UPDATE (7 p.m. Nov. 9): The Eviction Diversion Program has been delayed. It is now scheduled to be available to the general public Jan. 1, 2021.
ORIGINAL:
For Texas renters facing eviction, there is help available.
The Texas Eviction Diversion Program is set to begin across the state on Monday.
In September, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that $171 million in CARES Act funding would go to the Rental Assistance Eviction Diversion program.
Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg and San Patricio counties all were picked by the state to be a part of the pilot phase of the program last month.
And on Monday, that funding will be available for all of those counties.
Landlords and renters in an eviction court case can volunteer for the program.
If requirements are met, past due rent can be recovered in full and the case dismissed.
To be eligible, the past due amount can't be past April and the rental units cannot be government owned.
Renters must have an income at or below 200 percent of poverty and prove they've been affected financially by the pandemic.