Texas ERAP Is Closed — Here's What to Apply for Instead in 2026
You fell behind on rent, someone mentioned "Texas ERAP," and now you're stuck trying to apply for a program that keeps leading nowhere. That's a common experience. Several old webpages about Texas rental assistance are still indexed on Google, and they can make a closed program look wide open.
Here's what happened to Texas ERAP, why old listings keep showing up, and where renters in Collin and Denton County can turn instead in 2026.
Quick Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program (TERAP) still accepting applications? | No. TDHCA closed TERAP to new applicants on January 14, 2022. |
| Is Texas Rent Relief (TRR) still open? | No. TRR and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) stopped taking new applications after March 16, 2023, and TDHCA describes both as closed as of summer 2023. |
| Is there a new statewide replacement? | No. Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funding ended nationwide on September 30, 2025, and no statewide Texas successor has launched. |
| Where can Collin and Denton County renters get help now? | TDHCA's Help for Texans locator, 2-1-1 Texas, and county nonprofits like the Assistance Center of Collin County and the Salvation Army in Denton. |
Is Texas ERAP Still Open in 2026?
No. The original Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program is closed, and it has been for a while now.
TDHCA confirms that TERAP closed to new applicants on January 14, 2022. The program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to help eligible households cover rent and rental arrears tied to pandemic hardship, using a specific set of federal rules that no longer apply to new applicants today.
There's a second, separate program people often mix up with TERAP: Texas Rent Relief and its companion, the Texas Eviction Diversion Program. Both launched in February 2021, ran on the same federal Emergency Rental Assistance dollars, and closed for good in the summer of 2023.
TDHCA's own records show the application portal stopped taking new submissions and funding requests after March 16, 2023.
| Program | Purpose | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| TERAP | Pandemic-era emergency rental assistance | Closed January 14, 2022 |
| Texas Rent Relief (TRR) | Statewide rent and utility assistance | No new applications after March 16, 2023 |
| Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) | Funded through TRR; paused eviction cases pending assistance | Closed alongside TRR, summer 2023 |
| Collin County ERAP | County-level pandemic rent and utility relief | Closed once allocated CRRSA/ARPA funds ran out |
| Denton County ERA (United Way) | County-level pandemic rent and utility relief | Closed once allocated pandemic funds ran out |
| Current local rental assistance | Emergency rent, eviction prevention, housing stabilization | Ongoing — varies by provider and current funding |
💡 EasySmart Tip for Texas Renters: Don't assume a program is currently accepting applications just because you found its webpage. Check the page for an explicit status line before you hand over pay stubs, a lease, or ID. If a page doesn't clearly say "now accepting applications," treat it as historical until you confirm otherwise.
Why Do Old ERAP Pages Still Show Up in Search?
There’s a common misunderstanding to clear up first. It causes more confusion for renters than the eligibility rules themselves.
Government agencies keep old program pages online long after a program closes. Those pages hold records, compliance reports, and instructions for people who already received assistance and still need to reference the program. TDHCA hasn't deleted its TERAP or Texas Rent Relief pages — it's simply relabeled them as closed.
That means a search for "Emergency Rental Assistance Program Texas" can still return a page that's technically accurate about the program's history, while being outdated about whether you can apply. The words on the page are true. The application status just isn't current. Reading past the headline and checking for a status statement is the only reliable way to tell the difference.
What Happened to Texas Rent Relief, Specifically?
Texas Rent Relief was the state's biggest pandemic rental program, and by scale, it's not a small footnote. TDHCA reports the program paid out more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance to over 323,000 Texas households, reaching 250 of the state's 254 counties.
Through the linked Texas Eviction Diversion Program, more than 25,000 applicants received over $243 million in assistance, and their eviction cases were paused or made confidential.
None of that changes where things stand today. The program stopped taking new applications and funding requests after March 16, 2023, and TDHCA's own summary describes both TRR and TEDP as closed as of summer 2023. If you're searching for a live Texas Rent Relief application in 2026, that portal simply isn't the right door to knock on anymore.
Does Federal ERA Money Still Fund Anything in Texas?
