In this file photo a foreclosed home is seen for sale. (Associated Press)
Residents behind on their mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, utility bills or homeowner/condominium association fees can now receive in-person help to apply for up to $65,000 in state funds.
About $500 million dollars were allocated for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund, a program meant to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020.
People who need help filling out the application, or are in need of housing or legal counseling can visit one of several intake centers throughout the Rio Grande Valley, including offices in McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, and Brownsville.
Residents who struggle with a disability, internet accessibility or limited computer literacy can also receive help from the intake centers, which can submit applications on their behalf.
Nearly $18.5 million was set aside by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to cover the expenses for the offices providing these services across the state.
“By partnering with key organizations across the state, we’re able to provide homeowners one-on-one personalized help from trained staff who live in or near their communities – people they can trust,” Bobby Wilkinson, executive director for Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, said.
Each household can receive up to $65,000 in total assistance for mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, homeowner/condo association fees and/or utility bills.
In order to be eligible, homeowners must have experienced financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, due to the pandemic and have a household income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or U.S. median income, whichever is greater. That can be determined by those helping at the intake centers.
The intake centers in the Rio Grande Valley are located in the following addresses:
Community Action Corporation of South Texas
Office number: (830) 253-4607
>>519 E. Madison, Brownsville
>> 1822 W. Jefferson, Harlingen
Community Development Corp. of Brownsville
Office phone: (956) 541-4955
>> 901 E. Levee, Brownsville
Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc.
Office: (956) 447-8909, (956) 687-6263
>> 500 S. 15th St., McAllen, kiosk
>> 134 W. 5th St., Weslaco
>> 114 20th Ave., McAllen
For a full list of intake centers, housing counseling and legal counseling services, the public can visit TexasHomeownerAssistance.com/find-help/.
Full program details, an eligibility screening tool, an applicant success checklist, a program dashboard and online application are available at TexasHomeownerAssistance.com. For all other questions, a toll-free multi-language call center is available at (833) 651-3874 from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
