Coronavirus News

Assistance program helps residents outside of city of Dallas pay rent

The program would help pay your rent.

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Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has launched a COVID-19 rental assistance program for Dallas County residents outside of the city of Dallas.

Called the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), it provides financial assistance on rent, mortgage, and utilities for those suffering income loss due to COVID-19.

It's funded through the CARES Act, and is available to residents of Dallas County who live outside the city in areas such as Richardson, Carrollton, Garland, DeSoto, Lancaster, and Irving. (Dallas received its own direct allotment of CARES Act funds from the federal government. The city of Dallas enacted a rental assistance program for city residents in April; 23,000 people applied.)

Recipients get a maximum of $1,500 per month, for up to three months. Funds can be used for expenses such as rent or mortgage payments and utilities, and can included back rent that occurred on or after March 1, as long as they can prove it was due to COVID-19.

Funds will be paid directly to the landlord or mortgagee or utility provider.

Recipients will be determined by a lottery, wherein eligible pre-screened applications will be randomly sorted utilizing a computer algorithm.

Only completed applications meeting eligibility requirements, and supported by required documentation, will be considered for assistance. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply.

The Catholic Dioceses of Dallas and Jewish Family Services of Greater Dallas have similar short-term assistance programs. Anyone who's received assistance from either agency is not eligible to apply for the EHAP. No double-dipping.

DCHHS began accepting applications online on July 1, and will close it out on July 9 at 4 pm. You can also apply via phone at 214-819-1968, Monday-Thursday, 9 am-4 pm.

"Keeping people in their homes is critical, especially for slowing the rate of spread of COVID-19 in our community,” says DCHHS Director Dr. Philip Huang in a statement.

For more information, visit www.dallascounty.org/ehap or www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/emergency-assistance.php.

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Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill to legalize marijuana

Redheaded Blackbelt

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Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

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