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance program — the funding source behind TERAP, TRR, and the county-level programs — ran in two rounds, ERA1 and ERA2. The U.S. Department of the Treasury confirms the ERA2 performance period ended on September 30, 2025. After that date, grantees can no longer use ERA2 dollars for rent, utilities, arrears, or related housing stability services.
So the federal program's history is still online, and Treasury still publishes closeout guidance for grantees. None of that is the same as an open application for renters. The federal pipeline that funded Texas ERAP is closed, full stop, and no statewide successor has been announced as of 2026.
TERAP vs. Current Assistance: What's Actually Different
| Question | TERAP / Pandemic Programs | Current Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Can new renters apply? | No | Depends on the local provider and current funding |
| Application type | One statewide portal | Local or provider-based, found through a locator |
| Funding source | COVID-era federal ERA1/ERA2 dollars | Varies — HOME funds, local budgets, nonprofit donations |
| Where to start | Historical program pages only | TDHCA Help for Texans or 2-1-1 Texas |
What's Actually Available to Renters Now
TDHCA's Help for Texans Locator
TDHCA still maintains a live resource finder called Help for Texans. It's not a funding pool by itself — TDHCA sends money to local provider organizations rather than handing it directly to renters — but it's the fastest way to find which organization near you is currently open.
Choose a category like emergency and homeless services or long-term rent payment help, enter your city or county, and the tool surfaces active local providers.
2-1-1 Texas
2-1-1 Texas, run through the state's Health and Human Services system, is a separate but equally useful option. It searches for rent payment assistance, rental deposits, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing by ZIP code, and it operates a toll-free line at 877-541-7905.
Because many local programs only serve specific service areas, entering the right ZIP code or county matters more than you'd expect — a program that helps your coworker across town might not cover your address at all.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
TBRA is an active TDHCA program, not a leftover from the pandemic. It funds security and utility deposits plus rental subsidies for up to 24 months, with additional funds sometimes available beyond that for households that keep meeting program requirements.
Eligibility caps at 80% of Area Median Family Income (AMFI), and it's tied to a self-sufficiency plan rather than a one-time payment — so it solves a different problem than an urgent rent shortfall. TBRA isn't available in every part of Texas; the Help for Texans locator will tell you if a provider serves your area.
Collin and Denton County both fall under HUD's Dallas HUD Metro FMR Area for income purposes, so the same 80% AMFI table applies to both counties. Here's the FY2026 breakdown, effective June 2026:
| Household Size | 80% AMFI Annual Limit (Collin/Denton) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $67,840 |
| 2 people | $77,520 |
| 3 people | $87,200 |
| 4 people | $96,880 |
| 5 people | $104,640 |
| 6 people | $112,400 |
Take a 3-person household in Plano bringing in $84,000 a year combined. That falls under the $87,200 cap for a 3-person household, so income alone doesn't rule them out of TBRA — though a local provider still has to actually be serving their ZIP code and have an open reservation slot, since TBRA runs through local subrecipients rather than one statewide pool.
📌 Documents that cause first-try TBRA rejections:
- Pay stubs older than 30 days — providers typically want current, recent income proof
- A lease that isn't in the applicant's own name
- Missing documentation for every household member's income, not just the primary applicant's
- Applying in a ZIP code with no active TBRA subrecipient — check availability on Help for Texans before submitting anything
Local Housing Authorities and Section 8
Housing authorities offer Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing, and it's worth being clear that these run on an entirely different track than emergency rent help. A voucher is a long-term subsidy with its own waiting list, not a payment toward last month's overdue balance.
TDHCA administers vouchers in some Texas counties, while local public housing authorities cover others — so if you're facing an eviction hearing next week, a Section 8 waitlist isn't the resource to lean on right now.
