Millions available in rent help for El Paso tenants, landlords: Here’s what you need to know to apply

EL PASO, Texas -- More than $13 million in federal CARES Act funding have been set aside for El Paso tenants and landlords.

The El Paso Rent Help program, overseen by the Paso Del Norte (PDN) Community Foundation, officially relaunched its website this year after receiving more funding from the City of El Paso and the County.

Tenants can apply for financial assistance to pay up to 12 months of past due rent. Tenants can also apply for up to three months of future rent which is a new feature, according to PDN. PDN said the number of months of assistance will depend on the tenants eligibility and funding source. There is no limit amount. PDN said it's hoping to have funds committed by October of this year.

Last year, PDN managed over $7 million in funds that went to 3,000 families, 1,000 landlords over 2,000 properties. 75 percent of that funding supported families earning at or below 30% of the area median income, according to the PDN Community Foundation.

Here's what you need to know to apply

Unlike the last phase of the EP Rent Help Program, tenants can now start the application process on their own, but their landlords must be willing to participate.

The portal is now open for landlords to apply. The portal opens on Thursday, April 22 for tenants to apply. When the portal opens to tenants, they can now check through a list of landlords who've applied and match to their landlord if on the list. PDN said the approval process for tenants whose landlords are not participating may take longer.

If you're a tenant, your household income must be less than or equal to 80 percent of the 2020 Average Median Income. According to the county, for one person, that would be an income of $33,000.

You must show that you're behind rent payment(s) as far back as April 2020. You must also prove you've been financially impacted by Coivd-19.

Funding goes to landlords of residential rental properties for tenants with live within city and county limits (El Paso, Horizon City, San Elizario, Socorro, Clint, Vinton, or Anthony, Texas). Immigration status will not be a factor.

To learn apply and learn more, click here. You know a tenant/landlord who does have access to the internet, they can now call United Way's Community Resiliency Center at 1-877-594-7276.