All Rights Reserved. Despite that, the property manager told Musselman they wanted to proceed with the case, Gates said. But she still hasnt found a place to live. Your application status will flash one of the following statuses as provided in the chart. Johnson had asked the office manager whether they had received the latest check, she said. 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. Visit the TDHCA contact us page for information. 0000002829 00000 n
0000015708 00000 n
Interests When tickets go on sale in May, Tribune members will save big. 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. Some local governments still have money for rent help, but those funds may soon run out, as well. Texas Rent Relief approved her for a little over $3,100 about three months worth of rent. <>
See our Eviction page for information on the CDC's eviction moratorium and other eviction topics. The Texas Rent Relief Program will be run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. All past-due rent and utilities (back to March 13, 2020) will be paid first. 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. These funds may be disbursed to either tenants or landlords. 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. And only 250 of payments have been sent. 0000032141 00000 n
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. According to the report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. 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. The application software issue has been resolved. 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. Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. 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. 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. Shes impressed by how many do persevere. TDHCA has provided the following updates regarding the program: ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS (AFR) INFORMATION. All applications will be processed in the order they are received, giving priority to those households facing evictions. You know, we just had the problems from [the pandemic] last year, which everybody did.. Applications to the relief program can be submitted beginning March 14. About the Texas Rent Relief Program Both landlords and tenants were able to use this website to create an account and submit their application. TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. Expected time in this status: less than one week. Applicant will receive an email notification of approval. 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. 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. As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. 0000009860 00000 n
You can even upload documents for an attorney to review. After the software glitches, they were asked to resubmit their applications. 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. How are landlords going to have faith in a rental relief program, and how are they going to hang on their tenants when this is happening? Rosales said. Interests And were also looking for ways to streamline, reduce documentation burdens, and well continue to adapt as needed, Wilkinson said. <>/Metadata 393 0 R/ViewerPreferences 394 0 R>>
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. Her landlord gave her until the end of May to do so. 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 Documentation of Lease: Tenants who are requesting AFR to pay for rent at a new unit must provide a copy of their new lease. Education / Webinars Johnsons lawyer recorded the call. It takes away your pride and makes me feel like I failed as a parent. 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. My landlord has signed up with bill.com to receive payment via ACH, so hopefully, he will receive payment sooner than later. 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). 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. 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. 0000024288 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. Community 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. 1. The Texas Rent Relief program was set up to help people pay their bills. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. Researchers have offered estimates of past-due rent in the U.S. ranging from $8.4 billion to $52.6 billion. Please reload the page and try again. 0000025788 00000 n
Disclosure: The Texas Apartment Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. 0000010218 00000 n
TDHCA announced that they would be accepting new applications in March of 2023 to distribute the remaining funds. About the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Returning applicants who have not received the maximum allowed 18 months of assistance for rent and/or utility bills can submit an Additional Funding Request via their existing online user account. The department . Thats created a confusing patchwork of rental assistance across the state, with rules for how to navigate them still unclear, and its forcing landlords into an odd new role. 0000078000 00000 n
The program was originally launched in February 2021 and is administered by the Emergency Rental Assistance Program Funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a federal effort to mitigate the affordable housing crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This interactive map and searchable database from the National Low Income Housing Coalition can be used to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you. And a large and growing percentage of that is over a year old at this point.. Member Newsletters (MEMBERS ONLY) The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has compiled a list of state and local rental assistance programs. Whoops! Your rent and/or utility relief payments will be made directly to your landlord and utility companies. Texas Rent Relief Program
:>W:lfD;)SHK(r$Iy2lj\*vj-Wf8+GfJs &Xsua9fqsJYKk~(FbD*fwG[VEiG]e29^Qv($6,9arts1y$
