Show us with your support. View The Texas Eviction Diversion Program Highlights. Appeals must be submitted within 30 days. Interests 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 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. 0000005047 00000 n A free legal hotline available to South Texas residents. Eligibility: For anyone who currently rents in the United States and resides in any of the properties Esusu works with. KPRC 2 Investigates has received dozens of complaints from people all . The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. 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. Once the application is submitted, applicants need to remain alert for emails or calls from TDHCAs representatives who could ask for additional information. We cant wait to welcome you in person and online to the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, our multiday celebration of big, bold ideas about politics, public policy and the days news all taking place just steps away from the Texas Capitol from Sept. 22-24. KERA also reached out to Gov. Your rent and/or utility relief payments will be made directly to your landlord and utility companies. 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. 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. Texas Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The idea of landlords taking rent relief dollars and still evicting tenants is outrageous, she said, and could warrant investigation. 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. Postal Mail: Greg Abbott for comment on the report. 0000015708 00000 n In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. 0000014023 00000 n All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. 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. While many have gone back to work, the unemployment rate remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. Johnson, a manager of a hair salon and certified nursing assistant, had asked the program in October for help covering rent while she recovered from giving birth to her son and couldnt work. Find a complete list of them here. Whoops! 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. If the agency finds the allegations are credible, it can refer the cases to the state auditors office, the Treasurys inspector general or local law enforcement agencies. But those are the exact grounds that RDRH Holdings cited when it sued to evict Gates, Stamm said. Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. 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. 0000058095 00000 n 0000003018 00000 n Texas Rent Relief Program has $96M remaining to help Texans affected by the pandemic. COVID-19 As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. Donate to join or renew today. 0000024288 00000 n 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. Events / Networking Opportunities How are we doing? 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. In these cases, payments will be made directly to the tenant, who then is required to pay the landlord. In March 2022, Texas Rent Relief received additional funding to the tune of $47.8 million from the U.S. Treasury Department. x]s6(4A y;4N}PmT\INvB/$( P.O. 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. Sign up here. 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. 0000098112 00000 n Advocacy Alerts 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. For others, health issues made going to work unsafe while the pandemic raged out of control. Her landlord gave her until the end of May to do so. Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. The landlord submits any information or documentation to receive payment as part of a rent relief program. New applications are not being accepted. 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. <>/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>> Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. The TDHCA runs the Texas Rent Relief program. To help with emergency housing needs, HAP has two components: rental assistance and relocation assistance for qualified households facing housing instability. 0000008211 00000 n But the program had fixed that error, the email said. 0000048118 00000 n 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. Most went into the statewide Texas Rent Relief program, and the rest when to city and county governments. Diana Johnson, 35, was waiting on rent relief in January when her landlord tried to evict her and her seven children from their three-bedroom apartment in Southeast Dallas. Media Availability Planned For Texas Tech's 8th Annual Ambassadors' Forum. The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program provides Texas tenants with financial help with rent and utility bills. -Per federal guidelines for Emergency Rental Assistance funding, Texas Rent Relief will provide a completed IRS Form 1099-MISC to all landlords and utility providers that received at least $600 in assistance from the program during the 2021 . 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. *Must make an appointment. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. 0000001196 00000 n Member Newsletters (MEMBERS ONLY) Johnson had asked the office manager whether they had received the latest check, she said. This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 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. Other organizations That help paying rent in Houston. In each expanded section, there are . And only 250 payments have been sent. After logging in, click on the application status and check with the details provided. This page has answers to questions about the Texas Rent Relief Program for both landlords and tenants. 2023 Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers. 0000078000 00000 n Also, the application status in the Neighborly system will be updated when the payment has been made. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. 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. Wilkinson said many people who tried to apply may need to go back and take extra steps to complete the application. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. Closed from 12 to 1pm for lunch. These changes go into effect on April 21st, 2021. 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. Applicants that have received help from the program before but have not received the maximum of 18 months of assistance allowed, can submit an additional funding request using their existing online user account. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. 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. 0000026187 00000 n 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. 3/11/2021 Funding Update: $918,238,535 available endobj 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). A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. 0000026104 00000 n Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Texas law allows landlords to collect "reasonable" late fees if any portion of the rent remains unpaid more than two full days after it was due. For example, the program bars landlords from accepting rent relief payments after they evict a tenant. At the federal level, that job falls to the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Inspector General. by Joshua Fechter 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. 2. 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. 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. V o l . Larry Berman New Keynote Speaker For Vietnam War Conference Banquet. 0000000016 00000 n TDHCA has taken very seriously the responsibility of helping Texas renters and landlords overcome the financial burden brought on by the pandemic, Tirloni said. He was asked whether he planned to reduce the $42 million contract with Horne LLP due to the troubled rollout, and said his team is reviewing the contract. 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. %PDF-1.7 % 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. Feb 27, 2023. All rights reserved. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. 0000020386 00000 n 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. You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. The application process is managed through a software application called Neighborly. 8. <> A switch to a new software caused system outages and forced applicants to reapply. Find the program in your area by state , territory, or tribe and apply for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA). Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. Click here to search the TDHCA database. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. The program has emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Things To Do Do you value our journalism? 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. 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. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. 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. pk}b=^ ;+2b4+rU:"KOJF&. The first payment never came because they had a Covid outbreak. If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. 4 0 obj <> endobj xref Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> Scotts former landlord Blazer Real Estate Services, a Houston property management company did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. Business 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=>` Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. Since the program launched in February 2021, TRR has provided over $2 billion in emergency funds for rent and utility relief, served 250 Texas counties and prevented evictions for over 21,000 households. Top Listings Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. Click Here For Information about Accepting Payments. But she still hasnt found a place to live. Community We strive to always do better, Tirloni said in an email. Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. 0000025788 00000 n 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. <> Weve been expecting there to be aid [for renters] for months and months so there should have been a plan in place.. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. 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. 0000002022 00000 n The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. 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. 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 . 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 The morning of her March 18 eviction hearing, a Texas Rent Relief staffer told Johnson that her landlord had cashed the check two days earlier and gave her the check number. 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. 0000009860 00000 n The statewide program doled out more than $1.2 billion to 212,344 households. The Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) provides financial assistance to qualified Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our vision is to inspire and engage our members and stakeholders to end the affordable housing crisis in Texas. ?$.#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, Jeff Williams, a Harris County justice of the peace, had approved the eviction without Scott present in court a typical outcome in eviction cases when tenants dont show up to their hearings. r.t)gfv9~;Y>)?4{(gbx|/Ipv.8|0a(#0`~GhFc=pxr1{YpG0 Are you a Texas resident looking for affordable housing? We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. The rent relief checks cleared RDRHs bank account on Feb. 4 less than two weeks after Gates was evicted. Returning applicants who have not received the maximum allowed 18 months of assistance for rent and/or utility bills can submit an Additional Funding Request via their existing online user account. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. We've provided over $2B in emergency funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Are you looking for rent assistance resources, help with utility bills or reduced rent apartments? Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. 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. TAAHP does not have regulatory or compliance authority for any affordable housing communities or developments.
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