HOUSTON – Houston City Council members will consider an agenda item on Tuesday morning in connection with the City’s Rental Assistance Program for people affected by COVID-19. Agenda Item 17 showed it is “necessary to extend the program to assist Houstonians who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 and its secondary.”According to the paperwork on the agenda, The funding would allow for a one-time payment of $1,200 for financial assistance for up to 23,750 individuals. If approved, the mayor said that the funds would available this month. “The plan is to get those dollars out in the month of December, and people can utilize that on whatever means utilities, rent, childcare, you name it,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. The agenda shows that Baker Ripley would be paid up to a maximum of $1.5 million to execute the plan.

RICHMOND, Texas – Residents in Fort Bend County hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic will be getting more financial help, according to County Judge K.P. George shared a tweet Tuesday that said the county would be allocating an additional $7 million to the Rental, Mortgage, & Utility Assistance Program for December. #BREAKING: Fort Bend County is allocating an additional $7,000,000 to the Rental, Mortgage, & Utility Assistance Program for the Month of December 2020. The second phase launched in August and the third phase started in October. A total of $26.5 million has been allocated for the program since it began.

The Treasury Department said Monday that it will start issuing some stimulus payments by sending a debit card to people in the mail. About 4 million payments will be sent on a debit card. The direct stimulus payments -- which are worth up to $1,200 per individual and up to $2,400 per couple -- were included in the $2.2 trillion aid package passed in March. Over the past five weeks, Treasury has sent 140 million people their stimulus payments. Social Security recipients who don't normally file a tax return are receiving their stimulus money however they usually receive their monthly benefits.

HOUSTON – Thousands of families in Harris County will be getting some much-needed financial assistance thanks to a new relief funds approved by the Commissioners Court Tuesday. According to a news release, the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund will set aside $30 million to give to up to 25,000 families across Harris County. The first $15 million will be distributed by non-profits and charities that work with the poor. The second will be made available to those who apply for the money by phone or over the internet. KPRC 2 will stay on top of this important story and let you know when and how to apply for the $30 million program as soon as the county makes that information public.