May 10, 2020 by rebeccanovak
City of Houston Launches $15 Million COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program
On May 6, Houston City Council members approved a $15 million rental relief program to help landlords and renters make up for rent losses due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Funding for the City’s rental assistance program comes through the Federal CARES Act. The program will cover up to $1,056 per month in rent expenses for the months of April and May 2020 for eligible tenants. An online registration portal opened to landlords on May 7. Tenants living in participating properties within the City of Houston limits can apply for funds beginning on Wednesday, May 13. The Houston community advocacy organization, Baker Ripley, will be administering the program. Find out more below:
Am I Eligible for the Houston COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program?
Renters in Houston may be eligible for the program if you are:
- Current on your lease through March 31;
- Behind on rent payment(s) for April and/or May;
- Have a landlord who agrees to the landlord terms;
- Pre-COVID-19 household income is less than 80% of Area Median Income, or you are currently participating in SNAP, TANF, WIC, SSI, or another qualifying program; and
- Cannot pay rent due to economic hardship.
- Note: Your landlord must register for the program before you can apply. If your unit is not on the list of participating properties, ask your landlord to enroll by sharing this flyer.
How Do I Apply?
- Renters can apply online with a computer or smart phone beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. To register and find out more, visit: https://www.houstonrentassistance.org/
Learn more about tenants’ rights during the COVID-19 pandemic here.
Contact Lone Star Legal Aid’s toll-free disaster legal hotline at 1-866-659-0666 for more information about additional COVID-19 assistance programs.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org
