Skip to main content
austintexas.gov

Action Navigation

  • 3-1-1
austintexas.gov
Search

Main menu

Home
  • Resident

    Resident

    Open the Resident page
      Open the Resident page
    • Household
      • Getting a Home
      • Utilities
      • Trash and Recycling
      • Gardening and Home Improvements
      • Home Improvements
      • Pets and Adoption
      Open the Household page
    • Neighborhoods
      • Education
      • Libraries
      • Families
      • Neighborhood Issues
      Open the Neighborhoods page
    • Health
      • Animals
      • Public Health
      Open the Health page
    • Public Safety
      • Crime
      • Courts
      • Fire Safety
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Public Safety Employment
      Open the Public Safety page
    • Arts and Leisure
      • Arts, History and Culture
      • Outdoor, Nature and Wildlife
      • Events
      • City Venues and Facilities
      • Film and Music
      Open the Arts and Leisure page
    • Environmental
      • City Programs and Initiatives
      • Conservation and Recycling
      • Animals and Wildlife
      • Parks
      Open the Environmental page
    • Transportation
      • Car/Bus
      • Aviation
      • Bicycle/Pedestrian
      • Streets/Maps
      Open the Transportation page
    • City of Austin
      • About Austin
      • Voting and Elections
      • Get Involved
      • City Jobs
      • Records and Documents
      Open the City of Austin page
  • Business

    Business

    Open the Business page
      Open the Business page
    • Doing Business
      • Utilities
      • Doing Business with the City
      • Taxes
      • MBE/WBE Program
      • City Code
      • Food Establishments
      • Permits
      • Day Labor
      • Records and Documents
      Open the Doing Business page
    • Starting Out
      • Starting a Business
      • Relocating a Business
      • Incentives and Grants
      Open the Starting Out page
    • City Contracts
    • Small Business Centers
      • Small Business Development
      • Incentives and Grants
      Open the Small Business Centers page
    • Austin Center for Events
    • Nonprofits
      • Grants
      Open the Nonprofits page
    • Green Resources
  • Government

    Government

    Open the Government page
      Open the Government page
    • City Council
    • City Manager's Office
    • Boards and Commissions
    • City Council meeting information
    • City Hall
    • Jobs
    • Public Records
  • Departments

    Departments

    View full directory of departments

    Frequently Viewed Departments

      View full directory of departments
    • Visit
      • Airport
      • Visitors Bureau
      • Convention Center
    • Utilities
      • Austin Energy
      • Austin Water
      • Resource Recovery
    • Education & Recreation
      • Library
      • Parks and Recreation
    • Safety
      • Police
    • Other
      • Animal Service
      • Development Services
      • Economic Development
  • Connect

    Connect

      Open the Connect page
    • Share ideas online about improving Austin
    • Participate in the City
    • Sign up for email updates
    • City contact information
No BannerMobile No Banner
  1. Departments
  2. Housing and Planning Department
  3. City’s RENT program successfully allocates all remaining 2021 local and federal funds available for rental assistance

City’s RENT program successfully allocates all remaining 2021 local and federal funds available for rental assistance

  • Home
  • About
  • Housing & Displacement Prevention
  • Zoning & Urban Design
  • Inclusive Planning & Program Delivery
  • Policy, Plans, & Data
  • Resource Library
City of Austin Seal

City of Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2021
Contact: Housing and Planning Department     5129743100    Email

The application portal is deactivated until additional funding is available

Austin, TX – The City of Austin and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) today announce the 2021 Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program has successfully deployed all available $35 million of local and federal rental relief funding to over 8,298 Austin households facing financial pressures as a result of the global pandemic. The RENT application portal is temporarily deactivated until more funding is available. 

“Paying your rent may have been hard even before the pandemic, and the conditions over the past year quickly escalated the need for help,” said Housing and Planning Assistant Director Cupid Alexander. “With HACA’s partnership, we were able to react quickly to a growing need and create a program that distributed over $65 million dollars of rental assistance to over 17,000 Austin families — helping them avoid eviction and stay safe during the pandemic.”

By November 10, 2021, the City and HACA had allocated all of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) Program funds granted by the Department of the Treasury. The federal funding infusion provided: 

  • $35,365,968.46 in rental assistance;
  • To 8,298 unduplicated families (including 2,306 recertification);
  • For a total of 26,678 months of rent paid;
  • With an average of $4,261.99 per HH;
  • For 3.91 months of rent, on average; and
  • An average monthly rent of $1,062.34.

On October 14, 2021, the Austin City Council voted to allocate $6.7 million in City of Austin General Reserve Funds for rental assistance. As of today, both federal and local funds available for rental assistance have been allocated with staff currently working to identify a new funding source.

HACA was first selected by the City of Austin’s Housing and Planning Department to help with the distribution of COVID-related rental assistance in April 2020. The current iteration of the RENT program represents the fourth round of COVID-related rental assistance administered by the duo for low-income families with each version improving upon the last with community input.

Texas Housers, an independent non-profit, analyzed all of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs in Texas and awarded the City of Austin RENT Assistance Program with a grade of A. That score reflected the program’s ability to quickly and equitably get the funds to the households most in need.

 

The Future of the RENT Program

With many Austin families still facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-related income losses, City and HACA staff intend to continue to refine program guidelines and identify renewed funding sources, however, estimates to when the program would be brought back online remain unknown. 

“We’ve seen a continued need for rental assistance from Austin families,” said Community Displacement Officer Nefertitti Jackmon. “We’ve received over 16,000 applications for rental assistance since March 15, 2021. The Department of Treasury is currently accepting applications for future allocations, and we hope to be considered for that funding.”

Persons in need of rental assistance can sign-up to be immediately notified if additional funding becomes available and the application portal is re-opened.

For renters seeking assistance, call 2-1-1.

For further information on the RENT program, including complete program results data, visit: AustinTexas.gov/RENT.
 

About Housing and Planning Department

The Housing and Planning Department provides resources related to planning, zoning, housing, and community development to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. Equitable, efficient, and comprehensive planning with displacement prevention as a prioritized focus is the Department’s core charge in delivering housing services to the community.

###

Share

City of Austin

Footer Menu

  • Get information or assistance
  • Give feedback on our website
  • Site Map
  • Public Records
  • City Council Message Board
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Second Footer Menu

  • Visit Austin
  • City Directory
  • Jobs
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS