EDINBURG — Hidalgo County on Monday launched the Mortgage and Rent Relief Program to assist rural county residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with short-term mortgage and rental assistance, Hidalgo County Community Service Agency Executive Director Jaime Longoria said on Monday. Qualifying residents will get assistance paying their mortgage or rent for up to two months. Funding for this assistance program comes directly from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act enacted by Congress earlier this year. Then the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court set aside $7.5 million to fund this program. “This program was designed to assist families who were affected ...