2 '.&& ,f1. 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. 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. The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. For Landlords who applied for unpaid or future rent on behalf of tenants. While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. On Jan. 27, Williamson County constables came to execute the eviction. 2021 Program Information. 0000002863 00000 n Member Editorials (MEMBERS ONLY) <> 0000020158 00000 n When asked if he had a set targets for performance going forward, he said I can and I will, but that he wanted to for a couple weeks before committing to specific goals. #4'x= 3r8 #TH(fY'O3 }~\N |iz$&dr_~azLN~u($~^ K H!K @gq4. Mar 1, 2023. events. Also, the application status in the Neighborly system will be updated when the payment has been made. In March 2022, Texas Rent Relief received additional funding to the tune of $47.8 million from the U.S. Treasury Department. 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. Wilkinson said many people who tried to apply may need to go back and take extra steps to complete the application. We continue to see a strong need for assistance, and eviction filings statewide have now returned to pre-pandemic levels. Her landlord gave her until the end of May to do so. This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March. 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. Stamm alleges that RDRH Holdings violated six requirements set out by the program in a contract landlords must sign in order to receive funds. Hosted every Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., by the. All past-due rent and utilities (back to March 13, 2020) will be paid first. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. The program will also have a call . Request for assistance has been verified and approved. ;+h-WZXi ZrzOK4-X6~PR,JtV J5G! In her case, the check arrived in time but went to the wrong place. 0000005047 00000 n It takes away your pride and makes me feel like I failed as a parent. 4 0 obj <> endobj xref Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. 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.. 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). 2401 E 6th Street, Ste 3037, PMB 153, Austin, TX 78702. 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. Failure to respond would only delay the application process. Assistance continues to grow with an average of $6 million approved per day in the last week, with marked increases seen weekly. Texas Rent Relief Program COVID-19 What do I do? The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also offers a website about this program. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. 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. This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. 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). 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. "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 Texas Rent Relief Program, a COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), will be receiving an additional $47.8 million to help address the backlog of assistance requests. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. For example, the program bars landlords from accepting rent relief payments after they evict a tenant. TXHAF provides eligible homeowners with . In these cases, payments will be made directly to the tenant, who then is required to pay the landlord. Education / Webinars Latest Houston, TX 77258. The program was originally launched in February 2021 and is administered by the . Scott wanted to know: What happened to the rent relief money? Please reload the page and try again. <> The landlord applies for rent relief, or 2. The state's $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more . 3 0 obj Attempts to reach the property owner RDRH Holdings Inc., an Austin-based corporation and its president were unsuccessful. 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. 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. 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. 0000032141 00000 n 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. Texans shouldnt have to overcome so many bureaucratic and technological challenges just to get help that Congress already funded, Rosales said. Food + Drink 0000025788 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. Less than two weeks after Gates eviction, she spotted something in her online account with the rent relief program: A pair of checks totaling $12,650 had cleared the property owners bank account. In late March she started a new job teaching at an early learning center. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. You can also get financial assistance for rent, food, and other expenses by turning to other organizations. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. Some local governments still have money for rent help, but those funds may soon run out, as well. New applications are not being accepted. The fund is designed to provide rent relief for renters experiencing financial hardship. The same day, her landlord told Johnson her lease wouldnt be renewed when it expired the following week, she said. Landlord associated with the application will receive an email notification of . In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. They may also request assistance with any arrears that have not already been covered by previous TRR assistance or another provider, so long as the total months of assistance for each type of assistance (for example, rent, gas, water, etc.) Interests I"OqC)RrQBY( ,VN?4Tmj|e@O)&$O&WrVRKT0X5Vrs'O. {wKPK?c- C <=fL5h|'(d-$7(r ~9 qFP9v8i-LKp Nx@`{>-aB58c$f_Q. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. You will get a 30-minute legal consultation with information, advice, and resources. 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. 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. 0000032455 00000 n 2023 Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers. 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. Calls to Musemeche were not returned. Housing experts say they expect expiration of the eviction rules will make the already spotty protections of the eviction moratorium even more unevenly applied. 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. The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, passed in December 2020, included $25 billion in urgently needed emergency rental assistance (ERA1) for tenants with low incomes and established the Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERA) administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. 0000058032 00000 n 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. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. All Rights Reserved. And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. Find a complete list of them here. Scotts former landlord Blazer Real Estate Services, a Houston property management company did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. 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. 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. Show us with your support. Thats created a confusing patchwork of rental assistance across the state, with rules for how to navigate them still unclear, and its forcing landlords into an odd new role. 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. Then in December, the property owner filed an eviction case against Gates and gave her a notice to vacate. 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. 0000047797 00000 n Job Listings If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to court. 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. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. 0000030653 00000 n Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. A spokesperson did not respond to the request for comment. The Texas rent relief program has only made three payments despite being online for over . You cant have it both ways with Texas Rent Relief, Stamm said. "I urge qualifying households to apply for this program once applications open on February 15th. 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 hope everyone gets the assistance that they need. 0000000016 00000 n Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. The . TAAHP does not facilitate applications for affordable housing. Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. And only 250 of payments have been sent. No New Applications Accepted 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. Learn how Section 8 provides rental help Find housing services and information Texans can get housing assistance whether they live in rural or urban areas. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. While many have gone back to work, the unemployment rate remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic. Funds may not still be available by the time a household applies. TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. KPRC 2 Investigates has received dozens of complaints from people all . A switch to a new software caused system outages and forced applicants to reapply. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> Approvals have. 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. *Must make an appointment. 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. 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. 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. As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. 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. We are learning more about why there are delays in the. 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. If a landlord is not paid, the payment will be made directly to the tenant. *L#H0o=M6S:{D A^o l'a7*, Show us with your support. Events / Networking Opportunities He oversees the state's executive branch, including the housing and community affairs department. Mon: 8 to 5pm. A collection of state and federal agencies including the TDHCA are tasked with looking into allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in rent relief programs. In a phone interview, Musselman declined to say why he ruled in favor of Gates landlord. TXHAF is administered by TDHCA with funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Documentation of Lease: Tenants who are requesting AFR to pay for rent at a new unit must provide a copy of their new lease. Shes focused on finding a new place for her and her seven children to live. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Greg Abbott for comment on the report. 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. 0000002471 00000 n 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. Im sitting thinking, My rents paid, OK, all I have to worry about is December and January, Gates said. 0000003417 00000 n 0000014023 00000 n First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. 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). Let the judge know if any of these things have happened. The Texas Rent Relief Program provides emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. Residents of McNair, Baytown, Highlands or Chambers County. 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. When you click on the link for the first time, you will need to be prepared with a valid email address. Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. ) Late Fees. 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