8. These landlords are the prime beneficiary of these rental assistance programs and just en masse have been violating the provisions of the programs and on top of that consistently misleading judges and securing judgments and evictions, even when theyre receiving funds.. It is kind of a miracle that they are able to do it.. In order to collect this late fee, the landlord must have included notice of it in a written lease. Cities and counties that operate local rental assistance programs have $368 million. As of Feb. 17, Gates former landlord hadnt done so, Stamm said. Texas Rent Relief Program The state's $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more . I"OqC)RrQBY( ,VN?4Tmj|e@O)&$O&WrVRKT0X5Vrs'O. {wKPK?c- C <=fL5h|'(d-$7(r ~9 qFP9v8i-LKp Nx@`{>-aB58c$f_Q. Two landlords, like Scotts, evicted their tenants in the period between the initial rent relief application and when the government money arrived and then kept it an apparent violation of the programs requirements for landlords. Texas Rent Relief Program Re-Opens Applications for Limited Time, March Some tenants who spoke to the Tribune about their cases said they called a hotline used to report fraud, waste and abuse in the state rent relief program and never heard back about their complaints. And if they did, it should be audited and reviewed by [government investigators] so that we can recoup our funds for the misuse of the dollars.. "To date, Texas Rent Relief has served more than 316,000 households affected by the pandemic. Eligible households can apply for assistance online at TexasRentRelief.com or over the phone by calling the TRR call center at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). Tarrant County Renters Can Still Get Assistance Starting October 10, 2022, all new utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. Weve been expecting there to be aid [for renters] for months and months so there should have been a plan in place.. The email and template I was provided: Support@texasrentrelief.com Subject: Your Tenant case id. 30j($>H&L&Q.]Ky,YIR _I@*v+ Larry Berman New Keynote Speaker For Vietnam War Conference Banquet. Jeff Williams, a Harris County justice of the peace, had approved the eviction without Scott present in court a typical outcome in eviction cases when tenants dont show up to their hearings. Texas Rent Relief Home Page | Texas Rent Relief First-time applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of aid with rent and utility bills. "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant financial strain on many Texans, and the Texas Rent Relief Program will provide an incredible lifeline to households in need of assistance on their rent and utility payments," said Governor Abbott. What is clear is that a lot of Texans could use the help of the Texas Rent Relief program. Payment in Process Good news! 0000078063 00000 n TDHCA operates the state hotline where complaints originate. Since their October eviction from their Katy apartment, Scott and her four children have lived in hotels and other temporary settings.