Eligible rural Hidalgo County residents financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive short-term rental assistance, the county announced Thursday.

The Hidalgo County Urban County Program is now accepting applications for their COVID-19 Rental Assistance program. Qualifying residents will get assistance paying rent at their apartment or home for up to six months, according to a news release.

The rental assistance comes from $1,696,154 that was awarded to the Hidalgo County Urban County Program by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Applicants will need to provide proof that they have been financially impacted due to COVID-19.

To apply, visit https://www.ahsti.org/renthelpucp to download an application.

To be eligible tenants must meet the following guidelines:

• • You must have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• • You must have a household income below 80% of the area median income as set by HUD.
• • Your Monthly Rent must be at or below 150% the area Fair Market Rent\
• • Up to 6 consecutive months of rental assistance can be provided which includes up to 5 months of back rent owed and one month of future rent owed.
• • The tenant and landlords must both participate.
• • Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
• • If you are already receiving a tenant-based voucher assistance, are in a unit receiving project-based assistance, or are in public housing, you are ineligible.

When applying tenants must submit the following documents:

• • Tenant application
• • Valid Picture ID for applicant
• • Tenant certification
• • Self-Certification (if applicable)
• • Household Income Certification (if applicable)
• • Proof of Income for the past 30 days
• • Conflict of Interest Form
• • Landlord and Tenant Certification
• • Executed Lease or if no written lease, required certification proving tenancy and          ability to provide proof of tenancy (cancelled check or money order)
• • Landlord Documentation of Missed Payments
•         Landlord IRS W-9 Form