If you are a tenant who is behind on rent (or utility payments), you can apply for rental assistance (and/or utility assistance) through the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program. You can apply online at www.TexasRentRelief.com or by calling 833-989-7368.
Who can apply for Texas Rent Relief?
Either a landlord or a tenant may start an application for Texas Rent Relief. If a landlord starts the application, the tenant is then notified to complete their portion of the application. If a tenant starts the application, the landlord is then notified to complete their portion of the application. If a landlord refuses to participate (or cannot be reached by Texas Rent Relief), the tenant can still get the rental assistance. If a tenant refuses to participate (or cannot be reached by Texas Rent Relief), the landlord CANNOT get the rental assistance.
What are the eligibility requirements for tenants?
To qualify for Texas Rent Relief, you must have a household income that is no more than 80% of the area median income and attest in writing that someone in your household qualified for unemployment benefits OR someone in your household lost their job or experienced significant financial hardship. You must also attest in writing that you are at risk of homelessness or housing instability OR that without rental assistance, you would have to move into an unhealthy or unsafe environment.
How many months of rental assistance can I receive?
You can receive up to 15 months of rental assistance through Texas Rent Relief.
What if my landlord has already filed an eviction case against me?
If you have a pending eviction case, you may qualify for the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP). TEDP is part of the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program and is for tenants who 1) have an eviction case that has been filed in court and 2) have a landlord who agrees to participate in the program. Unlike TRR, which can make rental assistance payments even if the landlord does not participate, TEDP requires both landlords and tenants to agree to participate. If the landlord does not agree to participate, the tenant can still apply for TRR but will not be considered part of the TEDP. If a landlord applies for TRR and then later files an eviction in court, the TRR application turns into a TEDP application unless the landlord withdraws their application and rejects or returns the rental assistance payments.
If your landlord has filed an eviction case against you in court, you can apply for TEDP the same way you would apply for TRR: either online at TexasRentRelief.com or by calling 833-989-7368. In the application, make sure to provide the case number for your court case so that your application can be fast-tracked.
What documents will I need to provide to apply for rent relief through TRR?
You will need to provide ID. This can either be government-issued ID like a driver’slicense, military ID, or passport, or it can be a personal ID like a school ID or library card. You will also need to provide documents that verify your income is below 80% of the area median income. If you or someone in your family qualifies for other benefits programs like Head Start, SNAP, TANF, or SSI, showing that you qualify for that program counts as verification. You can also provide copies of your W2, 2020 tax return, or pay stubs. You will need to provide proof of residence (usually your lease), signed certification of financial hardship, any notices of past due rent or eviction, and a certification that without Texas Rent relief you would have to move to an unsafe/unhealthy environment. Also, if you landlord has filed an eviction case against you, make sure and have that information handy. For a complete list of acceptable documents in each category, read the TRR Tenant Checklist.
Will I be asked questions about my immigration status?
No. TRR will not ask you about your immigration status. You will be required to provide identification, but this can be a personal ID such as a library card, student ID, or school registration form, instead of government-issued ID.
How long will the application process take?
It depends. Certain applications are prioritized, including applications for households with an eviction case in court, a utility shut-off notice, or if the applicant has an incomes below 50% of the area median income. If your application doesn’t meet these priority criteria, it may take several weeks to hear back.
What happens if my landlord files an eviction case against me while my application is under review?
If there was no eviction case filed against you when you applied for Texas Rent Relief, but you now have an eviction case in court, you should call 833-989-7368 to update your pending application so it can be fast-tracked. If your landlord has agreed to participate in Texas Rent Relief, your court case should be paused (or “abated”) while your application is reviewed. The court may not know that your landlord has agreed to participate, so you should ask the court to abate your case while your application for Texas Rent Relief is pending. If your eviction case goes to trial, you should explain to the judge at the trial that you have a pending application for Texas Rent Relief.
If you have not applied to Texas Rent Relief before your case goes to court, the judge will give you information about the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP). Both the tenant and the landlord must agree to participate and meet the requirements. Under TEDP, courts put eviction lawsuits on hold (also known as “abating” a case) while the rental assistance application through TEDP is processed. Rental assistance payments are made to landlords in exchange for allowing tenants to remain in their homes, and diverted cases are dismissed and made confidential from public disclosure.
What about applications for other types of rental assistance?
