Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously agreed to add $10 million to the county’s rental assistance program for tenants harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased the maximum award to $1,200.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who pitched the idea, estimated the additional funds would help the now-$25 million program assist an additional 6,000 renters. The money comes from federal CARES Act funds awarded to the county.
“I’ve heard from far too many of our neighbors who are hurting right now,” Garcia said, “This move will keep tens of thousands of families in their homes and help flatten the eviction curve.”
Commissioners Court members said they wanted to help tenants through rent assistance since it has little other power to ward off a potential wave of evictions caused by the pandemic. The court can urge, but not require, the county’s 16 independently elected justices of the peace to suspend eviction proceedings.
Unlike Houston City Council, the court lacks the authority to issue ordinances. Housing advocates have urged that body to enact an eviction grace period, but Mayor Sylvester Turner has declined to put one on the agenda.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said about 5,000 evictions cases had been filed in Harris County since a moratorium set by the Texas Supreme Court expired May 19. An eviction moratorium on landlords of certain federally-backed apartments ended July 24.
“Amidst the rising COVID cases in Harris County, people have been losing their shelter, evictions have been rising for months,” Ellis said. “Housing advocates have called this a doomsday scenario.”
Harris County’s rental relief fund will send payments directly to landlords. Garcia said he wanted to increase the maximum to $1,200 to match market rates and attract more landlords to the program. Property owners still would be able to evict residents if criminal activity, such as drug manufacturing, occurs on the leased premises.
“We need to make sure the program does not compromise safety in the apartments,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle.
The rental relief fund is managed by nonprofit BakerRipley. The county has yet to open applications or publish eligibility requirements, though court members said the program aims to assist low-income residents.
In addition to the rent aid, Commissioners Court on Tuesday agreed to earmark an additional $25 million of CARES Act funding for direct payments to low-income residents for expenses including housing, utilities, food and health care. Court members also approved using $750,000 in federal money to provide legal assistance for renters facing eviction.
The city of Houston in May established its own, $15 million rental assistance fund. Harris County has also provided aid to small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic.
zach.despart@chron.com
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Harris County adds $10M to rental assistance fund, boosts maximum checks to $1,200 - Houston Chronicle
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