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BakerRipley

COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program

Harris County provided $40 million in funding, and the City of Houston provided $20 million, which will be distributed to Participating Landlords on behalf of eligible tenants.

Tenants whose landlords agree to the program terms may apply for rental assistance for past due rent.

Harris County Commissioners have approved rental assistance for the months of September and October in addition to months going back to April. Tenants that need to request assistance for past due rent of September and October will  be able to do so at the end of October. Please check back then.

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About the Program

BakerRipley, through funding provided by the City of Houston and Harris County, will provide Rental Assistance to residential tenants who live within the City of Houston and/or Harris County and are experiencing an economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. Thanks to the generosity of philanthropic partners, immigration status is not an eligibility requirement nor will it be used in making decisions about who receives funding awards.

Depending on the tenant’s property and income, tenants may be eligible for up to $1,900 of rental assistance from the County or $2,112 of rental assistance from the City of Houston.

Landlord Enrollment

A Landlord can sign up as a Participating Landlord once they agree to the terms and conditions of the program(s). Landlords will be paid directly by BakerRipley on behalf of eligible Tenants. Landlord enrollment is intended for residential rental properties located within Harris County and/or the City of Houston.

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Tenant Application

Tenants will submit an application for rental assistance for past due rent. The Tenant can only submit their application if their Landlord is a Participating Landlord. If Tenant is selected and qualifies for the program, their Landlord will be paid directly by BakerRipley.

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Process and Timeline

Phase 1

Landlord Enrollment

Residential Property Landlords enroll to be a Participating Landlord

‍Enroll Here
Landlord enrollment steps:
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Note: The Landlord Enrollment process is not a guarantee of rental assistance.
Phase 2

Tenant Application

Residential Tenants apply for rental assistance for past due rent

Accepting applications now!
Tenant application steps:
Apply now
Note: The Tenant Application process is not a guarantee of rental assistance.
Phase 3

Application Selection

Tenant Applications are  selected for processing

Application selection steps:
  • BakerRipley will select Tenant Applications based on program criteria and priorities
  • Tenants will be notified that they have been selected for processing
  • Tenants will submit any final eligibility program documents
  • Tenants will receive notification of approval or denial
Note: The Application Selection process is not a guarantee of rental assistance
Phase 4

Payments to Landlords

Payments are processed to Landlords

Payment to landlord steps:
  • Landlord receives notification that a "pledge" has been made for an approved Tenant Application
  • Landlord confirms the amount of past due rent
  • Tenant and Landlord receive notification of the "confirmed pledge" rental assistance amount
  • Landlord is paid
  • Tenant and Landlord receive notification of "paid" rental assistance amount

Our community continues to suffer great economic damage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people unable to cover basic necessities, including rent. This program will bring relief to those across our region who so desperately need it, allowing families to stay in their homes while addressing the collateral impact on property owners.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

COVID-19 has impacted many Houstonians who have faced undue financial hardship because of a loss of wages or income. I am proud that The City of Houston is stepping up by providing resources for immediate financial relief to renters.

Mayor Sylvester Turner

Working together to serve you

This program is a collaborative effort to stand with our neighbors in this difficult time.

BakerRipley, founded in 1907, brings resources, education, and connection to nearly 600,000 individuals in Greater Houston each year through holistic community-based programs that support socioeconomic mobility, health and wellness, and disaster recovery.

Connective (formerly Harvey Home Connect) is a disaster recovery and preparedness system. We provide coordinated recovery for communities in need, and do so through building human-centered intake and application processes, technology-enabled coordination tools, and streamlined data analysis.

Harris County provided $40 million for the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program.

The City of Houston provided $20 million for the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. This is in addition to $15 million in COVID-19 Rental Assistance that the City provided earlier this year.

Private Donors

Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund Grant jointly led by the United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation donated $1 million to the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program.

Houston Endowment donated $2 million to the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program.

Help us get the word out

Download a program flyer and share with other tenants and landlords.

A collaborative effort to provide timely rent assistance
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