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Last updated: May 6, 2026
Bottom line: Texas housing help is local. The right first step depends on the problem: rent, eviction, a long-term apartment, home repair, utility bills, or property taxes. Start with the office that handles your exact need, and keep notes from every call.
For a wider state view, see our Texas senior benefits guide. If rent is the main issue, our housing and rent help guide explains common national paths. You can also use our senior help tools to organize documents and phone calls.
Fast starting points
Texas has many housing programs, but most are not paid straight to seniors. For many state housing programs, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) sends funds to local providers. The Help for Texans tool can help you find the provider for your city or county. Providers may be out of funds, so ask if help is open before you gather a full packet.
| Your situation | Best first call | Ask for this | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind on rent | 2-1-1 or local housing office | Rent payment help, TBRA, or eviction prevention | Funds open and close often. |
| Need long-term low rent | Local housing authority | Voucher, public housing, or senior waitlist | Waitlists can be long or closed. |
| Need senior apartment | Apartment manager | HUD 202, tax credit, or income-based unit | Vacancy is not always shown online. |
| Unsafe home repair | City, county, or USDA office | Owner repair, rehab, or rural repair help | Owner-occupied rules are common. |
| High property tax bill | County appraisal district | Homestead and over-65 exemptions | Most exemptions require an application. |
| Utility shutoff notice | Local CEAP provider | Energy bill help or crisis help | Help depends on funds and documents. |
Contents
- Fast starting points
- Urgent help in Texas
- Key Texas housing facts
- Rent help and vouchers
- Senior apartments
- Home repairs and access
- Taxes and utilities
- Eviction and fair housing
- How to start
- Regional starting points
- Common mistakes
- Denied or delayed
- Phone scripts
- Resumen en español
- FAQ
If you need urgent help
Call 911 if you are in danger, locked out illegally, injured, or facing a fire, gas leak, or unsafe electrical problem.
If you may lose housing soon, call 2-1-1 and ask for rent help, homeless services, legal aid, and emergency shelter. You can also search 2-1-1 Texas by ZIP code and need, then call the listed programs.
If you have an eviction notice, do not wait for the court date. Use the eviction guide from TexasLawHelp and contact legal aid right away. Missing a hearing can hurt your case.
If you are fleeing abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or use the domestic violence hotline chat if it is safe. If you cannot speak safely, use 2-1-1 or a trusted local agency to ask for a safe shelter contact.
Key Texas housing facts
- Texas has no state property tax. Local governments assess and collect property taxes.
- For school taxes, the general residence homestead exemption is $140,000. Many homeowners age 65 or older may also qualify for an extra $60,000 school exemption. Check Texas exemptions before you pay a high bill.
- The Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program covers all 254 counties through local providers.
- Texas has 28 Area Agencies on Aging. The AAA directory can help older adults age 60 or older, caregivers, and families find local support.
- The old statewide Texas Rent Relief and Texas Eviction Diversion programs closed in summer 2023. Current rent help is mainly local.
- Many housing programs use income limits that change by county, family size, and program. Ask for the current limit before you spend time on forms.
Rent help, vouchers, and public housing
The strongest long-term rent help is usually a Housing Choice Voucher, often called Section 8. A voucher is run by a local Public Housing Agency, also called a PHA. If approved, you rent from a private landlord who accepts the voucher. Your rent share is based on income and HUD rules. Many households pay about 30% of adjusted monthly income, but the final share can change because of the unit rent, payment standard, and utility allowance. Read voucher basics first, then call local agencies.
Use the HUD PHA search to find housing authorities. Call more than one if you can, because each agency has its own service area and waitlist rules. Some waitlists open for only a few days. Ask if there is a senior, disability, local resident, or homeless preference. A preference does not promise approval, but it may affect your place on the list.
