Texas Allocates $171M In CARES Act Funds To Stave Off Evictions
AUSTIN, TX — State officials on Friday announced the allocation of more than $171 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used for rental assistance for residents at risk of becoming homeless as a result of eviction proceedings.
According to the governor's office, the funding also will enable the Supreme Court of Texas, the Office of Court Administration and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to work in partnership with local governments and non-profits and the newly created Texas Eviction Diversion Program to help renters stay in their homes, catch up on missed rental payments, and avoid an eviction on their records.
Out of these funds, $167 million will go to targeted rental assistance and $4.2 million will be allocated through the Texas Supreme Court to help the state’s legal aid providers and pro bono lawyers provide basic legal services to eligible Texans through this pandemic, officials explained.
"The Texas Eviction Diversion Program is crucial to our state's response to COVID-19, and it will help many families recover from the impact of the pandemic without the looming threat of eviction," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a prepared statement. "This innovative partnership, coupled with the renters assistance provided through CARES Act funding, will strengthen our economic recovery efforts and provide a lifeline to renters and property owners alike."
Added Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht: "Judges across Texas have a duty to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely, fair, and impartial way. In times like these, sometimes that means that we search for creative ways to meet the needs of landlords and tenants. The Texas Judiciary is happy to work with Governor Abbott and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to provide a way for tenants to stay in their homes and ensure that landlords are made whole."
David Slayton, the administrative director of the Texas Office of Court Administration, noted the allocation will help facilitate court proceedings ahead of an influx of cases related to eviction proceedings: "The rental assistance and Texas Eviction Diversion Program will help courts deal with the anticipated deluge of eviction filings by reducing filings and diverting cases to an agreeable solution," Slayton explained. "Courts have worked hard to maintain access to justice during the pandemic, but we anticipate difficulty with timely handling the large number of eviction cases likely to be filed soon"
The program will enable courts to focus on those cases that need the most attention while ensuring landlords and tenants are able to resolve their issues on a timely basis, Slayton added.
Bobby Wilkinson, the executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs also lauded the program amid countless struggles being experienced by Texas residents given the pandemic's corrosive economic impact.
"The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for many Texans, especially for some of our most vulnerable households," Wilkinson said. "TDHCA, along with state leaders and program partners have worked expeditiously to get the CARES Act funds out to those in need, and I believe our efforts can make a difference not only in these particular communities, but throughout the state as we work toward more long-term recovery solutions."
This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
