TRLA Provides Online Tools for Texas Renters and Homeowners
Many homeowners and renters are struggling to make housing payments amid mass layoffs and business closures.
For many homeowners, today is the day when late fees kick in for mortgage payments, adding yet another pressure point for low-income families hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demonstrations across the country have revealed again the systemic inequities that affect low-income communities of color in housing, employment, and safety.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) has tools to help low-income homeowners and renters navigate the complexity of new federal housing laws to see what rules they may benefit from.
Homeowners struggling to make mortgage payments have several options. Forbearance is guaranteed by the CARES Act for about 70% of American mortgages and is the best option for some. Others may be able to modify their loan to reduce monthly payments and may prefer this option, and other individuals may prefer to declare bankruptcy if they are eligible. These alternatives to forbearance may be better options because for some mortgages, requesting forbearance will mean that one year’s worth of mortgage payments come due all at once at the end of the forbearance period.
To get mortgage relief, all homeowners will have to provide information and/or documents. Some homeowners will be able to do so and get relief online or by phone. Other homeowners may have to send a formal, written letter called a Request for Information in order to get full information about options that may be available to them.
TRLA built a tool to help homeowners to navigate ways they can request mortgage relief. The tool guides homeowners through requesting information online, making a phone call, and composing a formal Request for Information which you can find in English at bit.ly/TRLAmortgage and in Spanish at bit.ly/TRLAhipoteca.
For renters, many will know whether they have a Section 8 voucher or live in public housing owned by the government, but few know about their new rights under the CARES Act. Far fewer know whether they live in the properties covered by the new law.
TRLA developed a map so renters can search to see if they live in a protected property. Tenants in public housing and with Section 8 vouchers are also protected from eviction even though the property may not be listed on the map. If you are facing eviction, you can also apply online for TRLA services.
TRLA has extensive resources specific to housing issues and more, which can be found at www.trla.org.
Contact:
Robert Elder, TRLA Communications Director
512-374-2764, relder@trla.org