Hays County provides update on Emergency Rental Assistance program after $772K deduction, assures there is still $4M available for those in need

Hays County officials issued a statement Jan. 20 regarding the status of its Emergency Rental Assistance program that was started in mid-2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county received $6.9 million from the U.S. Treasury Department in January 2021. The ERA program began by offering financial assistance for rent and utility payments as well as late fees. In October 2021, the commissioners court approved the Community Assistance Program, a 90-day rehousing program that partnered community-based case managers with citizens needing help to get back on their feet.

According to the statement, $844,000 has been spent on payments to landlords, hotels and utilities. An additional $100,000 is under review for hotel payments.

Hays County will have to return $772,791 as it did not meet the targeted minimum distribution amount by September 2021. The funding will be reallocated to another program that reached or exceeded the targeted amount.

Despite the deduction, there is still over $4 million available in the ERA fund for those in need.

To help expedite and streamline the process, the commissioners court Jan. 18 approved the solicitation of a program manager for the ERA and will be issuing requests for proposals.

“I’m really happy that we are moving forward with the solicitation to bring on a program manager to help us more efficiently run this program and get the money out to those that really need it,” Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said.