14
Jul

Updates on Dallas Affordable Housing Policy and Opportunities

The Dallas BA proudly serves on the City of Dallas’s Housing Policy Task Force. Below is an update on various housing programs and initiatives as well as an upcoming virtual Task Force meeting that is open to all interested parties.

Land Transfer Lots Available for Purchase

The City of Dallas Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Department is now taking applications for the purchase of lots through the City’s Land Transfer Program. The application and list of available lots can be found on the Housing Department’s webpage ( https://dallascityhall.com/departments/housing-neighborhood-revitalization/Pages/Land-available-for-purchase.aspx ). The direct link is here. Applications will be reviewed on a first submitted – first served basis and only completed applications will be reviewed. For more information about the Land Transfer Program, contact Land Transfer Program staff: Albert Gonzalez (Albert.Gonzalez@dallascityhall.com), 214-670-7306.

Save the Date – Housing Policy Task Force Virtual Meeting July 23, 2020, 3-5pm

In February, the HPTF met to discuss updates to the Comprehensive Housing Policy, including the Home Improvement and Preservation Program (HIPP), the Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP), the New Construction and Substantial Rehabilitation Program (Development), and the proposed Targeted Rehabilitation Program. In the subsequent months, staff incorporated the comments from the HPTF and refined the recommendations.

The Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee of the City Council met on June 22, 2020 to discuss the changes. (Video available here.) Some of the changes require an update to the City’s HUD Consolidated Plan, which Council briefly discussed on June 24, 2020. (Video available here. Scroll through the meeting index to Item 10.)

We would now like to invite all interested members of the HPTF to attend a virtual follow up meeting to review the recommended changes in more depth. If you are interested, please hold 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020, for a virtual meeting. We will send out an agenda and links about a week before the meeting.  If you have questions, email me at pam.thompson@dallascityhall.com or reach out to housingpolicy@dallascityhall.com.

Reminder: Request for Applications from Non-Profits for Rental and Mortgage Assistance Funds – Proposals due soon

The RFA application process is open for non-profits to apply for a portion of the City of Dallas $10 million CARES Act funding that is being awarded externally to assist City of Dallas residents facing eviction or foreclosure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1.       The Department of Housing & Neighborhood and Revitalization is seeking to disburse $6,000,000 of CARES Act funding through non-profit agency partners. The focus of this funding is to provide rental assistance to households earning less than 80% area median income who are economically burdened as a result of COVID-19. Non-profit agency partners interested in more information and/or interested in being considered for a portion of the $6,000,000 to disburse are invited to review the RFA at:  https://dallascityhall.com/departments/housing-neighborhood-revitalization/Pages/default.aspx

Proposals will be accepted through July 17, 2020 at 5 p.m. The answers to most questions are in the RFA linked above. For additional questions, please email RentalAndMortgageAssistance@DallasCityHall.com.

2.       The Office of Community Care is seeking to disburse the remaining $4,000,000 of CARES Act funding through non-profit agency partners. The focus of this funding is to provide rental assistance to households earning less than 50% area median income who are economically burdened as a result of COVID-19. Applicants interested in applying for a portion of the funding can register to receive updates and apply here: https://dallascityhall.bonfirehub.com/login. The reference number is BR20-00014082.

Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis as long as funding is available. If you have questions about Bonfire or the Office of Community Care funding, please email Procurement Services: askprocurement@dallascityhall.com. The City’s procurement process requires that all questions for opportunities posted on Bonfire go through Procurement Services.

Information on the City of Dallas COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance

Currently the State of Texas, and subsequently the City of Dallas, are under Declarations of Disaster. During these Declarations of Disaster, the City of Dallas has a COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance in effect in Dallas. The ordinance requires landlords to give a Notice of Possible Eviction to a residential tenant who fails to pay rent during the ordinance period before the landlord sends the tenant a notice to vacate. The Notice of Possible Eviction must notify the tenant of the unpaid rent and provide the tenant with an opportunity to respond about the unpaid rent within 21 days.

Please contact the City of Dallas Office of Fair Housing and Human Rights, 214-670-FAIR (3247) for additional information.

Eviction Ordinance FAQs:

How do I know when the City of Dallas COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance ends? https://dallascityhall.com/departments/fairhousing/Pages/COVID-19-EVICTION-FACTS.aspx

What happens when the City of Dallas COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance period ends?

  • If the Tenant has sent a COVID Hardship Notice to their landlord BEFORE the Ordinance period ends:
    • The tenant has 21 days from the date of the COVID HARDSHIP NOTICE to provide their landlord with information that the tenant is unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 financial impact.
    • Once the Tenant provides the necessary COVID-19 financial impact information, the tenant has 60 days from the date of the COVID Hardship Notice to work out a payment plan with their landlord, regardless of the Ordinance period ending.
    • Landlords may not give a notice to vacate if the Tenant has provided a COVID HARDSHIP NOTICE BEFORE the Ordinance period ends and the Tenant is still in the 21 day response period or the 60 day workout period.
  • If the Tenant has received a COVID Notice of Possible Eviction BEFORE the Ordinance period ends:
    • The tenant has 21 days from the date of the COVID Notice of Possible Eviction to provide their landlord with information that the tenant is unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 financial impact.
    • Once the Tenant provides the necessary COVID-19 financial impact information, the tenant has 60 days from the date of the COVID Notice of Possible Eviction to work out a payment plan with their landlord, regardless of the Ordinance period ending.
    • Landlords may not give a notice to vacate if the Tenant has received a COVID Notice of Possible Eviction BEFORE the Ordinance period ends and the Tenant is still in the 21 day response period or the 60 day workout period.
  • If the Tenant fails to pay rent during the Ordinance period and has not received a Notice of Possible Eviction before the Ordinance period ends:
    • Because the unpaid rent occurred during the Ordinance period, the landlord must send a Notice of Possible Eviction to the tenant before providing the tenant a notice to vacate.
    • Please contact the City of Dallas Office of Fair Housing and Human Rights, 214-670-FAIR (3247) for additional information.

Update: Current Eviction Process for Justice of the Peace (JP) courts presiding in the City of Dallas:

Dallas County

  • On March 18, 2020, the Dallas County JP Courts issued an Order declaring a moratorium on eviction proceedings until after May 18, 2020.  On May 19, 2020, the moratorium was modified to provide that “any eviction case for non-payment of rent filed after March 27 shall not be set for trial until June 15, 2020.”
  • On July 6, 2020, the Dallas County JP Courts issued an Order declaring that “any residential eviction case for non-payment of rent filed after July 6, 2020, shall not be set for trial until August 5, 2020.”  The order further stated that “[c]ases docketed and scheduled before the effective date of this Order may proceed at the discretion of the presiding Judge.”
  • For more information, please visit: www.dallascounty.org

 

Denton County:

  • The Denton County Justices of the Peace have collectively agreed that they will not be creating any moratorium outside what is ordered by the Supreme Court, with subsequent guidelines from Office of Court Administration, for eviction cases.

 

Collin County:

  • Judge Missildine is following the guidelines and recommendations provided by the Supreme Court and the Office of Court Administration, which is currently proceeding with eviction cases.

Additional Information About Resources:

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has additional information about resources for Residents facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19: www.Hud.Gov/Coronavirus.