Harris County offers assistance for households at risk of losing their housing and free legal defense for eligible tenants; the availability of funds is checked through 2-1-1.
Updated October 2, 2026.
Renters in Houston and Harris County who are having trouble paying rent can find financial assistance, referrals to local programs, and legal help if they face a potential eviction. However, there is currently no fixed amount of guaranteed money for each applicant, nor a public fund that automatically approves everyone who calls.
Harris County maintains a Community Resilience Rental Assistance Program for low- to moderate-income households at risk of eviction or housing loss. The county currently directs applications and referrals for rental assistance through 2-1-1.
Financial assistance and legal defense are separate processes. A person can seek funds to cover overdue rent even if there is not yet a court filing; if they have already received court documents, the case deadlines continue even if they are also applying for financial assistance.
Harris County channels rental assistance through 2-1-1
The Harris County rental assistance program aims to prevent evictions and housing loss through financial support, resource coordination, and case management.
In September 2025, Harris County approved $8 million in FLEX funds for a two-year plan that combines rental assistance and eviction defense services. Of that total, $7.5 million were allocated to the combination of both service types and $500,000 to administration and oversight.
That amount does not equate to a current balance available for new applications. Harris County does not publish a real-time balance on its site nor a guaranteed maximum amount per household. Availability may depend on funds and providers operating when a person applies for help.
The current entry point is 2-1-1. The United Way of Greater Houston line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is free and confidential, and can connect residents to rental and housing programs based on their location and situation.
You can also call 713-957-4357 or look up resources by ZIP code in the United Way of Greater Houston’s 2-1-1 directory.
The City of Houston does not directly provide emergency rental assistance
The Housing and Community Development Department of the City of Houston funds organizations that offer services such as eviction prevention and rental assistance, but the municipal agency itself does not directly provide emergency services or immediate housing.
For urgent housing needs, the city also directs residents to 2-1-1.
This means that applying for assistance does not necessarily start at a City of Houston office. The program that ultimately serves a person will depend on their residence, income, fund availability, and other eligibility conditions.
Harris County offers free defense for low-income tenants
Residents of Harris County who face eviction can also seek help through the county’s Eviction Defense Program.
To qualify under this program, the household must:
- reside in Harris County; and
- have total household income up to the 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline in effect.
The program can provide counseling before eviction is filed, representation after a case is filed, help during negotiations with the landlord, and representation in some appeals.
Harris County identifies Lone Star Legal Aid as the provider of these services. The eviction defense program number is 832-927-4955.
Lone Star Legal Aid also accepts civil assistance requests in Houston at 713-652-0077 or 800-733-8394. The organization represents eligible residents based on their income, the type of legal issue, and available resources.
Program information is available on Harris County’s Eviction Defense page.
A Notice to Vacate is not yet an Eviction Judgment
In Texas, a standard eviction process generally begins with a written notice before the landlord files a suit in Justice Court.
State law normally requires at least three days’ notice before filing the case, unless the lease agreement specifies a shorter or longer period.
The rules also changed in 2026 for some cases of nonpayment. When the tenant had not previously been delinquent during the relevant period, the law may require a Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate, which offers the possibility to pay the rent before eviction. The application of that protection depends on payment history and the terms of the contract.
Receiving a Notice to Vacate does not mean that a court has already ordered the tenant to leave. If the person remains in the home after the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction suit and the court will issue a summons with the hearing date.
An eviction lawsuit can go to hearing between 10 and 21 days after filing
Eviction lawsuits progress with short deadlines in Texas. The hearing in Justice Court is generally scheduled between 10 and 21 days after the landlord files the petition.
The summons identifies the court, case number, date of hearing, and the landlord’s claims. Failing to appear at the hearing can result in a judgment by default.
In Justice Court, it is not always mandatory to file a written answer before the hearing, but doing so allows the defenses to be recorded and may be necessary later if the case goes to appeal.
There is one exception with a particularly short deadline: if the documents include a Motion for Summary Disposition, the response must be filed within four days after receiving them. That procedure is designed mainly for disputes over unauthorized occupancy and does not apply to most tenants.
TexasLawHelp maintains a Spanish-language guide to respond to an eviction complaint, in addition to forms and explanations of possible defenses.
The deadline to appeal an eviction judgment is five days
If the Justice Court issues an eviction judgment, Texas rules provide a five-day window to file an appeal.
The appeal may require a bond, cash deposit, or a statement of inability to pay court costs. In residential cases for nonpayment of rent, remaining in the home while an appeal progresses may also require rent deposits on the court’s docket.
If there is no appeal that stops the process and the court issues a writ of possession, the officer enforcing it must post a notice at the dwelling at least 24 hours in advance of the eviction.
Because of these timelines, applying for rental assistance does not replace a response to the court case nor automatically suspend a hearing.
Related: New Texas laws 2026: what changes in evictions and other proceedings
People days away from homelessness have another access line
Harris County maintains a Housing Support Intake Line for people who are already staying in a shelter or other non-residential place, or who are a few days away from becoming homeless.
The line is 832-531-6041 and operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The county clarifies that this number does not substitute for 2-1-1 for people seeking other types of assistance or referrals.
For rental help, the first point of contact remains 2-1-1; for a lawsuit or eviction notice, Harris County maintains the legal defense program at 832-927-4955.
