June 18, 2020 by Nesibe Selma
Harris County Distributes First Half of $30 Million Coronavirus Relief Fund
On June 12, Harris County officially sent out half of its $30 million Coronavirus relief fund to 44 community-based organizations. These organizations are tasked with dispersing the money to eligible residents and families to help pay for housing, childcare, food, electricity, and other essential needs. Residents of Harris County in need can apply to qualify for the second round of financial assistance between 6 AM on June 23 to 10 PM on June 24. The Harris County Coronavirus Relief Fund is being managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Find out more below:
Am I Eligible for the Harris County Coronavirus Relief Fund?
Harris County residents may be eligible for the program if you:
Have experienced adverse economic impact as a result of COVID-19 AND:
- Have a household that falls below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or receiving public benefits programs such as gold card, medicaid, etc.;
- Are a survivor of domestic violence;
- Are youth aged out of foster care; or
- Are in a homeless shelter.
Note: Applicants cannot have received benefits from any Harris County or City of Houston program administered for the same purpose.
Prioritized consideration will be given to applicants who are:
- Ineligible for unemployment insurance or have applied but it has taken too long for them to receive assistance to meet basic and essential needs
- Ineligible for CARES Economic Impact Payments or have not yet received a payment and cannot wait for the assistance to meet basic and essential needs
How Do I Apply?
§ Applications may be done over the phone or via the internet. To apply and for more information visit www.harriscountyrelief.org More information will be provided by Harris County soon.
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
