San Antonio City Council on March 9 approved the city receiving $3.36 million from the U.S. Treasury to expand the city’s Housing Assistance Program’s rental and relocation assistance and right to counsel services that are designed to aid renters facing eviction.

The money, city officials said, is the latest round of emergency COVID-19 funding being made available by the federal government to provide services to struggling renters.

Since the outset of the coronavirus outbreak in spring 2020, the city has spent more than $221 million in offering rent, mortgage and cash assistance, according to local officials.

The right-to-counsel program, city officials said, provides legal aid to renters at or below 80% area median income who are facing landlord/tenant issues such as eviction.

Through the program, tenants receive legal advice and representation, and bilingual "Know Your Rights" training sessions. Since October, the RTC program has provided 394 households with counseling services, local officials said.

The council also voted to have the city receive a $466,000 housing stability grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs