HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Local officials and community leaders held several drive-thru legal clinics on Saturday afternoon. Volunteer attorneys helped determine if renters qualified for protection under the CDC moratorium guidelines. “And we’ve been paying our rent because the last thing we want to be is under a bridge,” she said. AdEric Kwartler, an Attorney and Professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, said a lot of renters do not know their rights. “One big thing that people need to understand is you may get a notice to vacate from your landlord, stay in your home because you do have rights,” Kwartler said.

Volunteer attorneys will help tenants determine if they qualify for protection under the CDC guidelines and help those who qualify complete and sign the required declaration on the spot. Additional volunteers will help tenants apply for rental assistance through two new state and local government programs. Tenants facing the possibility of eviction for nonpayment of rent will be able to access the free assistance at three sites in Harris County:Jim Fontana Annex | 14350 Wallisville Rd. Houston TX 77049Harris County Precinct 1 Building | 2727 El CaminoIron Workers Local 84 Apprentice Training Center | 7521 Fauna St. Tenants planning to attend are encouraged to apply for both of these new rental assistance programs as soon as possible, even if they have previously applied for or received other rental assistance.

HOUSTON – Some renters in the Houston area are facing eviction amid the tough economic times brought on by the pandemic. Leaders spoke Monday to remind people facing eviction of the assistance programs that are available. “Harris County initiated over a dozen programs in response to the pandemic, whether its direct assistance, rental relief, digital access, small business aid, workforce development, the bottom line is we stand ready to support our community,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. Garcia said anyone facing eviction should visit stoptxeviction.org or call 800-733-8394.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: What agency can I report to in regards to unlivable conditions in my apartment? If there are health or safety issues at the property, tenants should contact a local agency regarding the issue. Texans can file a complaint to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs by clicking here. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, landlords can also be reported to Multifamily Housing Complaint Line by calling 1-800-685-8470.

HOUSTON – Alberto Hernandez and his wife Ericka Hernandez are struggling with a tenant, who claims to be unable to pay his rent. However, the tenant stopped paying in April. “We talked to (the tenant), and the thing is that we keep getting promises every week. KPRC 2 talked to the tenant, he claims to be a contractor struggling to make ends meet. He said he is planning on paying about $2,000 by next week.

HOUSTON – A large chunk of new renters moving to Houston are relocating from only a few hours away. According to a report by Apartment List, about 23% of users looking for places to live in Houston are currently living in San Antonio. More than 60% of the searches were for properties within the Houston metro area. According to the report, nearly 9% of the users living in Houston are considering rentals in Dallas. About 80% of Houston residents are looking for properties within metro areas.

Hundreds of renters have been displaced for failing to pay rent amid the global crisis, despite the federal ban, ProPublica reports. According to ProPublica, a review of records shows landlords in Texas still move forward to evict tenants from their properties, violating the eviction ban passed by Congress in March. The CARES Act prohibits landlords from filing evictions for nonpayment of rent during the pandemic. The CARES act also prohibits landlords from charging tenants additional fees, but most of the eviction filings reviewed by ProPublica show that landlords sought late fees and legal costs from their tenants. ProPublica found Texas is one of at least four where landlords are disobeying the law and still move forward to evict tenants from their properties.

As many are facing financial hardships as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, paying rent has been a great concern for tenants and landlords around Houston. If tenants have been laid-off or furloughed, it becomes a challenge to pay rent on time, in full, or even at all. If tenants don’t pay rent, landlords might be unable to pay mortgages, and so on. We do not make tons of money off our rent houses," a KPRC 2 viewer wrote to us on Facebook. Other renters in Houston are expected to pay rent as normal, regardless of the unnormal circumstance.

HOUSTON – As the coronavirus pandemic has caused a great economical crisis, many workers have been laid-off or are not receiving pay during business closures. If you’re worried about missing a mortgage payment, contact your lender immediately. Numerous banks have said they are willing to work with distressed borrowers, including potentially suspending or reducing mortgage payments for a stretch. TAA advises renters to communicate with their property manager if they find themselves unable to pay rent. According to the association, they have encouraged rental property owners to waive late fees and set up a payment plan for residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.