In response to the recent developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a new order to extend the eviction moratorium until October 3, 2021. The new order will “temporarily halt evictions in counties with heightened levels of community transmission” to prevent tenants from being evicted and help combat the rise of the Delta variant.
Later this afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will be holding a press conference to announce that Harris County will be moving back to the highest COVID threat level, taking Harris County residents from “significant” threat to “severe.” Many emergency rooms are operating at full capacity as the highly transmissible Delta variant makes its way through the state of Texas.
Lone Star Legal Aid’s entire service area—and almost the entire state—is presently covered by the new CDC protection. Residents can track the status of their counties by visiting the CDC COVID Data Tracker page, which is regularly updated to help monitor the trajectory of cases.
To get this protection, tenants must submit a declaration to their landlord.
Declaration (English)
Declaration (Spanish)
Declaration (Vietnamese)
Please review the declaration carefully and ensure you meet all the conditions before submitting.
The CDC order may not stop all evictions filed for non-payment of rent. A new guidance from the Texas Justice Court Training Center has declared that the moratorium is targeted at landlords and not courts, giving judges the authority to choose whether to apply the moratorium.
Tenants who have already submitted a CDC declaration to both their landlord and the court prior to the new order will not need to submit a new one.
Tenants turning in a new declaration to their landlord will need an additional provision noting that the renter lives in a qualified county with a high transmission of COVID-19.
Since the moratorium only prevents eviction, tenants will still be responsible for the back rent that they owe. There are funds available throughout the state for rental and utility assistance that both tenants and landlords can apply for.
The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with up to 15 months of costs. Visit their website or call their toll-free number (1-833-989-7368) to find out more information on how to qualify.
“The CDC protections are in place for nearly all eligible Texas tenants. We are relieved for tenants who are still waiting for rental assistance funding, and we encourage tenants to apply early if they have not already done so,” says Dana Karni, Managing Attorney of LSLA’s Eviction Right 2 Counsel unit. “The CDC protections expire October 3, 2021, and until then we stand ready to assist eligible tenants with their rental assistance applications and other rights related to eviction.”
Lone Star Legal aid is available to help tenants facing eviction. Apply on our website or call 1 (800) 733 8394. More information on eligibility for the moratorium, and the information for all of our offices, can be found on our Eviction Defense brochure.
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, including 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 http://www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
