Closed from 12 to 1pm for lunch. See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. Of the roughly 200 that have completed applications, only two have been approved for funding. 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. I was a good tenant, Gates said. r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 We strive to always do better, Tirloni said in an email. 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. This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 0000030653 00000 n He oversees the state's executive branch, including the housing and community affairs department. The Texas Rent Relief Program is an opportunity to get up to 12 months of back due rent and even secure up to three months of future rent stability for tenants, as well as utility assistance. The program has emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 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. You know, we just had the problems from [the pandemic] last year, which everybody did.. Mailbag: Evermore. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. Housing experts say they expect expiration of the eviction rules will make the already spotty protections of the eviction moratorium even more unevenly applied. TDHCA has provided the following updates regarding the program: ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS (AFR) INFORMATION. April 7, 20215 PM Central. 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. TAAHP does not facilitate applications for affordable housing. That makes removing barriers to helping families catch up on the rent even more vital, Rosales said. I shouldnt have.. Maybe the money will be returned to Treasury and the wrong will be righted for the government, Ordua said. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. This website allows you to ask a lawyer a legal question in writing for free. 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. 0000058095 00000 n It turns out the state program had sent the check in September to the wrong address. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. 0000002022 00000 n "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.". 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. The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. Larry Berman New Keynote Speaker For Vietnam War Conference Banquet. 0000026187 00000 n 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. Members in the News (MEMBERS ONLY) 3 0 obj 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. Approvals have. 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 are learning more about why there are delays in the. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served more than 316,000 households affected by the pandemic. Johnson had asked the office manager whether they had received the latest check, she said. 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. Alexander Stamm, an attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid who is representing Gates, said Musselman shouldnt have let the trial take place at all because of a Texas Supreme Court order requiring judges to postpone eviction cases if a landlord confirms they have joined a tenants application for rent relief. 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. 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. The TRR program will be accepting online applications from March 14 to 28, providing aid with rent and utility bills for up to 18 months for first-time applicants. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. 0000010218 00000 n "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . The state is using the more than $1 billion in money from the latest federal COVID-19. Interests In those cases, the check was initially sent to the wrong property and only arrived after the tenant was kicked out. The state of Texas has more than one billion dollars to give out to people who need help paying their bills. Mar 1, 2023. events. The Texas Rent Relief Program will be run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 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. As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. Cherice Scotts landlord evicted her and her family in October, then cashed a check for rental assistance funds intended to keep them housed. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. 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. We will accept new applications for rent and utility assistance from Tuesday, March 14 at 8 a.m. CT to Tuesday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m. CT. COVID-19 has affected Texans across the state. stream by Christopher Connelly, KERA News 0000025788 00000 n The email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. Mattingly also heads the Dallas Apartment Association, which represents landlords. But Johnsons victory was short-lived. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Section 8 housing voucher Low-income residents may be eligible to get help paying rent. 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. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. 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. Food + Drink All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. your Phone number -Specify Landlord or tenant rental assistance. Expected time in this status: less than one week. If you or someone you know still needs help with the rent relief process or pending eviction, you can apply for free legal help at https://www.lonestarlegal.org or by calling 1-800-733-8394. 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.. Health 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. Click Here For Information about Accepting Payments. 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 For households who applied directly for unpaid or future rent or utilities. The program has assisted more than 6,000 households in the state thus far. An employee at the apartment complex, Crestshire Village Apartments, declined to comment. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. New applications are not being accepted. 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=>` Feb 27, 2023. 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. 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. You can even upload documents for an attorney to review. [n6[_.7jSz This page has answers to questions about the Texas Rent Relief Program for both landlords and tenants. Read on for a look at these new changes, and visit our Rent and Legal Assistance page on the COVID-19 & Texas Law guide for more information. The idea of landlords taking rent relief dollars and still evicting tenants is outrageous, she said, and could warrant investigation. They were very well informed that that money was there and it was coming to them, said Scott, whos now living in a short-term rental in Missouri City with her four kids. TRR is processing applications . This guide is updated to reflect information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. 0000048118 00000 n 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. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. 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. Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates. 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. 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. The statewide program doled out more than $1.2 billion to 212,344 households. 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. 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. 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. 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. They told her there was no way to see if they had received it, she said. Donate to join or renew today. All Rights Reserved. Request for assistance has been verified and approved. Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. 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). When tickets go on sale in May, Tribune members will save big. 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. 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. 0000032455 00000 n pk}b=^ ;+2b4+rU:"KOJF&. 0000078063 00000 n Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. Exactly how many people have fallen behind on rent over the past year is unclear. 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. Texans shouldnt have to overcome so many bureaucratic and technological challenges just to get help that Congress already funded, Rosales said. Are you looking for rent assistance resources, help with utility bills or reduced rent apartments? 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 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. 0000005047 00000 n Requests for Proposals/Quotes (MEMBERS ONLY). And only 250 payments have been sent. 0000002863 00000 n Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. We're thankful for the opportunity to re-open the application portal for two weeks to help more Texas tenants and landlords," said Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA Executive Director. Job Listings This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) created this COVID-19 relief program in February of 2021. Your rent and/or utility relief payments will be made directly to your landlord and utility companies. Were adding added significant resources to attack the backlog and get the money out the door. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Best of luck to you and anyone needing this assistance. Tenants who are eligible for an Additional Funding Request may submit requests for rental and utility assistance for the current month and two future months. The Texas Rent Relief Program provides emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . When Congress set aside more than $46 billion for emergency rental assistance, they intended for that money to keep people in their homes, said U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat from Houston. 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 However, Tarrant County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), along with programs administered by the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, will . Check status periodically. According to the TRR portal, the program provided over $2 billion in emergency funds since its launch, helping more than 310,000 Texas families remain stably housed during the pandemic. Questions? TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). All TDHCA employees and contractor employees have a responsibility to report waste, fraud and abuse within the agency. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments.