This guide is updated to reflect information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesperson did not respond to the request for comment. A switch to a new software caused system outages and forced applicants to reapply. Do you value our journalism? 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. Stephanie Gates also thought the state rent relief program would save her from an eviction. 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. The program has assisted more than 6,000 households in the state thus far. During the hearing, lawmakers pressed Wilkinson on a number of issues. Its peoples lives at stake here, because when evictions happen, their lives are torn apart. After submitting, applicants should watch for communication from TRR in case additional information is needed for application. Eviction Intervention Program For Renters If you live within Harris County or Houston city limits and your landlord has already taken you to court for eviction, you may be eligible for eviction intervention rental assistance through the Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 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. Maybe the money will be returned to Treasury and the wrong will be righted for the government, Ordua said. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served more than 316,000 households affected by the pandemic. 8. 0000098050 00000 n rental assistance programs, totaling $46.55 billion. by Joshua Fechter Falsification of documents or any material falsehoods or omissions in an Application to this program, including knowingly seeking duplicative benefits, is subject to state and federal criminal penalties. He oversees the state's executive branch, including the housing and community affairs department. 4 0 obj Visit TexasRentRelief.com for more program highlights. The landlord participates in the tenant's application for rent relief, or 3. You can even upload documents for an attorney to review. Most states have lifted their . 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). <>/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>> If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. 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. 0000001196 00000 n 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. 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. The State Auditors Office declined to say whether it has launched any investigations into potential fraud, waste and abuse of the program. Utilities, Clothing for Children, Employment assistance services. In order to collect this late fee, the landlord must have included notice of it in a written lease. 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. TXHAF provides eligible homeowners with . TDHCA has provided the following updates regarding the program: ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS (AFR) INFORMATION. Interests 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. 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. By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of. The program application now allows these applicants to self-attest to their household income, meeting program requirements instead of uploading income documentation. Both the federal and state government added enforcement provisions when they created the rent relief programs. About the Texas Rent Relief Program Both landlords and tenants were able to use this website to create an account and submit their application. by Christopher Connelly, KERA News By the end of March, only 250 people had actually got help paying for rent out of 72,000 completed applications. 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. SACRAMENTO - California's COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today - by the end of the day, more than $1 billion in funding will be obligated - meaning the money has either been paid or approved for payment and awaiting disbursement - and will assist over 74,000 additional households. 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. 0000030230 00000 n 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. That happens even when tenants win their eviction cases in court. Print Feedback. Some local governments still have money for rent help, but those funds may soon run out, as well. 1. You will be asked to create an account and then . If tenants feel they have been unjustly evicted, they can appeal the eviction, Mintz said. 2 0 obj Effectiveness of. 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. It turns out the state program had sent the check in September to the wrong address. Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict. Education / Webinars 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. trailer <]/Prev 155979>> startxref 0 %%EOF 48 0 obj <>stream State of Texas | Statewide Search | Report Fraud in Texas | Texas Statutes, Site Map | Library Policies | Accessibility | Employment Opportunities, 205 West 14th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-1614. <> TAAHP Scholarships Failure to respond would only delay the application process. We're thankful for the opportunity to re-open Texas Rent Relief for two weeks to help more Texas tenants and landlords. 3 0 obj It's embarrassing, Scott said. In late March she started a new job teaching at an early learning center. Wilkinson said many people who tried to apply may need to go back and take extra steps to complete the application. Departments Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 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. 0000023877 00000 n If you need help paying rent in Katy, or other financial assistance, reach out to Katy Christian Ministries for more information on their programs. Thieves had walked off with their electronics. "I urge qualifying households to apply for this program once applications open on February 15th. Mailbag: Evermore. The details for each program are available below. 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. If you have evidence, be sure to bring it to court. 0000005047 00000 n stream News from Members (MEMBERS ONLY) Then in December, the property owner filed an eviction case against Gates and gave her a notice to vacate. Texas Rent Relief Program has $96M remaining to help Texans affected by the pandemic. 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. 5309 Decker Dr. 281.424.5752. What is clear is that a lot of Texans could use the help of the Texas Rent Relief program. An employee at the apartment complex, Crestshire Village Apartments, declined to comment. The industry standard here is fraud, said Stuart Campbell, managing attorney at Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, speaking generally about instances in which landlords receive rent relief funds and evict tenants. Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter? Applications will be processed in the order received, prioritizing those facing evictions. Two months later, Scott received an email acknowledging her complaint but said she hasnt heard back since. I think any landlord that accepted money or got money directly for rent absolutely should not have evicted anyone, Garcia said. COVID-19 Weve had to handhold our residents through these various processes, obtaining the correct documentation, helping them with scanning, Mattingly was told by one landlord. Librarians at the State Law Library can provide information about the law, but cannot give legal advice. I dont know if its greatbut youre supposed to be able to use it on your mobile device.. 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. 0000014023 00000 n 0000088072 00000 n 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. To receive help from Katy Christian Ministries you must live in one of the following zip codes: 77084, 77094, 77406, 77423, 77441, 77449, 77450, 77464, 77476, 77485, 77493, 77494 Around the time of the eviction, Scott and her husband separated. The application software issue has been resolved. 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. Avenue 360 (formerly Bearing Omega and Houston Area Community Services) Web. Release of information or other details will be required under some circumstances. Information in this guide is subject to change at any time. The email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. Shes impressed by how many do persevere. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . 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. 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. endobj "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served . As much as we work to mitigate human error, the potential for application errors exists. Neighborhood Centers Inc: 713-665-3600. While hes cautiously optimistic that the Texas Rent Relief programs problems have largely been addressed, fundamental questions remain unanswered. Payments have been approved for more than 2,200 additional households, the agency dashboard indicated Friday. Body: Case ID. Applications in this set-aside will be processed first to decrease application processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted. The state received another $47 million in March, which TDHCA said would go toward helping tenants who applied before the November cutoff. 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. Stamm alleges that RDRH Holdings violated six requirements set out by the program in a contract landlords must sign in order to receive funds.