Collin County Options
| Organization | What It Offers | What Makes It Different |
|---|---|---|
| Assistance Center of Collin County (Plano) | Short-term rent and utility help for households in financial crisis | Phone intake first, then an in-person caseworker meeting. Slower to start, but pairs the payment with a required budgeting plan — more hand-holding if you want it |
| All Community Outreach (ACO) — McKinney/Allen | Rental and utility assistance for Collin County residents | Apply online first. If a financial-assistance option isn't selectable in the application, that category is simply out of funding right now — a quick way to self-check availability before waiting on a callback |
| Salvation Army — Collin County | Emergency rent and utility help, case by case | Also runs shelter and food assistance, so it can be a workaround if a rent-specific fund is temporarily dry |
| 2-1-1 Texas | Live referrals to whichever Collin County agency currently has open funding | Fastest way to check status across all three agencies above without calling each one separately |
Also note that: some city-run programs layered on top of these — like McKinney's own security-deposit fund — pause without much notice once their budget for the year runs out, so a specific city page saying "closed" doesn't mean county-wide help is closed too.
💡 EasySmart Tip for Collin County Residents: Local nonprofit rent funds run dry before the month ends more often than people expect. Call the Assistance Center of Collin County's intake line early in the week — Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — and ask directly whether rental funding is open before you gather documents.
Denton County Options
| Organization | What It Offers | What Makes It Different |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Denton County | Directs residents to partner agencies for rent, utility, and other assistance | Mainly a referral hub, not a direct fund itself — think of it as the front door to several agencies at once, similar to 2-1-1 but locally focused |
| Interfaith Ministries of Denton (IFM Denton) | Direct rent and utility assistance for Denton-area residents | Provides funds directly rather than just referring elsewhere — a good next call if United Way routes you here |
| Christian Community Action (Lewisville) | Rent, mortgage, and utility assistance for southern Denton County | Covers Lewisville and the southern part of the county specifically — a better fit than Denton-based agencies if that's your area |
| Denton Housing Authority | Section 8 housing choice vouchers and public housing | A long-term subsidy with its own waitlist — not a fit if you need help with next week's rent |
| 2-1-1 Texas | Live referrals to Denton County agencies currently accepting applications | Fastest way to check which of the agencies above is currently funded, by ZIP code |
A Realistic Example
A renter in Lewisville who gets a text from a friend: "just apply for Texas ERAP, it covers back rent." She searches, finds an old flyer referencing the 2021 program, fills out what looks like a real application, and waits. Nothing happens — that portal has been closed for years, and the form was never connected to any active funding.
Had she instead called 2-1-1 Texas or searched TDHCA's Help for Texans locator by her city, she'd have been routed to whichever Denton County provider currently has money to disburse. Same rent problem, completely different — and still active — path to a solution.
If You're Already Facing Eviction
If a court case has already started, waiting for TERAP or Texas Rent Relief to reopen isn't a strategy — those programs aren't coming back. TDHCA's Help for Texans page also lists eviction assistance and legal aid resources, and its Emergency & Homeless Services category routes people toward both short-term rent help and eviction relief in one place.
⚠️ Important: If you've received an eviction notice or court paperwork, pay close attention to the dates on it. Applying for rental assistance takes time, and submitting an application does not automatically pause an eviction case. Senate Bill 38, effective January 1, 2026, also shortened parts of the Texas eviction timeline, so pursue rental assistance and legal aid at the same time, not one after the other.
How to Apply for Current Local Rental Assistance
Check TDHCA's Help for Texans locator by city or county → Call 2-1-1 Texas (877-541-7905) for live referrals → Contact your local housing authority about vouchers as a separate, longer-term option → Gather your documents → Contact your landlord early about a payment arrangement → If you have court papers, get eviction-related legal help right away.
Documents to Have Ready
- Government-issued identification
- Current lease or rental agreement
- Landlord or property management contact information
- Recent rent statement or account balance showing what's owed
- Eviction notice or court documents, if you have them
- Recent income information for each household member
- Utility bills, if you also need utility assistance
Requirements vary by provider, since there's no single statewide 2026 application with one universal checklist anymore. A provider may ask for more than what's listed here. Don't send sensitive financial documents to any organization until you've confirmed it's a legitimate provider and understand how your information will be used.
