It may have been over a year since COVID-19 disrupted Texans’ way of life, but the effects of the pandemic remain apparent to people who lost their jobs and are struggling to pay the bills. Here is a reminder that help is available.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ Texas Rent Relief Program can help pay for rent and/or utilities as far back as March 13, 2020—which means you can request assistance for up to 11 months of past due bills.

To qualify, households must be at or below 80% of the area median income. Per federal guidelines, applications for households at or below 50% the area median income will be prioritized along with families who have one or more members currently unemployed. Landlords are also encouraged to apply on behalf of tenants, who must co-sign the application.

To apply or if you have any questions, call 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) or log on to TexasRentRelief.com.