.) You can login to the site as a landlord or as a tenant. 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. Texas closed the rent relief program to new applicants in November, citing overwhelming demand for rental assistance dollars. 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. 0000017510 00000 n Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. Also, the application status in the Neighborly system will be updated when the payment has been made. The Tribune contacted government agencies involved in the program and found that none of them including the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which runs the state rent relief program track how often this happens. What do I do? 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. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. Now, with a remaining $96 million in rent relief funds, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) re-opened the Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) and online applications through the portal will be accepted for a limited time from March 14 to 28. All past-due rent and utilities (back to March 13, 2020) will be paid first. In June, Gates said she lost her job after she missed a week of work because of a medical problem. Even if the programs software and staffing struggles have been addressed, Rosales still worries that the programs reliance on online applications will leave eligible renters unable to apply. We're thankful for the opportunity to re-open Texas Rent Relief for two weeks to help more Texas tenants and landlords. endobj Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. Updated: 8 AM Central. Find programs to help you with rent or utility payments, help you find a rent-reduced apartment, help you find emergency housing or homeless shelters, and more. 2. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. 30j($>H&L&Q.]Ky,YIR _I@*v+ Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. 0000048118 00000 n Some households will still qualify for the program while others will not. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. Wilkinson said many people who tried to apply may need to go back and take extra steps to complete the application. As of today, the program has distributed nearly $2 billion, with more than 300,000 Texan households having been assisted or in the final payment process. Our Legal Help guide has information on free legal hotlines, legal clinics, and legal aid organizations, as well as information on how to find a lawyer who could represent you. Eligible households can apply online or over the phone for first-time or additional program assistance. 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. If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to court. Find a complete list of them here. 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. It is kind of a miracle that they are able to do it.. 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. Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. 3/11/2021 Funding Update: $918,238,535 available Food + Drink By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of. We strive to always do better, Tirloni said in an email. 0000026187 00000 n 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). Approval Notification: The landlord, tenant, and/or utility provider will now be notified automatically that a payment has been approved if an email address is present in the Neighborly system, and the notification will include the payment breakout. Education / Webinars The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program provides Texas tenants with financial help with rent and utility bills. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Documentation of Lease: Tenants who are requesting AFR to pay for rent at a new unit must provide a copy of their new lease. 0000058032 00000 n If your landlord breaks their agreement with the Texas Rent Relief program, you may file a complaint with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Health 0000088072 00000 n 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. Prior to 2019, there was often confusion about what counted as a "reasonable" late fee. 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. 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. SACRAMENTO - California's COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today - by the end of the day, more than $1 billion in funding will be obligated - meaning the money has either been paid or approved for payment and awaiting disbursement - and will assist over 74,000 additional households. Cherice Scotts landlord evicted her and her family in October, then cashed a check for rental assistance funds intended to keep them housed. Scott wanted to know: What happened to the rent relief money? Expected time in this status: less than one week. Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. The details for each program are available below. 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. In those cases, the check was initially sent to the wrong property and only arrived after the tenant was kicked out. If you are concerned that a community is not in compliance, please contact the TDHCA at 512-475-3800. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. While many have gone back to work, the unemployment rate remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. Northwest Assistance Ministries: 281-583-5600. The landlord submits any information or documentation to receive payment as part of a rent relief program. In her case, the check arrived in time but went to the wrong place. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? 0000012097 00000 n stream If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. To a question about whether the application website is mobile-friendly, he replied, its mobile-compatible. 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. 0000078063 00000 n <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> 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. Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. 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. Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. Lifestyle Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. 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). 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. 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. Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. 0000024288 00000 n 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 email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. ?$.#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, 0000030653 00000 n 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. We are learning more about why there are delays in the. [n6[_.7jSz 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 public is also invited to share such concerns. Legislative Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. 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. We've provided over $2B in emergency funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). The application software issue has been resolved. Many people, especially women, have been unable to work because of child care responsibilities. The state is using the more than $1 billion in money from the latest federal COVID-19. And more is on the. News from Members (MEMBERS ONLY) That makes removing barriers to helping families catch up on the rent even more vital, Rosales said. It turns out the state program had sent the check in September to the wrong address. 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. To help with emergency housing needs, HAP has two components: rental assistance and relocation assistance for qualified households facing housing instability. Texas Tech To Host Art Gallery. 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. 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. Altogether, about $2 billion of the federal rental and utility assistance funds approved by Congress last year were earmarked for Texas. The fund is designed to provide rent relief for renters experiencing financial hardship. Click Here For Information about Accepting 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.. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. The State Auditors Office declined to say whether it has launched any investigations into potential fraud, waste and abuse of the program. The TDHCA runs the Texas Rent Relief program. I am amazed at the strength and resilience that these folks have to figure out how to get on the internet, when they dont have internet at home, and their resourcefulness in getting rent relief at this point, she said. Approvals have. 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. Top Listings 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 . If you owe unpaid rent or utilities, that amount will be paid in one lump sum within 10 business days of your final approval. On Wednesday, the head of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took questions from lawmakers about the troubled rollout of the program. And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. 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. My landlord has signed up with bill.com to receive payment via ACH, so hopefully, he will receive payment sooner than later. 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. 0000005047 00000 n
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