Funding Available for Tenants Negatively Impacted by COVID-19

If you’re a tenant who’s been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and needs rental assistance, relief is a possibility.

The DHA Housing Solutions for North Texas is accepting applications for up to 12 months of past due and future rent assistance through the City of Dallas COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The program is made possible by federal CARES Act funding, which has $18 million to distribute before the end of 2021. The full amount of aid available is $18,000, which could help at least 1,000 rental households in Dallas.

How To Apply

Dallas renters within city limits can visit DallasRentRelief.com. Applications must be submitted online. The DHA is not accepting phone calls for applications. For help, applicants can fill out the online contact form or use the chatbot on the website. The following video also lays out the steps:

What Does the Relief Cover?

The DHA will issue payments to cover up to 12 months of rent at a rate of up to $1,500 per month for the period beginning March 2020 and ending Dec. 31, 2021. The full amount of aid available is $18,000. Landlords can apply for the funds on behalf of tenants. The program does not cover electricity or water costs.

What Does it Take to Qualify?

Applications must be living on 80 percent or less of the median income in Dallas. A family of three living on that amount takes home $62,100 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Applications must prove they’re facing past due rent or are at risk of experiencing homelessness because of an eviction notice. Applications must be citizens or eligible non-citizens and cannot live in a property owned by relatives or work for the city or DHA. The DHA will prioritize assistance for applicants whose household income is 50 percent of the area median income or less — meaning $38,800 or less for a family of three, or $30,200 or less for a single person.

What Documents Are Required?

• Social Security card
• Proof of income (bank statement or paystub)
• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of job loss (either a letter or notice from your employer)
• Key pages of your lease: Your full name; property owner name; full address, including unit number if applicable; the amount of rent; lease terms (effective/end dates); list of occupants; and signatures with dates

Are Other Assistance Programs Available?

The city has information about several rent-relief programs on its website (https://dallascityhall.com/departments/community-care/Pages/Short-Term-Rental-Assistance.aspx).