GS?u(-4Wc-J(,_@&U The program will also have a call . By clicking the plus sign by one of the listed programs, the page will expand and provide the full details of that program. After submitting, applicants should watch for communication from TRR in case additional information is needed for application. 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. 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. 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=>` Updated information and a lease for the new unit will be required in the AFR application. Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. The property manager quickly confirmed that they had and Jasso tossed the eviction. 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. Of the roughly 200 that have completed applications, only two have been approved for funding. 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. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. 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. For the past year, housing advocates have been pointing to the slow-rolling housing crisis brought on by the pandemic. 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. What is clear is that a lot of Texans could use the help of the Texas Rent Relief program. If both payments came from our program, the duplicate payment must be returned. Wilkinson told the House Committee on Urban Affairs that a few hundred more people had had payments sent to them over the past week, and that two additional contractors and hundreds of new analysts were being added to work through the backlog of applications. 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. Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. 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. Arts + Culture TRR is processing applications . As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. But the tenants are still the ones holding the bag.. Advocacy Alerts 2n -.-&) 1 1 Texas Rent Relief assistance payments to landlords and utility providers are considered taxable income. Payment is in process. Northwest Assistance Ministries: 281-583-5600. For checking the Texas rent relief application status, you can either go online or call them up at 1-833-989-7368. Last note, I was approved for 12 months back rent pay and 3 months forward, so I am receiving help for 15 months total. I dont know if its greatbut youre supposed to be able to use it on your mobile device.. 0000088009 00000 n
0000001407 00000 n
Job Listings 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. an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords, survey gauging how the end of a federal moratorium on evictions was affecting tenants. TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). The details for each program are available below. Prior to 2019, there was often confusion about what counted as a "reasonable" late fee. The report was released less than a week after the Supreme Court of Texas let lapse a set of rules for how courts in the state enforce a federal eviction ban, which the Biden administration extended through into the summer. Then they mailed it to the wrong address twice and they want to evict me. 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. Yet they still pushed us out.. 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. QAP Alerts (MEMBERS ONLY) Box 580314 If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. Maybe the money will be returned to Treasury and the wrong will be righted for the government, Ordua said. Scotts former landlord Blazer Real Estate Services, a Houston property management company did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. Donate to join or renew today. As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. P.O. To a question about whether the application website is mobile-friendly, he replied, its mobile-compatible. For Landlords who applied for unpaid or future rent on behalf of tenants. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. 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. Food + Drink Texas closed the rent relief program to new applicants in November, citing overwhelming demand for rental assistance dollars. 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. April 8, 2022 Texans shouldnt have to overcome so many bureaucratic and technological challenges just to get help that Congress already funded, Rosales said. The state's $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more . 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. I was a good tenant, Gates said. Our vision is to inspire and engage our members and stakeholders to end the affordable housing crisis in Texas. He took the car, which made it difficult for Scott to hunt for work and shelter. Information in this guide is subject to change at any time. pk}b=^ ;+2b4+rU:"KOJF&. But in September, Gates received good news: Not only did she qualify for help paying back rent, but the program would cover her rent through November 11 months all together, totaling $12,740. 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). TDHCA has taken very seriously the responsibility of helping Texas renters and landlords overcome the financial burden brought on by the pandemic, Tirloni said. In February, Texas launched a program to help people who had missed rent payments because of the pandemic. First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. 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. Requests for Proposals/Quotes (MEMBERS ONLY). A Texas rent relief program has been plagued by problems. 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. trailer
<]/Prev 155979>>
startxref
0
%%EOF
48 0 obj
<>stream
The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. Stamm alleges that RDRH Holdings violated six requirements set out by the program in a contract landlords must sign in order to receive funds. We believe owners have done their best to try to understand the intricacies of the program and comply with its requirements, Mintz said. Failure to respond would only delay the application process. 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. 8. 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. 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. 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.) Cherice Scotts son, 6-year-old Teegan McKinney, plays at a park in Houston. 0000088072 00000 n
Mailbag: Evermore. And only 250 payments have been sent. 0000068079 00000 n
%
Texas Rent Relief gave me a second (or duplicate) payment for a tenant's month of rent. 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. 5309 Decker Dr. 281.424.5752. 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. New applications are not being accepted. 0000078063 00000 n
In a phone interview, Musselman declined to say why he ruled in favor of Gates landlord. You can find the names and phone numbers of these organizations below. 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. If you owe unpaid rent or utilities, that amount will be paid in one lump sum within 10 business days of your final approval. 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. 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. Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. Evaluating the. Scott said she spoke to the office staff and walked away believing she didnt need to worry about eviction as they waited for the relief money or to bother showing up to court. 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.