How Does The Houston COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program Work?
The Houston COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program was created to help individuals who have suffered financial setbacks due to the Coronavirus crisis.
If you are a resident or case manager who is seeking options for rental assistance in Houston continue reading and I will show you how you can potentially apply for this program.
In this guide, I will explain how the programs works, who is eligible, how to apply, and when you should apply.
Houston – Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (opens February 25th)
The Houston-Harris County Rental Assistance Program provides help to families in Harris County and Houston who are having financial difficulties due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Editor’s note: The 159 million dollars in rent and utility assistance funds will be distributed by Bakerripley and Catholic Charities.
Eligibility For The Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
This rental assistance program is available for individuals and families who have been impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic.
If you are enrolled in any of the following public assistance programs you could qualify for rent assistance in Houston.
- Gold Card
- Medicaid
- WIC
- TANF
- SSI
- Houston Head Start programs
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Public Housing
- Federal Pell Grant if you are a current student
- Free Lunch Program
- Tribal Assistance
- VA Pension or Disability
If you are not enrolled in a public assistance program you can still qualify if your household income is under 80% of the area median income. Below is a table that shows the income limits to qualify:
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $3,679 | $44,150 |
| 2 | $4,204 | $50,450 |
| 3 | $4,729 | $56,750 |
| 4 | $5,254 | $63,050 |
| 5 | $5,675 | $68,100 |
| 6 | $6,095 | $73,150 |
| 7 | $6,516 | $76,200 |
| 8 | $6,937 | $83,250 |
Documents Needed For The Houston – Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Below is a list of documents that are needed to apply for this Houston financial assistance program. You can see the specific documents needed by viewing the “Documentation Requirements” section.
- Proof of ID – Show documents to prove your identity.
- Proof of residence – Prove that you live at your residence.
- Income statements – You must prove that your income is below 80% of the area median income.
- Documents proving financial hardship due to COVID 19 – If the pandemic had a negative impact on you financially, show documents proving this.
- Proof of housing instability – Did you receive a notice to vacate or disconnection notice? Provide that documentation.
Again to see specific documents needed for each of the above see the “Documentation Requirements” section.
How To Apply For The Houston – Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
To apply for this Harris County emergency rental assistance program you will need to visit HoustonHarrisHelp.org to complete an application.
Currently, the program is processing applications from the Baker Ripley COVID 19 Rental Assistance Program. Any applicants who applied but did not receive help in 2020 could be eligible to receive help during this latest round of rental assistance.
If you did not apply for the Baker Ripley COVID 19 Rental Assistance Program you can submit an application starting February 25th, 2021. Below are step-by-step instructions on how new applicants can apply.
Application Proces For Renters Who Have Never Applied (opens February 25th)
First, you will need to complete an application at HoustonHarrisHelp.org. The online application requests information regarding your address, how much rent you currently owe, and documents proving that COVID 19 has negatively impacted your income.
Next, you must find your landlord in the system you must select them. If you cannot find your landlord in the system you can input their contact information and the Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program will contact them for further instructions.
Should your application be approved the rental assistance program will contact your landlord to confirm the past due amount. Your landlord will then receive a pledge letter with the amount of rental assistance they are to receive.
Application Process For Landlords (opens February 18th)
Landlords can apply for rental assistance by visiting HoustonHarrisHelp.org starting February 18th.
Conclusion
If you have been impacted by COVID 19 and need financial assistance to pay for rent or utility assistance this program may be able to help you. There are 159 million dollars in this fund that was provided to help individuals who may have been laid off or lost earnings due to having to quarantine.
For more information visit https://houstonharrishelp.org/ or call them at 832.402.7568.
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