TDHCA also runs Section 8 vouchers in a 34-county service area and special voucher programs for certain groups. The TDHCA voucher page says public housing authorities are separate agencies, so do not assume one application covers all of Texas. If you need HUD public housing help by phone, ask the PHA or call HUD’s Public and Indian Housing Resource Center at 1-800-955-2232.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, or TBRA, can help with rent subsidies, security deposits, and utility deposits when funds are open. The TBRA page says help is funded through the HOME program and may last up to 24 months while the household follows a self-sufficiency plan. Some funds may go beyond 24 months for households that meet certain program rules.
Reality check: TBRA is not open everywhere at the same time. A local provider must have funds and must decide if your household fits its rules. Ask if seniors on fixed incomes can apply, what income limit is used, and whether the landlord must sign anything.
Public housing
Public housing is usually owned or managed by a housing authority. Rent is income-based. Some properties are for older adults, people with disabilities, or mixed families. Apply directly with the local housing authority when the waitlist is open.
Practical tip: If you move or change your phone number, update every waitlist. Many people lose their spot because mail, email, or phone calls do not reach them.
Affordable senior apartments
Senior apartments may be easier to understand than vouchers, but they still have waitlists. Look for HUD 202, public housing, tax credit, and income-based apartments. HUD 202 is housing for very low-income older adults, usually age 62 or older, with support services. The HUD housing search can show subsidized properties, but you must call the property to ask about vacancies.
The federal Section 202 program helped build senior housing with supportive services. Availability depends on the property, not a statewide list. Ask each property about age rules, rent rules, pet rules, accessibility, deposits, and the waitlist.
Texas also has the TDHCA Vacancy Clearinghouse, which lists TDHCA-funded affordable apartments by city, county, or ZIP code. It may show rents, amenities, and units for people with disabilities when that information is available. It does not list every affordable apartment in Texas, so call housing authorities and local housing offices too.
For more Texas-specific help, see our guide to Texas senior apartments. If your current HUD rent seems too high because of medical costs, our lower HUD rent guide may help you ask the right questions.
| Housing type | What it helps with | Who may qualify | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voucher | Rent in a private unit | Very low-income renters | Local housing authority |
| Public housing | Lower rent in agency units | Low-income renters | Local housing authority |
| HUD 202 | Senior housing with services | Usually 62 or older | Property manager |
| Tax credit | Below-market rent | Income-qualified renters | Property manager |
| TBRA | Rent or deposits | Eligible local renters | Local provider |
Important: Tax credit apartments are not always the same as Section 8. The rent may be lower than market rent, but it may not be 30% of your income. Ask how the rent is set before you apply.
Home repair and accessibility help
For senior homeowners, housing help is not only rent. It may mean a safe roof, working heat, a ramp, a bathroom you can use, or lower energy bills. Start with your city or county housing department if you live in a city. Rural homeowners should also check the USDA Section 504 repair program.
The USDA repair program offers loans up to $40,000 for very low-income rural homeowners and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62 or older who need to remove health and safety hazards. Loans have a 1% fixed interest rate and a 20-year term. Grants have a lifetime limit, and grants may have to be repaid if the home is sold in less than three years. In a presidentially declared disaster area, higher repair limits may apply.
The Amy Young program can provide one-time grants of up to $22,500 for qualified households with a person with a disability who needs home changes for access or safety. This may include ramps, door changes, bathroom access, or hazard removal. The household income limit is tied to Area Median Family Income, and the program is not available in every part of Texas.
The TDHCA HRA program funds local organizations for owner-occupied housing reconstruction, replacement, relocation, and rehab. Seniors do not apply to TDHCA directly. They apply through a local provider when that provider has an open program.
For a broader repair checklist, use our home repair grants guide before you call. It can help you describe the problem clearly.
| Repair need | First place to ask | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Rural unsafe home | USDA Rural Development | Ask about Section 504. |
| Ramp or bathroom access | Local AYBR provider | Ask about barrier removal. |
| Major owner rehab | City or county housing office | Ask about owner-occupied repair. |
| Heat, cooling, or high bills | Weatherization provider | Ask about WAP and CEAP. |
| Disaster damage | Local disaster office | Ask what program is open now. |
Property tax and utility help
Texas property taxes can make a paid-off home hard to keep. If you are age 65 or older, call your county appraisal district and ask about the general homestead exemption, the over-65 exemption, the school tax ceiling, local optional exemptions, installment payments, and tax deferral.
