Where Can I Get Rent Assistance or Eviction Help in Texas?

connects you with a private lawyer if you do not qualify for free legal aid. The first meeting lasts up to 30 minutes and costs no more than $20. After that you pay the lawyer's normal fee. Call 800-252-9690, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff speak Spanish. Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Jefferson, Tarrant, and Travis counties have their own referral services instead.

posts free self-help packets and forms for people without a lawyer in justice court. Justice court is the court that hears evictions and repair cases. Packets cover answering an eviction case and filing a repair case to make your landlord fix the home. The center cannot give legal advice. Website: tjctc.org/SRL.html. Phone: 800-687-8528.

takes housing discrimination complaints for the whole state. Discrimination means a landlord treats you worse because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status (children), or disability. You must file within 1 year of the discrimination. File online or by mail, or call 800-628-5115. You cannot file the same complaint with both TWC and HUD.

Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division publishes a plain-language Renter's Rights page. It covers repairs, security deposits, and utilities (such as water, electric, and gas) being shut off. If your landlord will not return your deposit, you can file a consumer complaint with this office online. The office does not represent you in court. Website: texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.

2-1-1 Texas is the state's free information line, run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Call to find local help with rent, utilities (electric, gas, and water), food, shelter, and health services near you. Anyone can call. Dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905, or chat online in English or Spanish at 211texas.org.

takes complaints about electric, telephone, water, and sewer companies. This includes utilities (electric, gas, water, and similar services) being shut off unfairly, and billing problems. Contact your utility company first. If that does not fix it, file an informal complaint online or call 888-782-8477. The company must respond to the PUC within 15 days. The PUC does not oversee landlords who buy utility service and bill tenants for it directly; for that, use legal aid or the justice court.

runs the Help for Texans search tool. It also runs the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), the state's federal program that helps pay bills for utilities (electric and gas). TDHCA does not take applications from individuals. Enter your city or county at tdhca.texas.gov/help-for-texans. You get a list of local agencies that handle rent help, utility bill help, or emergency and homeless services. CEAP helps low-income households pay energy bills through local agencies in all 254 counties.

HUD-approved housing counseling agencies give free or low-cost advice about renting, rent help, eviction, and fair housing. Anyone can use them. Search by zip code, or pick Texas, on the HUD website at hud.gov/findacounselor. For help after a disaster, call HUD at 800-569-4287.