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0000098050 00000 n Members in the News (MEMBERS ONLY) 0000020386 00000 n But she still hasnt found a place to live. 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. 0000030653 00000 n An employee at Blazers office who answered the phone declined to answer questions. Eligibility For tenants: Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) Household has been financially affected by COVID-19 pandemic For landlords: Assistance for rent no older than April 2020 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. To help with emergency housing needs, HAP has two components: rental assistance and relocation assistance for qualified households facing housing instability. P.O. 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. A portion of the funds have been set-aside specifically for households whose landlords have already sued for eviction in their local court. % 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. Johnson had asked the office manager whether they had received the latest check, she said. Then they mailed it to the wrong address twice and they want to evict me. 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. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. Expected time in this status: less than one week. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. Please reload the page and try again. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. 1. Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. 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. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. 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.. Tenants who are unable to access their existing online application may call the call center for assistance, and documentation related to existing applications may be accepted by postal mail at the following address. Scott wanted to know: What happened to the rent relief money? Texas Rent Relief Program has $96M remaining to help Texans affected by the 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. Landlord Application Information. In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. The program will also have a call . Lee Reznicek, a property manager who oversees Gates former home for Austin-based Hill Country Property Management, declined to comment when reached by email. Cherice Scotts son, 6-year-old Teegan McKinney, plays at a park in Houston. 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). pk}b=^ ;+2b4+rU:"KOJF&. 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. 0000026187 00000 n Shes impressed by how many do persevere. 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. 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. By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of. But I dont want to give up.. You can login to the site as a landlord or as a tenant. While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. 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. 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. 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 This news article provides an overview of the Texas Public Utilities Commission's recent order and how it will affect customers in Texas. And only 250 of payments have been sent. 0000068016 00000 n Best of luck to you and anyone needing this assistance. All rights reserved. The Texas rent relief program has only made three payments despite being online for over . Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. 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. 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. rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. TAAHP does not facilitate applications for affordable housing. The first payment never came because they had a Covid outbreak. 0000025788 00000 n the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Texas. 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. 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. 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. Assistance continues to grow with an average of $6 million approved per day in the last week, with marked increases seen weekly. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. Most went into the statewide Texas Rent Relief program, and the rest when to city and county governments. Donate to join or renew today. Applicant will receive an email notification of approval. Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. Business 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. Departments Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 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. 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. 0000012097 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). 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. Are you looking for rent assistance resources, help with utility bills or reduced rent apartments? Mattingly said more than 400 of his companys residents have tried to apply to the program. 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. 0000009860 00000 n 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. 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. 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. It hurts, that really hurts. At the moment, Gates is bouncing back and forth between her fathers house and a friends while she appeals her eviction in an attempt to strike it from her record and make it easier for her to find a new place. 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. Even if the rent relief check was in hand, it wouldnt have covered the amount sought by the landlord, Musselman said. 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.. 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. For more information on returning a payment, email [email protected]. It is kind of a miracle that they are able to do it.. This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. 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. 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. Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. 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. 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. 2021 Program Information. This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. 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. Maybe the money will be returned to Treasury and the wrong will be righted for the government, Ordua said. 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. I shouldnt have.. Lifestyle Policy and Regulatory Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) For example, the program bars landlords from accepting rent relief payments after they evict a tenant. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Member Editorials (MEMBERS ONLY) 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. Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. 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. He took the car, which made it difficult for Scott to hunt for work and shelter. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. Community Member Grand Openings (MEMBERS ONLY) Evaluating the. an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords, survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants. The statewide program doled out more than $1.2 billion to 212,344 households. 0000030230 00000 n Latest 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 Find a complete list of them here. r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 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). Then you can type what your issue or concern. We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. 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. You will get a 30-minute legal consultation with information, advice, and resources. Applications to the relief program can be submitted beginning March 14. 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. 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. 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. This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Weve been expecting there to be aid [for renters] for months and months so there should have been a plan in place.. 0000005047 00000 n We strive to always do better, Tirloni said in an email. You know, we just had the problems from [the pandemic] last year, which everybody did.. 0000023877 00000 n By clicking the plus sign by one of the listed programs, the page will expand and provide the full details of that program. 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 service staff will examine your application and once it is approved you will be able to claim emergency rental . After submitting, applicants should watch for communication from TRR in case additional information is needed for application. 2401 E 6th Street, Ste 3037, PMB 153, Austin, TX 78702. Check status periodically. 0000001407 00000 n That makes removing barriers to helping families catch up on the rent even more vital, Rosales said. Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. The state has already launched a website for the program, where both landlords and tenants facing a pile of bills will be able to apply starting at 8 a.m. Monday. 0000017510 00000 n But Musselman expressed sympathy for the landlord, noting that they had gone 11 months without rent from Gates. TXHAF is administered by TDHCA with funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. 0000008211 00000 n Show us with your support. 2 0 obj 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. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. 0000002471 00000 n The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. 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. 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. %PDF-1.7 Call to schedule an appointment with a legal representative. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Late fees over 12% of your monthly rent (10% for properties with more than four units) are unreasonable. Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. Johnsons trying not to dwell on the saga. On Jan. 27, Williamson County constables came to execute the eviction. 0000010218 00000 n When you click on the link for the first time, you will need to be prepared with a valid email address. And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. 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). 0000002829 00000 n Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. 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. 0000048055 00000 n Wilkinson said hed be open to exploring more options to get that message out. Most states have lifted their . And only 250 payments have been sent. 0000020158 00000 n Her former landlord had taken the rent relief funds after they evicted her. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. 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). SOURCE Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 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. 0000001196 00000 n "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . You cant have it both ways with Texas Rent Relief, Stamm said. Print Feedback. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. The same day, her landlord told Johnson her lease wouldnt be renewed when it expired the following week, she said. 0000078000 00000 n Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. Request for assistance has been verified and approved. 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. 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. Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. 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. 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. Interests In each expanded section, there are . And more is on the. Do you value our journalism? During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. Neighborhood Centers Inc: 713-665-3600. 0000003018 00000 n Texas Housing Conference The program has assisted more than 6,000 households in the state thus far. There have been nearly 50,000 eviction filings in Houston since the beginning of the pandemic. Body: Case ID. Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . Tenants who are requesting AFR and have remained in the same unit as their original request and for whom the months of assistance requested as part of the AFR are outside of the term for the lease submitted with the tenants initial application (including if the lease is now month-to-month), or if the tenant did not provide a lease as part of their initial application, verbal confirmation with the tenant or landlord to confirm the tenant is still in the unit is acceptable proof of tenancy. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. State Rep. Diego Bernal, a San Antonio Democrat, wanted to know what was being done to make sure landlords know that the problems are being fixed and to urge them to hold off on filing eviction cases against tenants who tried to apply for rent relief but had their application held up . 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. 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. V o l . But the tenants are still the ones holding the bag.. The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. 0000058032 00000 n 0000009428 00000 n 0000048118 00000 n by Joshua Fechter The department . Failure to respond would only delay the application process. 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. COVID-19 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. The states leadership shouldve been prepared to get money out to struggling renters as soon as Congress approved the funding, Rosales said, but instead have focused on their own political interests. Ask us! Do you value our journalism? 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. I dont know if its greatbut youre supposed to be able to use it on your mobile device.. Wilkinson said many people who tried to apply may need to go back and take extra steps to complete the application. 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. endobj Find the program in your area by state , territory, or tribe and apply for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA). Please take our patron satisfaction survey! But the program had fixed that error, the email said. 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.