Freezing temperatures are dangerous for homeless people. Shelters are urging Texans to come in off the streets.
Advocates and social workers say there’s enough capacity at warming centers and shelters to ensure no one will be turned away. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0167a6e07af9439f1e08e49ef82c4df9/Winter%20Storm%20Homeless%20JV%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![A homeless Austinite wears extra blankets to protect against the cold as an unprecedented winter storm grips much of Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas cities face difficulties counting their unsheltered homeless population — at a time when their numbers matter most
Despite changes to the regular count of people experiencing homelessness, support organizations are hoping they’ll still be able to capture a clear picture of who is unhoused in Texas as the pandemic continues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a954c6bd3a562abfeab0780f5c9c3e1b/Austin%20COVID%20Homelessness%20EL%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Nicole Aurit sits by her tent under a highway overpass in downtown Austin on Jan. 15, 2021. Aurit had been working as a manager at a Supercuts before her job shut down due to COVID-19.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas tenants behind on rent will soon be able to seek aid from $1.3 billion assistance program
The statewide program will start on Feb. 15 and will be able to help tenants with past and future rent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4754e4bcb4d2daa541479e4c00285f1a/Housing%20file%20SK%20TT%2004.jpg)
![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
An eviction moratorium expires at the end of the month, but thousands of Texans are still not able to afford rent
Communities of color are especially struggling to keep their homes. While more than half of white Texans are highly confident in being able to pay rent, only 21% of Black Texans and 14% of Hispanic Texans say the same. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7dccb06d93dea8a22c5c0ccda6b5aa5b/Elsa%20HTX%20Evictions%20BV%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Elsa Ramirez, and her daughters Josseline, 11, and Francheska, 4, stand outside their home in Houston on Dec. 14, 2020. She and her three kids have managed to stay housed in her two-bedroom apartment, thanks to a federal eviction moratorium that expires at the end of the month.]()
Credit: Briana Vargas for The Texas Tribune -
A controversial rule limiting housing options for homeless Texans with criminal records was softened, but it still worries advocates
The regulation applies to new supportive housing projects, which provide subsidized homes and social services. Gov. Greg Abbott still needs to approve the rule by Dec. 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/202244b0745c349237892ad77363c781/Homeless%20Encampment%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Tents at the state-run homeless encampment off of U.S. Highway 183 in Austin on Feb. 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texans with criminal records face increasingly limited housing options. Homeless advocates say a new rule could leave them with even fewer choices.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is proposing that people with certain criminal convictions be temporarily or permanently blocked from living in tax-supported developments that provide support services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e0ffe4343eeaca9cd05ee3291f244a9/Homeless%20Encampment%20MG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Tents at a homeless encampment on state-owned property in Austin on Feb. 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas tenants are still struggling to stop evictions a month after federal moratorium was announced
Since Sept. 17, court citations include information on how to apply for protections. But some eviction cases had already begun. And the moratorium will only delay proceedings for some renters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7932b2625ea9780e465f449b5f88007e/Housing%20file%20SK%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will spend $171 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help renters avoid evictions
The new program will provide rental assistance and legal aid for tenants who are behind on rent. Details on how Texans could apply or qualify weren't immediately released. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e0f5333796edcb99f5852cef9880efe/Housing%20file%20EW%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An apartment complex near downtown Waco on Feb. 26, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas courts must start telling tenants how a federal eviction moratorium can keep them housed
The Texas Supreme Court ordered that eviction citations will have to inform renters about the moratorium requirements and include the form needed to apply for protection. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24b9400ec042bc796c7c36090aa4de87/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Millions of Texans could be shielded from evictions under new Trump administration order
A previous federal order, which only protected renters in federally backed housing, expired in July. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/21259a5748c02d1d1dc801149211d0f5/Houston%20Evictions%20Protest%20PYH%20TT%20%2013.jpg)
