HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo held an event on Friday to highlight the city-county emergency rental assistance program.
The U.S. Department of Treasury announced in a news release this week that an additional $21.55 billion in emergency rental assistance for families across the country. The Treasury has said more than $53 million will be added to the Houston-Harris County program, with more funding expected in the coming months.
During the event, Hidalgo and Adeyemo toured the BakerRipley Gulfton-Sharpstown campus and met with those who have received assistance and others applying for the emergency rental assistance program. Officials are encouraging tenants and landlords to take advantage of the program before the federal moratorium on eviction expires while funds are still available.
Due to the partnership with Catholic Charities and BakerRipley, Houston and Harris County officials say approximately $137 million have been allocated to 36,000 households as of this week, Hidalgo said.
She said the county has continued its efforts to keep residents from being evicted. Hidalgo stated that the program efforts are not only important but efficient and innovative by putting residents first during a time of need.
The county judge said it is not a time to celebrate as officials have seen a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases and will continue to encourage those eligible for the vaccine to do so to stop the spread.
For more information about the program, visit Houstonharrishelp.org.