A tax deferral can delay collection, but it is not forgiveness. Interest can build, and the bill may affect your estate. Use our Texas tax relief guide to prepare questions before you file.
For utility bills, the CEAP page describes help for low-income households with immediate energy needs. The program is handled by local providers. Ask about crisis help if you have a shutoff notice, high summer cooling bill, or medical need for power.
The WAP page covers weatherization, which may lower energy use through insulation, sealing, heating or cooling work, and energy education. This is not a quick bill-pay program, but it can make the home safer and cheaper to run.
Our utility bill help guide gives more national options that may fit Texas households.
Emergency rent, eviction, and fair housing support
If your landlord gives you a notice to vacate, call legal aid before the court hearing. Texas eviction cases can move fast. Ask whether you should file an answer, whether the notice is correct, and whether rental assistance or mediation may help.
Use the legal aid directory to find a provider. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Lone Star Legal Aid, and Legal Aid of Northwest Texas cover different counties, so your location matters.
If you believe you were denied housing, treated unfairly, or refused a disability accommodation because of a protected reason, use the Texas Workforce Commission fair housing complaint page. You can also ask a legal aid office if the problem involves disability access, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or another protected issue.
Reality check: Rental assistance is not a defense by itself unless a program or court process applies. Keep going to court dates unless a lawyer or the court tells you something has changed.
How to start without wasting time
- Pick the main problem first: rent, eviction, apartment search, repair, utility bill, or taxes.
- Call the right local office: housing authority for vouchers, appraisal district for taxes, repair office for homeowner rehab, 2-1-1 for emergency referrals.
- Ask if funds are open: many programs pause when money runs out.
- Apply to more than one list: one closed waitlist should not stop you.
- Keep proof: save notices, forms, emails, names, and dates.
- Ask for accommodation: if disability makes the process harder, ask for a reasonable change in writing.
| Document | Why it matters | For renters | For owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Proves identity | Yes | Yes |
| Income proof | Shows eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Lease or rent ledger | Shows rent and debt | Yes | No |
| Eviction papers | Shows deadlines | If any | No |
| Deed or tax bill | Shows ownership | No | Yes |
| Utility bills | Supports CEAP or WAP | Yes | Yes |
| Doctor note | Supports access needs | If needed | If needed |
| Agency letters | Shows denials or waitlist status | Yes | Yes |
Tip: Keep a small call log. Write down the date, office, person, phone number, and next step. This helps if you must appeal, resend papers, or call again.
Regional starting points
Large Texas cities often have their own repair, rent, or housing offices. Rural counties may rely more on community action agencies, councils of government, and USDA offices. If you do not know your local provider, 2-1-1 and Help for Texans are usually the fastest starting points.
| Area | Useful first step | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Houston area | Housing authority and city housing office | Voucher, public housing, repair, homeless help |
| Dallas area | DHA and city housing office | Waitlists, senior units, home repair |
| San Antonio area | Opportunity Home and city services | Voucher, legal aid, repair help |
| Austin area | HACA and city housing | Affordable units, tenant help, repair |
| Rural Texas | USDA, 2-1-1, local provider | Repair loan, grant, CEAP, WAP |
If your need is not handled by a housing office, your local aging office may know senior transportation, caregiver, benefits, and local nonprofit contacts. Our Texas aging offices guide can help you find local support.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for one waitlist: apply to every real option you can manage.
- Paying a voucher finder: no one can guarantee Section 8 for a fee.
- Missing mail: agencies often remove people who do not respond.
- Ignoring taxes: exemption and deferral choices can affect your home long term.
- Skipping legal aid: even one call can help you understand a notice.
- Using old rent relief pages: the statewide pandemic programs are closed.
- Assuming one Texas list: most housing authorities keep separate waitlists.
- Forgetting disability needs: ask for a reasonable accommodation in writing if you need one.
