COVID-19 Resources: Economic Relief & Recovery

April 4, 2020

Tap on the sections below to learn more about ways you can get help.

For more ways to get help for COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Resources page.

Economic Relief

Houston Rental Relief

Amid an unprecedented health crisis, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a second rental assistance package to help those who lost their jobs and are struggling financially and cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19.

Flyer for the rent relief program. Text says: NEED HELP PAYING RENT? YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $2,112 FOR DELINQUENT RENT FOR AUGUST OR PRIOR MONTHS. LANDLORD (Enrollment: August 17-26, 2020) To qualify, you must agree to these terms: 5 Unit must be inside City of Houston 5 Waive all late fees and interest for that month 5 Allow for interest/penalty-free payment plan for any rent due in excess of $2,112 and any balance in rent through August 5 Refrain from initiating eviction process or rescind any prior eviction process through August 5 Agree to refrain from evictions through September 2020 5 Agree to enter into a payment agreement with all tenants of property under the following conditions and with the following terms: ∙ Tenant represents they have a COVID-related hardship, and if qualified, they applied for assistance ∙ Tenant isn’t in default of a payment agreement they previously negotiated with the landlord ∙ Payment agreement includes any back rent owed before the beginning of the program ∙ Tenant pays the first payment no later than October 1 and the last payment no later than November 30 Next steps: 5 Sign up immediately to be a Participating Landlord 5 Inform qualifying tenants with delinquent rent that they may apply for assistance starting August 17 5 Be sure your tenants have computer and internet access when the tenant system goes live *The Landlord Enrollment process is not a guarantee of rental assistance. TENANT (Enrollment: August 24-30, 2020) To qualify: 5 Tenant’s landlord must be on the Participating Landlord Directory 5 Have unpaid rent from April - August 5 Have a landlord who agrees to the landlord terms 5 Prior to April 2020, household income is less than 80% of Area Median Income or tenant is currently participating in any of the programs listed (see table below) 5 Cannot pay rent due to economic harm or healthcare impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Next steps: 5 If possible, secure computer or smart phone access to submit your application between August 24 and August 30 5 Check to see if your landlord is on the Participating Landlord List 5 If not, ask your landlord to sign up as a Participating Landlord 5 Prepare to submit your application online or via the telephone number below 5 Ask your landlord for a payment plan. 2020 Houston/The Woodlands/Sugar Land Region. HUD Maximum Annual Household Income Limits* Household Size 80% Area Median Income 1-person $44,150 2-person $50,450 3-person $56,750 4-person $63,050 5-person $68,100 6-person $73,150 7-person $78,200 8-person $83,250. QUALIFYING PROGRAMS • Medicaid • Public Housing Assistance • SNAP • TANF • SSI • National School Lunch Program/Head Start • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program • WIC • Federal Pell Grant • VA Pension • Tribal Assistance • Harris Health Gold Card. LANDLORD ENROLLMENT August 17 - 26 Residential Property Landlords enroll to be a Participating Landlord. TENANT APPLICATION August 24 - 30 Residential Tenants apply for rental assistance. APPLICATION SELECTION After August 31 Tenant Applications are selected for processing. PAYMENTS TO LANDLORDS After September 8 Payments are processed to Landlords. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT HoustonRentAssistance.org or call 832.390.2018

