COVID-19 City of El Paso

Rental Assistance Program

The City of El Paso has approved $10 million in federal funds for a Rental Assistance Program which will help residential tenants in the City of El Paso who are behind in paying their rent and are at risk of eviction because of a direct economic impact of COVID-19.

Eligible landlords may apply for rental assistance of past due rent for eligible tenants, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the program.

How it works

Residential tenants must apply through their landlords for rental assistance for past due rent.

Rental assistance will be distributed on a priority basis to those most in need, and who are at risk of eviction.

The program is limited to residential tenants living in the City of El Paso who are not receiving other federal housing assistance. Immigration status will not be requested nor be a factor in determining funding awards.

Timeline

Landlords enroll to participate

Property owners/property management companies sign up to be a Participating Landlord.

In this step, landlords will:

  • Review and sign the program agreement

  • Share property Information

  • Share banking Information

BakerRipley verifies landlord enrollment. If verified, the properties will be listed in the Participation Directory.

Open until all available rental assistance funding has been pledged.

Tenants work with Landlord on application documents

Once a Landlord is verified, they will reach out to tenants to:

  • Complete and sign the Joint Landlord-Tenant Application provided by the landlord. Preview a sample form here here.

  • Gather copies of verification documents

  • Provide form and documents to landlord

Open until all available rental assistance funding has been pledged.

Landlords submit application online

Landlords apply here online for assistance for tenants who:

  • Have submitted the paper application and verification documents to their landlord

Note - Tenant applications will be prioritized based on households with greater need. Submitting an Application is not a guarantee of assistance.

Open until all available rental assistance funding has been pledged.

Applications are verified and payments are made to landlords

  • Once an application is submitted, program staff will be reviewing the applications

  • When an application is approved, landlords and tenants will receive a pledge

  • BakerRipley will then disburse payment to the landlord

December 21, 2020 onwards

What next?

  1. Search for your landlord in the Participation Directory.

  2. If they are not listed, request your landlord to enroll with this program flyer.

  3. Calculate your past due rent amount(s) for the month of April 2020 or any month after April 2020.

  4. Confirm your eligibility based on current household income (below 80% of AMI)

  5. Prepare the documents you'll need to provide to your landlord.

    New supporting documents are required. Please read carefully.

  6. Prepare to complete and sign the Joint Landlord-Tenant Application Joint Landlord-Tenant Application provided by the landlord, along with copies of your documents

Qualifying Applicant Eligibility Requirement Accepted Documents

Identification of Tenant Applicant

  • Any one of the following photo identification will be accepted

    • driver's license or state ID

    • passport

    • school ID

    • nonprofit membership ID

    • US visa

    • work permit

    • green card

    • a current or expired foreign government issued ID or passport

    • matricula consular

    • work ID

    • Office of Refugee Resettlement ID

    • Other forms of photo ID may be considered

Confirmation of Tenant of a rental unit within City of El Paso, Texas

Lease with name of applicant and address of rental location as well as:

  • monthly rent amount

  • any other provisional costs as applicable (i.e. water, cable, etc.)

If utilities are charged separately and are required to avoid eviction, a statement supporting utility charges requested must be attached to lease agreement.

Photo ID and utility bill no longer accepted as Proof of Residence as lease agreement is now required to confirm monthly rent amount.

Confirmation of current household monthly income

  • Any of the following will be accepted and should be included if they make up part ofthe current monthly income for every adult (over 18 years old) in the household

Confirmation of economic impact due to COVID-19

  • Any of the following will be accepted and should be included

    • Unemployment statement dated on or after March 1, 2020.

    • Letter from an employer indicating termination of employment, furlough, or a reduction in work hours dated on or after March 1, 2020.

    • Loss of business income, if self-employed or own you own business

    • Two different pay stubs showing a reduction in work hours or income over time

    • Notice of business closure (letter or closure from employer, closure announcement in a newspaper or online publication, etc.)

Confirmation of eviction vulnerability

(if applicable)

  • Any of the following will be accepted and should be included

    • Eviction letter

    • Notice of Eviction

How to qualify

To qualify for assistance,

  1. You must live in a residential rental property within the City of El Paso limits (residential means the property is not used for business purposes)

  2. Your landlord is listed in the Participation Directory

  3. You are behind on rent payment(s) for April 2020 and/or months after April 2020

  4. You cannot pay rent due and are at risk of eviction due to economic harm from COVID-19

  5. Your current household income is less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)

Is your unit within the City of El Paso limits?
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
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To be eligible as a tenant, your household income after April 1st, 2020 must be below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
80% Area Median Income* (AMI)

El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area, 2020

If your household income is at or below the amounts in this table, then you meet the income requirements.

Household sizeMonthly incomeAnnual income
1 person$2,750$33,000
2 person$3,142$37,700
3 person$3,533$42,400
4 person$3,925$47,100
5 person$4,242$50,900
6 person$4,554$54,650
7 person$4,871$58,450
8 person$5,183$62,200

*AMI is for the El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area in 2020 as defined by HUD, retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2020/2020summary.odn

Landlord Participation Agreement

Your landlord must agree to

  1. Assess no penalties, late fees or interest to a tenant’s account for the months for which rental assistance is provided;

  2. Provide tenant credit for any partial payments;

  3. Rescind or cancel any prior notice to vacate and/or dismiss any eviction suit filed within 5 business days of receiving rent assistance payment;

  4. Not interfere with the tenant’s possession of the unit by changing the locks, cutting off utilities or removing appliances;

  5. Accept partial payments of rent and cap monthly late fees to $25.00 for tenants who become delinquent on payment of rent within two (2) months of receiving assistance;

  6. Be able to accept rental assistance payments via Automated Clearing House (ACH);

  7. Credit payment received to the tenant’s account within 5 days of receipt;

  8. Return any overpayments to BakerRipley within 5 calendar days;

  9. Repay funds for breach of contract;

  10. Comply with local, state, and federal eviction moratorium laws and federal anti-discrimination laws.

Sign-up to receive general email updates about the program.

Email sign-up is not a replacement for applying for rental assistance.

Regístrese para recibir actualizaciones del programa por correo electrónico.

El registrarse por correo electrónico no equivale el llenar la solicitud de asistencia para inquilinos.

EP Rent Help aims to provide swift rental assistance to El Pasoans in need due to COVID-19.

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