The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) received approximately $1.3 billion in emergency relief funds from the national Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program. TDHCA launched the statewide Texas Rent Relief program to help income-eligible Texans struggling to keep up with rend and utility payments during the pandemic. (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 2021)

For information and to apply, call 1-833-989-7368 or visit Texas Rent Relief. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and meet several other criteria. Full details available online.

Per federal guidelines, TDHCA will prioritize applications for an initial time for households at or below 50% of the area median income level and households where one or more members are currently unemployed and have been for at least 90 days. Both landlords and tenants can apply even if the landlord has already sued for eviction in their local court.

The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with costs starting as far back as March 13, 2020; past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent costs; and past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses. After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, you can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are still available

DHCA’s call center is fully staffed and prepared to handle a large volume of calls. Interpreter services are also available in more than 250 languages. Since announcing the program, the call center has received nearly 5,000 calls from landlords and renters.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.