Dear friends,
The Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund will open its online and phone application process for financial assistance to eligible Harris County residents on June 23 and June 24. In May, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioners Court approved the creation of the $30 million COVID-19 Relief Fund to be distributed to an estimated 20,000 households that are among the hardest hit financially by the pandemic, and are ineligible or cannot afford to wait for other assistance. Selected households will receive between an estimated $1,200 and $1,500.
“We have a moral obligation to take care of our most vulnerable residents,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Far too many of our neighbors, friends and family members – through no fault of their own – have lost their jobs. They are struggling to pay rent, their bills, and to put food on the table. As a community we must rally together to ensure that our most vulnerable residents don’t fall through the cracks. This fund will provide thousands of families with some immediate and much-needed relief.”
The online application will open on HarrisCountyRelief.org on Tuesday, June 23 at 6 a.m. and close on Wednesday, June 24 at 10 p.m. You can also apply over the phone by calling the COVID-19 Relief Fund’s phone center at (832) 848-0214. The phone center will be receiving calls from applicants on June 23 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and June 24 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The online and phone application will be available in a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, French, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Korean, and Vietnamese. Applications are not first-come, first-served. Instead, awardees will be selected through a randomized selection process from among the applicants.
To be eligible for funds, applicants must live in Harris County and meet certain household income and public benefits criteria. The fund is open to immigrant households. Given the enormous need, the fund is likely to receive more applications than funding available. To ensure the funds are reaching those most deeply impacted and vulnerable in our communities, the selection process will prioritize residents in Harris County’s most vulnerable census tracts.
For more information on the COVID-19 Relief Fund application, eligibility criteria, and the selection process, please visit HarrisCountyRelief.org. Those in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to call 211 Texas/United Way helpline to find an organization in your geographic region that can serve you.
Sincerely,
The Harris County Judge’s Office