Common Mistakes That Waste Time
| Mistake | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Applying through an outdated TERAP or Texas Rent Relief link | Start at tdhca.texas.gov/help-for-texans or 211texas.org instead of an old bookmark or third-party site |
| Assuming one denial means no help exists anywhere | Local funding opens and closes agency by agency — a "no" from one nonprofit doesn't rule out another |
| Waiting until the eviction hearing to look for help | Apply for rental assistance and contact legal aid as soon as you get a past-due or Notice to Vacate notice |
| Confusing Section 8 with emergency rent help | Section 8 is a long-term voucher with a waitlist; pursue it separately from an urgent rent need |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program open in 2026?
A: No. TERAP closed to new applicants on January 14, 2022, and it hasn't reopened.
Q: Can I still apply for Texas Rent Relief?
A: No. TDHCA stopped accepting new Texas Rent Relief applications and funding requests after March 16, 2023, and describes the program, along with the Texas Eviction Diversion Program, as closed as of summer 2023.
Q: Why does the Texas ERAP website still appear in Google?
A: Agencies keep historical program pages online for records and for people who already received assistance. A page being online doesn't mean new applications are open — TDHCA's TERAP page clearly states the program is closed.
Q: Where can I find emergency rental assistance in Texas right now?
A: Start with TDHCA's Help for Texans resource finder and 2-1-1 Texas. Both connect renters to local providers, though what's available depends on your city or county and current provider funding.
Q: Can 2-1-1 Texas actually help with rent?
A: Yes. 2-1-1 Texas lists rent payment assistance, rental deposit help, emergency housing, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing. Availability still depends on your specific location.
Q: What if I'm already being evicted?
A: Look for eviction-prevention and legal aid resources immediately rather than applying and waiting. TDHCA's Help for Texans includes eviction help and legal aid listings, and 2-1-1 Texas can identify local housing services fast.
Q: Can I apply to TBRA and a local nonprofit rent fund at the same time?
A: Generally yes, but not for the same expense twice. TBRA and a nonprofit like the Assistance Center of Collin County can't both pay the identical month's rent — that's duplicate assistance, and providers ask about other help you've applied for or received. It's fine to apply to both while you wait to hear back, as long as you tell each one about the other application.
Q: Does having a Section 8 voucher disqualify me from emergency rent assistance?
A: It depends on the program. Some local crisis funds exclude households that already receive a housing voucher, since a voucher already subsidizes part of the rent. Others don't ask at all. Because this varies agency by agency, mention your voucher status upfront when you apply, rather than finding out after a denial.
Bottom Line
If you searched for "Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program" because rent is due and you're worried, here's the short version: the old statewide TERAP and Texas Rent Relief programs are closed, and neither is reopening. TERAP closed in January 2022, TRR and TEDP followed in 2023, and the federal ERA2 funding behind all of it wound down in September 2025.
What's still standing in 2026 is a network of local providers reachable through TDHCA's Help for Texans locator and 2-1-1 Texas. Start there, gather your documents, and reach out to more than one agency if the first one says no.
Key Takeaways
- TERAP closed to new applicants on January 14, 2022.
- Texas Rent Relief and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program stopped taking applications after March 16, 2023.
- Federal ERA2 funding ended nationwide on September 30, 2025, with no announced statewide Texas successor.
- Old program pages stay online for records — they don't mean applications are open.
- TDHCA's Help for Texans locator and 2-1-1 Texas (877-541-7905) are the fastest current starting points.
- Collin County options include the Assistance Center of Collin County and All Community Outreach.
- Denton County options include United Way of Denton County, Interfaith Ministries of Denton, and Christian Community Action in Lewisville.
- Applying for assistance does not automatically pause an eviction case.
Related Guides
Official Sources
- TDHCA — Help for Texans Resource Locator
- TDHCA — Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program (TERAP) Status
- TDHCA — Texas Rent Relief and Texas Eviction Diversion Program
- TDHCA — Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program
- HUD — FY2026 Income Limits Documentation
- U.S. Department of the Treasury — Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- 211 Texas — Statewide Referral Hotline
Editorial Note
EasySmartHub is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with TDHCA, the Texas Workforce Commission, or any government agency. Program status, funding availability, and eligibility rules change frequently. Confirm current details directly with TDHCA, 2-1-1 Texas, or the specific local agency before applying or relying on any figure mentioned here. Last checked: September, 2026
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