¿NECESITA AYUDA PARA PAGAR LA RENTA? PUEDE RECIBIR HASTA $2,112 DE AYUDA PARA LA RENTA NO PAGADA EN AGOSTO O MESES ANTERIORES. PROPIETARIO (Inscripción: Agosto 17-26, 2020) Para calificar, debe aceptar estos términos para inquilinos asistidos: 5 La unidad debe estar dentro de la ciudad de Houston 5 Quitar todos los recargos e intereses por ese mes 5 Autorice un plan de pago sin intereses / multas para cualquier adeudo en el pago de la renta que supere los $2,112 y cualquier saldo en el pago de la renta hasta Agosto 5 Abstenerse de llevar a cabo desalojos hasta Septiembre de 2020 y rescindir de cualquier proceso de desalojo previo Abstenerse de llevar a cabo desalojos hasta Septiembre de 2020 para todos los inquilinos que acepten un plan de pago con los siguientes términos: 5 El inquilino declara que tiene una dificultad relacionada con COVID y, si califica, que ya haya solicitado asistencia 5 El inquilino no está incumpliendo algún acuerdo de pago que negoció previamente con el propietario 5 El acuerdo de pago incluye cualquier pago de renta atrasado antes del comienzo del programa 5 El inquilino realiza el primer pago a más tardar el 1 de Octubre y el último pago a más tardar el 30 de Noviembre Siguientes pasos: 5 Regístrese inmediatamente para ser un Propietario Participante 5 Informe a los inquilinos calificados que tengan adeudos en el pago de la renta que pueden solicitar asistencia a partir del 24 de Agosto 5 Asegúrese de que sus inquilinos tengan computadora y acceso a Internet cuando el sistema de inquilinos este disponible *El proceso de inscripción de Propietarios no garantiza recibir asistencia para el pago de la renta. INQUILINO (Inscripción: Agosto 24-30, 2020) Para calificar: 5 El propietario de la unidad que habita debe estar registrado en la Lista de Propietarios Participantes 5 Estar atrasado en el pago de la renta de Abril a Agosto 5 Que el propietario de la unidad que habita acepte los términos del programa para Propietarios 5 El ingreso familiar previo a Abril de 2020 sea inferior al 80% del ingreso medio del área o que el inquilino participe actualmente en cualquiera de los programas enumerados (consulte la tabla a continuación) 5 No puede pagar la renta debido a los efectos económicos y de salud ocasionados por la Pandemia del COVID-19 Siguientes pasos: 5 Si es posible, asegurese de tener acceso a una computadora o teléfono con Internet para enviar su solicitud entre Agosto 24 y Agosto 30 5 Verifique si el propietario de la unidad que habita está en la Lista de Propietarios Participantes 5 De lo contrario, solicítele que se registre como Propietario Participante 5 Prepárese para enviar su solicitud en línea o a través del número de teléfono que aparece a continuación 5 Pídale al propietario de la unidad que habita un plan de pago *El proceso de inscripción de Inquilinos no garantiza recibir asistencia para el pago de la renta. Límites máximos anuales para el 2020 de ingresos familiares de HUD en la región de Houston / The Woodlands/Sugar Land. Número de integrantes por familia 80% del ingreso medio del área 1-persona $44,150 2-personas $50,450 3-personas $56,750 4-personas $63,050 5-personas $68,100 6-personas $73,150 7-personas $78,200 8-personas $83,250. PROGRAMAS QUE CALIFICAN • Medicaid • Asistencia de Vivienda Pública • SNAP • TANF • SSI • Programa de Almuerzo Escolar Nacional/Head Start • Programa de Asistencia Energética para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos • WIC • Beca Federal Pell • Pensión de Veteranos • Asistencia para las Tribus de Nativos • Tarjeta Dorada del Condado Harris. INSCRIPCIÓN DE PROPIETARIOS Agosto 17 - 26 Propietarios de unidades residenciales pueden inscribirse para ser un Propietario Participante. SOLICITUD DE INQUILINOS Agosto 24 - 30 Los inquilinos solicitan asistencia para el pago de la renta. SELECCIÓN DE SOLICITUDES Después de Agosto 31 Las solicitudes de inquilino son seleccionadas para su procesamiento. PAGOS A PROPIETARIOS Después de Septiembre 8 Los pagos son procesados para que los reciban los propietarios. PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN VISITE HoustonRentAssistance.org La asistencia telefónica estará disponible el 24 de Agosto llamando al 832.390.2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn more.

Office of Business Opportunity

The Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) has a resource page for businesses on its website. 

Texas COVID Relief Fund

OneStar Foundation is currently not accepting requests for funding at this time. OneStar announced $920,000 in grants awarded from the Texas COVID Relief Fund on Friday, July 31, 2020. Additional rounds may be announced if funds become available.

Learn more. 

Houston Public Works

EXTENDED: For health & safety reasons, Houston will NOT turn off your water for nonpayment (however, if not paid, late fees may apply on future bills). Call Customer Account Services at 713-371-1400 with questions about water service.

National Digital Inclusion Association

The National Digital Inclusion Association has published a website for free and low-cost internet plans to support households who do not have internet access.

Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative

HILSC has compiled a list of resources to provide information on the current pandemic, connect community members to local resources and amplify self-care tools as social distancing goes into effect.

Houston Furniture Bank

Houston Furniture Bank provides families in need with essential furniture items. They even offer furniture selection appointments every day.

Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program

Texas consumers have a new financial backstop to avoid electricity disconnection during the COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine.

If you need help paying bills, the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program can help. This program is designed to help those who can’t pay bills due to unemployment or economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

Here are FAQs on the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program (CERP) and how to apply.

Economic Recovery

City

Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The Greater LGBT Chamber of Commerce has gathered resources to help LGBTQ+ workers, employers, and job owners.

Houston Arts Alliance

The Houston Arts Alliance has compiled a list of resources to help artists and non-profits navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

HAA has also launched a survey designed to collect information about the financial and human impacts that the spread of the coronavirus have had on arts and cultural organizations and artists since that date. The survey also collects basic information about the participating organizations and artists so that the data can be parsed by specific geographic regions, artistic disciplines, and budget categories.

Houston Office of Business Opportunity

View the Office of Business Opportunity’s list of COVID-19-related resources.

State

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

These are challenging times for businesses all over the nation. The Texas Comptroller’s office knows that during periods of economic hardship, paying or remitting taxes and fees on time can feel like an extra burden when there’s so much uncertainty. We’re thankful to those businesses that were able to remit state and local sales taxes they collected from customers in February on the March 20, 2020, due date.

We understand that virtually all of our taxpayers are doing their best to remain in compliance and be responsible in submitting the taxes they collected from their customers. With that in mind, our agency is here to offer assistance to those businesses that are struggling to pay the full amount of sales taxes they collected in February.

For businesses that find themselves in this situation, our agency is offering assistance in the form of short-term payment agreements and, in most instances, waivers of penalties and interest.

We ask that you contact our Enforcement Hotline at 800-252-8880 to learn about your options for remaining in compliance and avoiding interest and late fees on taxes due.

In addition, we have a variety of online tools for businesses seeking assistance. See our COVID-19 emergency response webpage for access to online tools, tutorials and other resources for tax services, and to establish 24/7 online account access with Webfile.

We’re standing by to help Texas businesses during these difficult times.

Public Utility Commission of Texas

The Public Utility Commission of Texas has temporarily suspended a series of rules pertaining to the provisions for utility industry participants to disconnect service for non-payment. They also created the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program, a funding mechanism through which Retail Electric Providers (REPs) may recover a reasonable portion of the cost of providing those uninterrupted services to customers facing financial hardship.

Customers at risk of disconnection because of COVID-19-related unemployment should first contact their Retail Electric Provider to request a deferred payment plan.

Read more on the PUC website.

Texas Department of Insurance
Information for stakeholders in the Texas Workers’ Compensation system as it relates to COVID-19, along with some state and federal resources Houstonians may find helpful, is available on the Texas Department of Insurance’s website.

Federal

Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending the grace period to renew flood insurance policies from 30 to 120 days. This move is to provide relief to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) customers who may be experiencing financial hardships during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more on the FEMA website.

Federal Housing Finance Agency

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Banks are taking steps to help people who have been impacted by the coronavirus. If your ability to pay your mortgage is impacted, and your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you may be eligible to delay making your monthly mortgage payments for a temporary period, during which:

  • You won’t incur late fees.
  • You won’t have delinquencies reported to the credit bureaus.
  • Foreclosure and other legal proceedings will be suspended

Read more about the FHFA’s COVID-19 related response on the FHFA website.

Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Applicants are encouraged to apply online for a disaster loan. If you do not have access to a computer or smartphone, please call us at 1‐800‐659‐2955 for assistance.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is marshaling all its resources to help companies stay afloat and keep paychecks flowing to American workers and families; mobilize the business community to combat the pandemic; and help companies prepare for a safe, successful, and sustainable reopening of the economy. Learn more on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website.

U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S Department of Labor has announced new guidance outlining flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance (UI) programs to assist Americans affected by the current outbreak of COVID-19. Under the new guidance, states have significant flexibility to amend their laws to provide UI benefits in multiple scenarios related to COVID-19.

In Texas, this means those food service staff, artists and performers affected by the outbreak MAY be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assitance (DUA), which provides unemployment benefits for individuals as a direct result of COVID-19. Learn more at the U.S. Department of Labor’s website.

Internal Revenue Service

The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. This page will be updated as new information is available.

FEMA Assistance - Private Nonprofit Organizations

Under the nationwide emergency declaration for COVID-19, and subsequent major disaster declarations, certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations are eligible to apply for funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. This fact sheet provides guidance for determining the eligibility of PNP applicants and work performed in accordance with the COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations.