Several agencies in Fort Bend County have partnered together to help prevent evictions. Many of them are associated with the United Way, free law firms, or Continuum of Care. The Emergency Solution Grant program and HUD provides funding to stop evictions and rehouse the homeless.
Since there are so many people who need help, not everyone will be able to get it. The people who are most likely to be able to pay rent in the future and who have taken steps to become self-sufficient are given priority. Agencies are very hesitant to help a Fort Bend County family if they will face eviction again month after month.
The next priority is given to the most vulnerable once the initial criteria have been met. If a family is struggling and might become homeless, they may be given help to prevent them from being evicted. Some other groups of people who are given priority are senior citizens, veterans and their families, and victims of domestic abuse.
Solutions to stopping an eviction
There are three main approaches to solving this problem. This direct financial aid is in the form of government grants that can be used to pay rental arrears. This means that someone can help you talk to your landlord about making a plan to pay what you owe them. The final option usually chosen is to help the tenant move into a new, cheaper home, which is also often called rehousing. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach.
Many tenants who are facing eviction choose to receive financial help instead. It can be difficult to find this item in Fort Bend County and other areas. This means that the amount of money you would receive from this program is very small and would only cover a small part of the money you owe. In other words, the client should be able to financially support themselves in the future, as the Continuum of Care will not be paying for their rent on a long-term basis.
Non-profit agencies in Fort Bend usually use emergency solution grants to pay for housing costs like rent or utility bills. The primary federal government program to stop homelessness is the Continuum of Care program. All the money will eventually be gone and no one else will be able to get help.
Law firms in the Fort Bend County Texas region help with civil housing issues, including eviction. Attorneys will also deal with housing discrimination, especially for immigrants and non-English speakers. Some legal advice may come with a small cost, but others may be able to get free legal aid on an ongoing basis.
If a tenant receives a pay or quit notice, an attorney will review it to see if it is valid. They will check for any mistakes and make sure that everything was done according to the law. If a landlord gives a tenant an eviction notice that isn’t legal, the tenant might be able to get help from a lawyer.
If a family is close to eviction and they can’t afford their monthly rent and energy bills, rehousing may be available. This is another way to prevent homelessness that is advocated by many agencies, such as the United Way and United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This process will help people who are homeless by giving them free motel vouchers or by helping them find transitional housing or low income apartments.
After a review of the household budget by an agency that is part of the Fort Bend County Continuum of Care, a decision will be made. This assessment will review the client’s income, child care costs, housing needs, and more. This may result in assistance being provided.
The agencies will help the resident find a new home that is affordable and safe. ESG grants may be used to cover the cost of things like utility bills, rent, and moving expenses. Ongoing support is given to prevent a future eviction. This may include information on job placement.
There are many organizations that help to prevent homelessness in Fort Bend. The amount of money that each agency has varies over time. If someone is not able to help, they will try to provide referrals to other programs in the area. For more information, call 713-957-4357.