What to do if you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask for the denial in writing. Look for an appeal deadline, missing document, income issue, service-area rule, or funding limit. If the problem is paperwork, ask if you can fix it and resubmit.
If you have a disability, ask for a reasonable accommodation. This can mean help filling out forms, more time to respond, a phone interview, a live-in aide request, or a change tied to your disability.
If you feel stuck, call your local aging office. For a wider state benefits view, see our emergency Texas help guide.
If you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC report page and the Texas AG complaints office. Do not send money to anyone who promises a grant, voucher, or apartment approval.
Phone scripts you can use
Housing authority script: “Hello, my name is _____. I am age _____ and I live on a fixed income. I need affordable rent. Are your voucher, public housing, or senior housing waitlists open? If not, when should I check again? Do you have a reasonable accommodation form if I need help because of a disability?”
Home repair script: “Hello, I am a senior homeowner in ____ County. My home is my main home. I need help with ____ because it may be unsafe. Do you have owner-occupied repair, rehab, accessibility, weatherization, or USDA referral help? What documents should I bring?”
Property tax script: “Hello, I am age 65 or older and live in my home as my main home. I want to make sure I have every exemption I qualify for. Can you check my account for homestead, over-65, school tax ceiling, local exemptions, installment options, and deferral forms?”
Eviction help script: “Hello, I am a senior renter in ____ County. I received a notice to vacate or eviction papers on _____. My hearing date is _____. I need help understanding my options, filing an answer if needed, and asking about rent help or mediation.”
Resumen en español
Si usted es una persona mayor en Texas y necesita ayuda con vivienda, empiece por el problema más urgente. Para renta atrasada, desalojo o refugio, llame al 2-1-1. Para vivienda de bajo costo, llame a la autoridad de vivienda de su ciudad o condado. Para reparaciones, pregunte por ayuda para dueños de casa, USDA, accesibilidad, o climatización. Para impuestos de propiedad, llame al distrito de tasación de su condado y pregunte por la exención de vivienda principal, la exención para mayores de 65 años, el límite de impuestos escolares, pagos en partes y aplazamiento.
Si recibió papeles de desalojo, no espere. TexasLawHelp tiene una referencia de desalojo que puede ayudarle a encontrar asistencia legal. Si hay abuso o peligro en el hogar, llame al 911 si hay emergencia. Si no puede hablar con seguridad, pida ayuda a una agencia local o a una persona de confianza.
Recuerde que muchos programas cambian por condado, ciudad, dinero disponible y lista de espera. No pague a nadie que prometa una subvención, un cupón de vivienda o aprobación de apartamento. Ningún programa serio puede prometer eso por adelantado.
FAQ
Is Texas Rent Relief still open?
No. The statewide Texas Rent Relief and Texas Eviction Diversion programs closed in summer 2023. Some cities, counties, and nonprofits may still have local rent help.
Where should a Texas senior apply for Section 8?
Apply through the local housing authority that serves your city or county. You may need to apply to more than one agency because each has its own waitlist.
Can seniors get help with home repairs in Texas?
Yes, but the best program depends on where you live, your income, and the repair. Rural homeowners may check USDA Section 504. Others can ask their city, county, or TDHCA local provider about repair and accessibility programs.
Does Texas have property tax help for age 65 or older?
Yes. Many homeowners age 65 or older may qualify for homestead and over-65 exemptions, tax ceilings, installment options, and deferral choices. Your county appraisal district handles applications.
How can I find a senior apartment in Texas?
Search HUD-subsidized properties, TDHCA-funded properties, HUD 202 properties, and tax credit senior units. Call each property manager because online tools may not show current vacancies.
What if I need help filling out forms?
Call your Area Agency on Aging, a legal aid office, a housing counselor, or 2-1-1. Ask for benefits counseling, housing navigation, or a reasonable accommodation if disability makes forms hard.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org.
Last updated: May 5, 2026
Editorial note: This guide is produced using official government, local agency, legal-aid, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Verification: Last verified May 5, 2026. Next review September 5, 2026.
Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
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