![A protester holds up a "stop evictions" sign outside the Harris County Courthouse in Houston on Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
As eviction cases resume in parts of Houston, low-income Texans fear losing a place to live
Since Gov. Greg Abbott declared a public health disaster in March, almost one-third of Harris County's evictions have been filed in the justice of the peace precinct covering the southwestern portion of the county. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/582861f41a4daba29f22a6e79bc237a6/Houston%20Evictions%20Protest%20PYH%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Demonstrators rally against evictions outside the Harris County Courthouse in Houston on Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says local governments can't stop or delay evictions
The nonbinding opinion comes as housing experts and advocates fear that the COVID-19 recession will prompt a surge in evictions across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8d408cf196519460c1f390c5237c641a/Housing%20file%20LE%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An apartment complex in Tomball.]()
Credit: Loren Elliott for The Texas Tribune -
Houston announces $15 million to assist tenants, but passes on mandatory eviction grace period for people behind on rent
The city's first program, launched in May, received overwhelming demand and ran out of funds in 90 minutes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/655c51f6bec2ebe36eced6f95b05991a/HTX%20Eviction%20Protest%20BV%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Latino workers gather for a car protest to demand economic, rental and health relief outside of Houston City Hall on Tues. July 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Briana Vargas for The Texas Tribune -
Undocumented immigrants behind on their rent are self-evicting across Texas
Without money to pay rent, facing pressures from landlords and afraid of courts, people without legal immigration status have limited options. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a27c44909bf175ba97ed2e318fb610ec/Maria%20Self%20Eviction%20PYH%20TT%2004.jpg)
![MarÌa, an undocumented immigrant, had to leave her apartment in Houston in mid-March.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
As evictions resume in Texas, unemployed renters have few options
While cities and legal aid agencies are setting up resources for tenants, many judges explained that they won't be able to consider loss of employment in eviction cases. Full Story
![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
With three generations under one roof, pandemic risks multiply
The Golinelli family is among many Texas households navigating working in a pandemic while trying to keep high-risk older relatives safe from the coronavirus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a62aab5f0d68653bd8f3e8787edd0303/Multigenerational%20COVID%20LBS%20TT%2014.jpg)
![Alex Golinelli Sr. works as an electrician during the day. His wife, Claudia Golinelli, brings him a change of clothes when he returns home from work, as the pair don’t want to risk their multi-generational family home being contaminated with COVID-19.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Living in hotels, students lose ground while dealing with cramped rooms and eviction fears
Long-stay hotels are often the last resort for struggling families, even more so during the coronavirus pandemic. Many children are receiving little education with schools closed, and school districts have simply lost track of thousands of students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/491ca7af859beaba0184feca4ab3e10e/Hotel%20Family%20BT%20TT%2012.jpg)
![From left: Paetun Beavers, 11, her mother Tie Hernandez, Andre Cameron and their son Kingstun Beavers, 9, outside their room at the Budget Suites of America in Fort Worth, May 20, 2020. The family has been living at the hotel for two months.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Renters prepare for tough choices as eviction proceedings resume in Texas
Unemployment has disproportionately affected renters since the crisis began. Advocates fear displacement and an increase in homelessness. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f01514c48e1d0e485f719e5fe7d858d9/Housing%20file%20MS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An old apartment complex within view of the ship channel refineries on the north side of Pasadena.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Eviction proceedings and debt collections can resume this month, Texas Supreme Court orders
The state's highest civil court initially paused eviction proceedings and debt collections during the coronavirus pandemic. Those moratoriums are being lifted after more than 1.9 million Texans filed for unemployment. Full Story
![An apartment complex in Tomball.]()
Credit: Loren Elliott for The Texas Tribune -
Rent assistance programs in Texas' largest cities are running dry, but advocates say statewide relief is unlikely
Dallas, San Antonio and Austin recently implemented housing relief programs, and Houston will consider one this week. But local officials and advocates agree they aren't enough to see Texans through the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4f79e6ce34ca2201dc3cfa383613e663/Texas%20Home%20Housing%20SK%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A home in Texas.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune