McAllen launches tenant-based rental assistance program

It’s a cold world out there and homelessness is one of the things that accompanies it.

In an initiative to combat homelessness and to support housing stability for its residents, the City of McAllen has launched a program.

The Tenant Based Rental Assistance program is accepting applications for McAllen residents. It is a program that is supported by the HOME American Rescue Plan.

“We encourage residents who are facing housing insecurity to come forward and see if they qualify for this important assistance,” said Julia Lash, Director, Grants & Community Development Block Grant Administration Department in a McAllen release. “This program is a vital tool in our efforts to ensure that all McAllen families have access to safe and stable housing.” In order to be eligible, there are a few criteria that applicants must abide by.

The requirements include:

• Must be a resident of McAllen

• Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency

• Must meet program income limits

• Must provide proof of income Those who are eligible residents can then apply in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 28 at Las Palmas Community Center, located at 1921 N. 25th St. in McAllen.

The hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to noon. Then from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, about 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night last year — an 18% increase from 2023. With statistics pulled from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the coalition also states on its site that among those, 64% were in sheltered sites and the rest were experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

For more information, contact the program administrator at (956) 681-1030 or visit www.mcallen.net.

Those interested in applying can also email nmanzanares@mcallen.net.