Saturday May 1st 12 - 4 pm

Gulfton | SER Ninos

5610 Gulfton |Houston TX 77074
CLICK HERE > Rent Assistance and Legal Aid

1.  The Houston-Harris Rental Assistance Program ($159 Million) will be administered by BakerRipey and Catholic Charities Galveston-Houston and is available to renters within Harris County or the City of Houston who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, who are experiencing housing instability, and whose household income is at or below 80% of Area Median Family Income.
Any rental property within the City of Houston or Harris County may participate. Landlords interested in registering their property will need to enroll their property and agree to the terms of the program.
For additional information: https://houstonharrishelp.org/
For Eligibility and Applications: https://houstonharrishelp.org/renters.html
Call Center Phone: 832-402-7586, Monday-Friday 9 am – 6 pm and on Saturday 10 am – 2 pm

2.  The Texas Rent Relief Program ($1 Billion) can help renters with the following costs starting as far back as March 13, 2020 (can potentially request assistance for up to 11 months of past due bills):

• Past due, current and up to 3 months of expected rent costs
• Past due, current or up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses
• After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, the tenant can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are still available

• Qualified for unemployment benefits; OR
• Attest in writing that due to or during the pandemic, they:
  • Experienced a reduction in household income,
  • Incurred significant costs, or
  • Experienced financial hardship

• Are at risk of homelessness or housing instability by providing an eviction notice or past-due utility or rent notice; OR
• Live in unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions
• The unit you are renting must be your primary residence and be located within the State of Texas.

• Must have a valid state or federal identification and social security card
• Must have legal U.S. citizenship or resident status (or kids are citizens & parents are on the birth certificate)
• Must be below 80% average median income for Harris County
• Must have proof of income: 30 days of paycheck stubs, workmen's compensation letter, all award letters (ex. SSI/SSDI, TANF, food stamps, pension vet benefits, child)
• Must reside within Harris County
• Applicant must be head of household
• You must provide a valid Lease or mortgage statement
• You must demonstrate proof of need such as vacate notice with the client's name on it, a documented hardship or proof of exhausting income
• Your Landlord or Mortgage Company must be willing to work with Harris County & guarantee residency for the next 30 days

For more information: https://csd.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/Rental-Assistance.aspx
Application: https://csd.caseworthy.com/CaseWorthy_8_0/PortalDefault.aspx?DatabaseID=299&RoleID=1000000096&#/PortalDefault or call a Resource Navigator at (832) 927-4955
 
7. Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) Lost Loved One Program - MAM received a grant to provide $3,500 to families who have experienced the loss of an immediate family member due to Covid-19.  To qualify, applicants must be a resident of Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, or Waller County; have experienced the loss since March 1, 2020; and have a household income of less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Qualifying families will be provided with the funds to address immediate needs such as funeral arrangements, or assistance with rent, mortgage, or utilities. All individuals will receive information and referrals to grief counseling.
For more information about the Lost Loved One program, please visit the MAM website at www.mamhouston.org/lostlovedone , or call the information line at (713) 468-4516 ext. 149. Applications to the program are available in English and Spanish.

Text: FOOD                                        Envie el Texto: ALIMENTOS
To 855-308-2282                                a 855-308-2282

Houston Food Bank (HFB): The website lists 250 food distribution partner sites, summer meal sites, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) application assistance.

HFB help line: 832-369-9390

VSC (Vincentian Services Center), 6654 Gulf Freeway, Houston, Texas 77007
Hosts a food fair 1st, 3rd and 4th Saturday of the month 8am to 10am.

Life in the pandemic can be stressful. Catholic Charities has expert bilingual counselors who can help for free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call Catholic Charities Mental Health Line from 9am to 4pm to request a session, and a licensed counselor will call back within a day. Call 713-874-6590

A raíz del coronavirus estamos viviendo un periodo de mucho estrés. Caridades Católicas cuenta con consejeros bilingües que pueden ayudarle durante este periodo de la pandemia. Llame a la línea de Salud Mental de Caridades Católicas de 9:00am a 4:00pm para solicitar el servicio y un consejero le devolverá la llamada en 24 horas. El numero a llamar es 713-874-6590 y el servicio es gratuito.

