And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served more than 316,000 households affected by the pandemic. All rights reserved. Johnson had asked the office manager whether they had received the latest check, she said. The landlord participates in the tenant's application for rent relief, or 3. 0000068079 00000 n 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. Tenant applicants who have received a notice of utility disconnection are now prioritized for application review similarly to those applicants being sued for eviction. 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. Updated: 8 AM Central. Applicant will receive an email notification of approval. endobj 0000015708 00000 n Show us with your support. The ERA program makes funding available to states, U.S. territories, local governments, and tribes to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities. 2401 E 6th Street, Ste 3037, PMB 153, Austin, TX 78702. 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. TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. This page has answers to questions about the Texas Rent Relief Program for both landlords and tenants. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Some areas still ban evictions outright. 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. Failure to respond will delay application review and timeline for approved payments. 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. For more information on returning a payment, email [email protected]. We are learning more about why there are delays in the. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. 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. Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. The property manager quickly confirmed that they had and Jasso tossed the eviction. 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. 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. Lifestyle 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. Late Fees. Texas Rent Relief approved help for me August 27th. 0000032141 00000 n 1 0 obj 0000030230 00000 n Mailbag: Evermore. 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. While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. Print Feedback. 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. 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. your Phone number -Specify Landlord or tenant rental assistance. 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. Latest Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. *L#H0o=M6S:{D A^o l'a7*, trailer <]/Prev 155979>> startxref 0 %%EOF 48 0 obj <>stream Housing experts say they expect expiration of the eviction rules will make the already spotty protections of the eviction moratorium even more unevenly applied. Payment in Process Good news! Policy and Regulatory Updates (MEMBERS ONLY) 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). 8. Rental assistance payments will generally be made directly to landlords participating in the program, unless they cannot be reached, their relationship with the tenant application cannot be established in a timely manner, or they do not agree to accept the payment. Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter? Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST Help is available in multiple languages. 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. Members in the News (MEMBERS ONLY) For others, health issues made going to work unsafe while the pandemic raged out of control. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. 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. 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. Updated information and a lease for the new unit will be required in the AFR application. Johnsons trying not to dwell on the saga. P.O. We've provided over $2B in emergency funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). That makes removing barriers to helping families catch up on the rent even more vital, Rosales said. It is kind of a miracle that they are able to do it.. rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. 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. 2. Request for assistance has been verified and approved. 0000001196 00000 n This time period has been shortened based on direction from the Department of Treasury. Lee Reznicek, a property manager who oversees Gates former home for Austin-based Hill Country Property Management, declined to comment when reached by email. 3 0 obj Evaluating the. Altogether, about $2 billion of the federal rental and utility assistance funds approved by Congress last year were earmarked for Texas. 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 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. 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. Once the application is submitted, applicants need to remain alert for emails or calls from TDHCAs representatives who could ask for additional information. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>> Researchers have offered estimates of past-due rent in the U.S. ranging from $8.4 billion to $52.6 billion. I was a good tenant, Gates said. Arts + Culture The state's $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more . "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. Departments Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Closed from 12 to 1pm for lunch. 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. Donate to join or renew today. 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. TAAHP does not have regulatory or compliance authority for any affordable housing communities or developments. TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). 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. April 7, 20215 PM Central. 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. The email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. 0000006939 00000 n 0000030653 00000 n 0000024288 00000 n On January 24,2023, Treasury released the reallocation amounts for ERA2 Quarter 2 General Pool Reallocation and Designated Voluntary Reallocations; Guidance: On January 5, 2023 Treasury published an updated version of the ERA1 . Cherice Scotts landlord evicted her and her family in October, then cashed a check for rental assistance funds intended to keep them housed. At the federal level, that job falls to the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Inspector General. AUSTIN, Texas, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. 0000003018 00000 n Scott said she complained to a program staffer in October about her landlords conduct, and the staffer referred the complaint to the programs anti-fraud division. 2 0 obj Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. 0000002022 00000 n 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. 2023 Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers. My landlord has signed up with bill.com to receive payment via ACH, so hopefully, he will receive payment sooner than later. The fund is designed to provide rent relief for renters experiencing financial hardship. You will get a 30-minute legal consultation with information, advice, and resources. 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. Residents of McNair, Baytown, Highlands or Chambers County. 0000047797 00000 n 0000017510 00000 n The TDHCA runs the Texas Rent Relief program. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. 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. 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. Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Its awesome. Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. A scathing staff report from the Texas House Urban Affairs Committee released Monday details a host of issues that have plagued the more than $1 billion rent relief 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. Recent updates February 2023. Larry Berman New Keynote Speaker For Vietnam War Conference Banquet. Community Info about the decision to end the program and eviction diversion is included as well. Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. Other program limitations may also apply please see https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/covid19-response.htm for details. Meanwhile, Scott is trying to rebuild her life. 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. 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. stream Just as the program launched, the state was hit with the massive winter storm in February, which sidelined a third of the contracted phone operators for days, the report said. 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. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Section 8 housing voucher Low-income residents may be eligible to get help paying rent. 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. Regardless of your immigration status, you will be eligible for rent relief if you have been adversely affected by COVID-19 or are . Food + Drink Texas Housing Conference 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. 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. 2n -.-&) 1 1 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. Then in December, the property owner filed an eviction case against Gates and gave her a notice to vacate. 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. 5309 Decker Dr. 281.424.5752. We look at Texas Tech's award-winning magazine. 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. You know, we just had the problems from [the pandemic] last year, which everybody did.. Click Here For Information about Accepting Payments. 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. Women In Business. Those facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to their eviction hearing, and stay in communication with their landlord and the court. In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. x]s6(4A y;4N}PmT\INvB/$( If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to 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. Landlord associated with the application will receive an email notification of . TAAHP Scholarships Body: Case ID. 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. If a landlord is not paid, the payment will be made directly to the tenant. Lq]0BLaOy\s^ADJ| Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. 1001 provides, among other things, that whoever knowingly and willingly makes or uses a document or writing containing any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States will be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. Scotts former landlord Blazer Real Estate Services, a Houston property management company did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. 4 45 In each expanded section, there are . 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. 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. 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. Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. If issues are discovered or brought to our attention, like payments sent to an incorrect address, or payments sent to a landlord who has evicted the tenant, we will take corrective measures, like recapture or other necessary steps.. 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. Some local governments still have money for rent help, but those funds may soon run out, as well. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. 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. For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. The Texas Rent Relief Program provides emergency funds available to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has compiled a list of state and local rental assistance programs. 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. Many people, especially women, have been unable to work because of child care responsibilities. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. 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. This news article describes the phasing out of a program designed to halt utility shut-offs that was implemented in March.