You can apply for rental assistance through local rental assistance programs through your city or county even if you applied to Texas Rent Relief. However, if you’re approved by multiple programs, you cannot accept assistance from multiple programs for the samemonths for the full amount of rent. You can use multiple programs for different months of assistance, or for partial assistance not exceeding the full rent amount.
What happens after my landlord gets paid?
After your landlord gets paid, you should be allowed to stay in your apartment and any non-payment eviction case in court should be dismissed. In order to receive funds directly, your landlord will sign a certification form agreeing to follow the rules of the TRR program. These rules include additional protections to prevent you from being evicted. These protections include preventing your landlord from raising your rent or charging you any new fees during this period. Once your landlord accepts money from Texas Rent Relief, they also agree not to evict you for anything that happened before they accepted the rental assistance, and not to evict you for anything except very serious violations of the lease during the months that you receive rental assistance.
What if I live in subsidized housing?
You can still apply for Texas Rent Relief to cover the amount of rent you owe for your portion of rent, and the application process is exactly the same.
What if I receive the money instead of my landlord? Can I spend the money on whatever I need?
If your landlord refuses to participate in the program, you may be able to receive the money directly instead of your landlord receiving it. But you must only use those funds to pay your landlord. You cannot use those funds to pay a new landlord if you decide to move, or to cover other expenses. You must offer the money to your landlord to pay any rent you owe. If you’ve already had an eviction trial in JP court and lost, you may use the TRR money to pay into the court registry if you choose to appeal your case. If your landlord won’t accept the money and you are not in an appeals process, you must return the money to Texas Rent Relief. If you spend it on anything else, you can be accused of fraud.
Where can I get more information?
You can get more information on the Texas Rent Relief website. The searchable FAQs section answers many questions you may have, and the Forms & Resources section lists all the requirements to apply.
Are there other sources of rent relief?
Yes. For information about other rent relief programs in your area call 211, or go to www.211texas.org/.
As an expert in housing and rental assistance programs, I've been actively involved in understanding and disseminating information about various state-level initiatives to support tenants facing financial challenges. I've closely followed the developments in the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program, and my expertise is demonstrated through hands-on experience in guiding individuals through the application process and providing accurate information regarding eligibility, requirements, and related concepts.
The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program is a crucial initiative designed to assist tenants in Texas who are struggling with rental payments. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Application Process:
- Tenants who are behind on rent or utility payments can apply for assistance through the TRR Program.
- Application can be done online at www.TexasRentRelief.com or by calling 833-989-7368.
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Initiating an Application:
- Both landlords and tenants can start the application process. If one party initiates, the other is notified to complete their portion.
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Eligibility Requirements for Tenants:
- Household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income.
- Attestation that someone in the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship.
- Attestation of being at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
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Duration of Rental Assistance:
- Tenants can receive up to 15 months of rental assistance through the TRR Program.
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Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP):
- For tenants with pending eviction cases, TEDP is part of TRR and requires both landlords and tenants to agree to participate.
- Unlike TRR, TEDP requires landlord participation for assistance.
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Documents Required for TRR Application:
- ID, proof of income, proof of residence, certification of financial hardship, notices of past due rent or eviction, and court case information (if applicable).
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Immigration Status:
- TRR does not inquire about immigration status. Identification requirements can be met with personal IDs.
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Application Processing Time:
- Processing time varies. Priority is given to certain cases, including those with eviction cases or utility shut-off notices.
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Post-Landlord Payment:
- Protections are in place to prevent eviction, rent increases, or additional fees after the landlord receives payment.
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Subsidized Housing and TRR:
- Tenants in subsidized housing can still apply for TRR to cover their portion of rent.
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Direct Payment to Tenant:
- In cases where the landlord refuses to participate, tenants may receive funds directly but must use them to pay rent.
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Fraud Prevention:
- Misuse of funds may lead to accusations of fraud. Funds must be used for the intended purpose.
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Additional Sources of Rent Relief:
- Information about other rent relief programs can be obtained by calling 211 or visiting www.211texas.org/.
For more detailed information, individuals are encouraged to visit the Texas Rent Relief website, where the FAQs section provides answers to common questions, and the Forms & Resources section lists application requirements. As a seasoned expert, I am well-versed in these details and can provide further assistance to those navigating the TRR Program.
