The City of Austin has contracted with 14 organizations to provide direct outreach and application support for Austin renters who have experienced a COVID-19-related income loss and in need of emergency rental assistance through the Relief for Emergency Needs of Tenants (RENT) Program.

Austin City Council Agenda Item 21 on September 17, 2020 ratified a master agreement with multiple grantees not to exceed $400,000 for the term of August 17, 2020 through December 31, 2020 to provide direct assistance and outreach for Austin renters needing RENT assistance.

The organizations listed below will be awarded funding to assist with program outreach:

• Age of Central Texas
• Austin Apartment Association
• Austin Area Urban League
• Austin Voices for Education & Youth
• BookSpring
• Dove Springs Proud
• Economic Growth Business Incubator
• El Buen Samaritano
• Family Eldercare
• Foundation Communities
• Goodwill Central Texas
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Youth & Family Alliance
• YWCA

These grants will expand outreach to vulnerable populations facing ongoing financial hardship due to COVID-19 by supporting community-based organizations that have a demonstrated record of success reaching out to the focus populations. Grants to qualifying organizations will not exceed $50,000 per organization. The recommended awards are a result of a Request for Applications and evaluation process led in partnership with the City of Austin Equity Office.

The focus population for the outreach is:

• Low-income residents in zip codes with high rates of COVID-19
• African American/Black and Latinx(a/o)
• Large households or families with children
• People with disabilities
• Veterans
• People with Limited English Proficiency

For direct contact information for the above partners and further information on the RENT program, visit austintexas.gov/RENT.