TDHCA COVID-19 Response

Important Information about Emergency Rental Assistance funds
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has been designated to receive approximately $1 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance funds from the newly passed Coronavirus Relief Bill. TDHCA is actively working to make these funds available as rapidly as possible. More information will be posted in the coming weeks. To be sure that you hear about announcements for these funds and how to apply please join our email list and subscribe to the Pandemic Related Rental Assistance for Tenants and Landlords topic.

COVID-19 Resources
TDHCA Program Response
TDHCA COVID-19 Guidance

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) response to the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic includes:

Funding for Texans affected by COVID-19,
Guidance for TDHCA-funded properties and administrators, and
Housing resources and information for the general public.

The program response to COVID-19 includes funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (S.3548 – 116th Congress (2019-2020)) and reprogrammed TDHCA funds. TDHCA CARES Act funding is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In most cases these funds are only available for eligible households, those economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TDHCA Program Response

Emergency Rental Assistance and Homeless Services

CDBG CARES Act (CDBG-CV)
Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP)
+ Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act- reveals a new section
- $48,102,282 from the USHHS
- Approximately $1.4 million additional prior year CSBG discretionary funds reprogrammed for COVID response
- Administered by Community Action Agencies
- Activities designed to provide essential services, eliminate poverty and foster self-sufficiency for households with income of up to 200% of the federal poverty level
- Consumer Help:
  - To find a local provider, visit Help for Texans and select the “Emergency & Homeless Services” option
  - Additional resources may be available through the Texas Information and Referral Network: Dial 2-1-1, or call toll free 877-541-7905 or visit www.211texas.org (copy and paste into your browser if needed)
- CSBG Program
+ Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) CARES Act- reveals a new section
- $97,792,616 total from HUD: $33,254,679 in first phase of funding and $64,537,937 in second phase.
- Administered by subgrantees selected in cooperation with local Continuums of Care
- Activities include street outreach, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter for households experiencing homelessness or very low-income households at risk of homelessness
- Consumer Help:
  - To find a local provider, visit Help for Texans and select the “Emergency & Homeless Services” option
  - Additional resources may be available through the Texas Information and Referral Network: Dial 2-1-1, or call toll free 877-541-7905 or visit www.211texas.org
- ESG Program
+ Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP)- reveals a new section
- $239,886 in reprogrammed HHSP funds
- Administered through the following cities: Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Plano and San Antonio
- COVID-19 response funds to be utilized for homelessness assistance and homelessness prevention, which may include assistance with past-due mortgage payments or late fees for individuals or households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness
- Consumer Help:
  - To find a local provider, visit Help for Texans and select the “Emergency & Homeless Services” option
- HHSP Program

Long-Term Rent Payment Help

+ HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)- reveals a new section
- Up to $11,290,076 reprogrammed to the HOME Disaster set-aside
- Administered through units of general local governments, public housing authorities, local mental health authorities, and nonprofits that have applied to administer these funds
- Activities include rental subsidies, utility subsidies, security deposits and utility deposits for low-income individuals and households for a period of 3 to 6 months
- Consumer Help:
  - To find a local provider, visit Help for Texans and select the “Long Term Rent Payment Help” option
  - Additional resources may be available through the Texas Information and Referral Network: Dial 2-1-1, call toll free 877-541-7905 or visit www.211texas.org
- HOME TBRA COVID-19 Funds
+ Housing Choice Voucher CARES Act- reveals a new section
- Approximately $258,000 in Administrative funds from HUD
- Activities include improvements to remote access for current TDHCA clients and landlords, and landlord incentive funds for current TDHCA voucher holders seeking units
- Housing Choice Voucher Program
+ Mainstream Voucher Program (MVP) CARES Act - reveals a new section
- $110,302 from HUD
- MVP funds will provide 15 Housing Choice Vouchers to serve individuals through TDHCA’s Project Access program, which assists low-income persons with disabilities in transitioning from institutions into the community
- Project Access Program

Utility Assistance

+ Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) CARES Act- reveals a new section
- $94,023,896 from USHHS
- Administered through the existing network of Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program subrecipients
- Activities include utility bill payment assistance
- Consumer Help:
  - Visit Help for Texans and select the “Utility Bill Payment Help” option
  - From a landline, call toll free 877-399-8939 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The toll free number will directly connect you with the service provider in your county.
  - Additional resources may be available through the Texas Information and Referral Network: Dial 2-1-1, call toll free 877-541-7905 or visit www.211texas.org
- LIHEAP Program

Other TDHCA Programs

+ Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act- reveals a new section
- $141,846,258 from HUD
- Use of funds is yet to be determined

TDHCA COVID-19 Guidance

Multifamily Properties Guidance

Housing and Homelessness Programs Guidance

Community Affairs Programs Guidance

Community Affairs Subrecipient Guidance during COVID-19 Pandemic

Other TDHCA Guidance

Important Information for Providers about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) 1 of 2 (March 5, 2020)
Important Information for Providers about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) 2 of 2 (March 5, 2020)
Important Information for Providers about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (March 10, 2020)
Notice of Public Hearing and Public Comment Period on the Draft 2020-2024 State of Texas Consolidated Plan
+ Program Services Guidance- reveals a new section
- COVID-19 and Davis-Bacon labor standards: If you have any questions about how to handle Davis-Bacon issues, such as employee interviews or on-site worker matters, please contact Carmen Roldan, Sr. Federal Labor Standards Specialist at carmen.roldan@tdhca.state.tx.us.
- Environmental Review Guidance due to COVID-19 restrictions on personal interactions: Due to the National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak and restrictions on personal interactions, the Office of Environment and Energy (OEE) has issued new guidance on completing environmental reviews during this time. The following procedures as they pertain to TDHCA are as follows: Environmental Review – COVID-19 (DOCX)