COLLEGE STATION, TX — Those in Brazos County still struggling to cover their rent could see some relief. The county has been hand selected as one of 19 Texas counties who will pilot an eviction diversion program.
The Texas Eviction Diversion Program will distribute federal funding in an effort to help Texans struggling to pay rent.
“I think it grants Brazos County an opportunity to be in on the ground floor on help to landlord and tenants,” said Rick Hill, Brazos County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3.
Nineteen Texas counties have been selected to pilot this program. Eligibility requirements such as earning 200% below the poverty level will also determine if households qualify for the funding.
These select counties can support at a state level what worked best for the program.
”Being in the pilot for this, we can help the state officials, Supreme Court and Office of Administration when they’re going to roll this out on a statewide basis,” said Justice of the Peace Hill.
This is the first program of it’s kind where the tenant and landlord must both agree to the terms of the TEDP in order to move forward with receiving funding.
”This is the first program really that’s aimed at tenants and landlords. Most everything has been tenant aid up until this point,” said Justice of the Peace Hill.
The statewide assistance program is supported by community development block grant and CARES Act funding. In the Brazos Valley, Brazos Valley Community Actions Program is the point-of-contact assisting the community through this program.
”What’s great is that being in on this pilot program with this is that were working with the Brazos Valley Community Action Program there. That's the entity that ended up with this money we can use with this program,” said Justice of the Peace Hill.
BVCAP will assist judges like Hill in delivering this aid to residents in a timely manner.
”In Brazos county you know the justice of the peace have really really have taken it really seriously on how we do evictions,” said Hill.
The goal of this program is truly to provide an equal playing field for all those still struggling with the ongoing effects of the coronavirus.
The eviction aid program will award the Brazos Valley $600,000 thousand dollars to help residents cover six months of rent.