 

Evictions during COVID-19:  Know the laws and your rights! Join Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation (NRCDC) on Tuesday, December 15, 4pm - 6pm. Participation is free but you must register at www.nrcdc.org/site/getregistered.

For legal assistance contact Houston Volunteer Lawyers at (713) 228-0732
1111 Bagby, Suite FLB300, Houston, TX 77002
Main: (713) 228-0735  Fax: (713) 228-5826
Email: info@hvlp.org or visit www.makejusticehappen.org

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued an eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020. If you are having difficulty paying rent because of COVID-19 you may be covered by this moratorium. To be covered by the eviction moratorium you must complete a self-declaration and provide it to your landlord.  Click here for sample declaration form.

Baker Ripley 713-590-2327
Chinese Community Service Center 713-271-6100
Christian Community Service Center 713-871-9741
My Brother’s Keeper 281-498-9933
Salvation Army of Greater Houston 713-752-0677
Wesley Community Center  713-223-8131 or 713-821-8917
Catholic Charities 713-526-4611 
Utility Assistance Program 713-590-2327
Texas Covid-19 Electricity Relief Program 866-454-8387
Catholic Charities Immigration 713-874-6570
Catholic Charities Blessed Beginnings 713-874-6760

If you need help paying utility bills, Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) through BakerRipley may help. This program is designed to help those who can’t pay bills due to unemployment or economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

Click here to apply on-line or contact United Way at 211 to request an application form.

Take care of yourself: At different times we all feel the stress and strain of social isolation.  Below are numerous organizations' phone numbers and websites to support you and your loved ones during this time.

◦ Catholic Charities Crisis and Mental Health Support line at 713.874.6590.
◦ Texas Health and Human Services: toll-free at 833-986-1919
(24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
◦ Harris Center/Mobile Crisis Outreach Team: 713.970.7000 and press #1 for the Crisis Line (they operate 24 hrs)
◦ Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone: 1-800-273-TALK
◦  NAMI HelpLine, 1-800-950-6264, M-F, 9 am - 5 pm
◦  For immediate crisis, call 911

◦Maintaining Positive Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak – MHA of Greater Houston
◦Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources – MHA of Greater Houston
◦MHA Resource Guideline and Phone Numbers [PDF] – MHA of Greater Houston
◦FAQ on COVID-19 and mental health [PDF] – NAMI
◦Harris County Public Health – Mental Health Matters
◦Healthy Ways to Deal with Mental Stress [PDF]
◦Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks [PDF]

Houston Food Bank - Suggests doing virtual food drives (where people donate money that can be used to buy food to give to people) - Houston food bank is looking for volunteers as well! More info below:

If You Want To Help 
Make A Donation
If you are able to make a donation to support those impacted, your gift will fill boxes with food for our neighbors across our 18-county service area. Because of our partnerships with manufacturers and distributors, we can turn one dollar into providing someone with access to three meals.

Volunteer Activities

Currently, we have a need for more volunteers to help us perform necessary tasks. Below are the many ways you can help:

◦Warehouse Projects at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Sorting and packing product
◦Packing disaster boxes
◦Packing Quarantine Food Kids
◦Packing fresh produce bags

◦Kitchen Projects at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Packing shelf-stable meals
◦Prepping meals

◦Desk duty at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Call Center Operator

◦Offsite – Sign up via Crowdsource Rescue, a Houston-based disaster response non-profit
◦Help deliver food to elderly, isolated, and those who are in need. (will need to use own car)

Catholic Charities Guadelupe Center - Help with emergency food distribution (bagging, distribution or clean up).

Face Masks (Make & Donate)
I know many of you are also maintaining contact with your parish organizations.  Some are searching for ways to help.  A parish home-based project could be to make face masks.  People could make masks for parishioners and our neighbors. Here is a link and PDF about How to Sew a Face Mask.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-make-face-mask-coronavirus.html?referringSource=articleShare