COVID-19 Individual and Business Resources

Text reads Rowlett Ready

This community has a long, notable history of helping our neighbors in need when disaster strikes, Rowlett residents are strong and resilient.  

To help those in need right now, and to provide an avenue for those who wish to help, the City of Rowlett has formed the Rowlett Community Organizations Active in Disaster Committee (RCOAD). This a permanent committee and will provide assistance to our citizens and community during and after disaster situations. 

The RCOAD is ready to help you through the COVID-2019 outbreak.  Visit RowlettReady.com to find resources for spiritual and emotional care, business assistance information, local food bank and utility assistance, and more. RowlettReady.com is also now able to accept donations, coordinate volunteer opportunities, and facilitate needs for Rowlett residents.

ROBUST Grant - Rowlett Business Stimulus Grant

Round 4 Application Period Now Open through March 24
Round 4 will provide a maximum award of $20,000.

The Rowlett Ready program of the Rowlett Community Organizations Active in Disaster (RCOAD) recognizes that small businesses are suffering from financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The RCOAD Board of Directors, and the Rowlett City Council feel strongly that the Rowlett business community needs our support during this extraordinary health crisis.  The Rowlett Business Stimulus (ROBUST) grant was developed to provide short-term, immediate financial aid to small businesses who have suffered economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ROBUST Grant Program Outline and Qualifying Criteria

Three rounds of ROBUST Grants have been conducted: 

Individual Assistance

Dallas County Emergency Housing Assistance Program 
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) offers a host of short-term emergency housing assistance programs to provide individuals and households negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with rental, mortgage, and utility (water/sewage) assistance.  Each of the programs are unique in the type of assistance covered, eligibility requirements, guidelines and funding sources. 


Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Texas Rent Relief Program 
Applications Open February 15 
Funded through approximately $1.3 billion received through the latest federal COVID-19 relief bill, TDHCA is using the funds to help Texans pay rent and utility bills, including those that are past due. Applications will be accepted from landlords and tenants starting at 8 a.m. on February 15. 

What Does it Cover? 
The Texas Rent Relief Program can help with the below costs as far back as March 13, 2020: 
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 receiving assistance for 3 months of expected costs, households can apply for additional assistance if funds are still available.
 
To qualify, households must be at or below 80% of the area median income as well as other criteria. TDHCA will prioritize applications for households at or below 50% of area median income and households where one or more members are unemployed and have been for at least 90 days. Landlords are also encouraged to apply on behalf of tenants. 

How to Apply 
Starting February 15, you can submit your application by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) or online at https://texasrentrelief.com/.


Texas Eviction Diversion Program helps eligible Texas tenants, who are behind on their rent due to the pandemic and sued for eviction to stay in their homes.
More info (English PDF) (Spanish PDF)

The Family Violence Program offers temporary sheltering at the following locations:
o Hope’s Door New Beginning Center, Garland 972-276-0057
o The Family Place, Dallas 214-941-1991
o Mosaic Family Services, Dallas 214-823-4434
o The Salvation Army – Carr P. Collins Social Service Center, Dallas 214-424-7208

Dallas County Health & Human Services COVID-19 Info 972-692-2780.

Legal Assistance
SMU free legal assistance helpline - 214-768-2683

Employment Opportunities

Persons seeking work should visit www.workintexas.com.
City of Rowlett Economic Development Department Employee Resources

Dallas County Tenant Hotline

For those individuals experiencing hardships with paying rent and also possibly facing eviction, this hotline can provide information and help connect you with agencies and groups that may be able to provide some help.
Tenanthotline@dallascounty.org
214-653-6563 or 833-743-0072
https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/tenant-hotline.php 

State Assistance

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) will provide $11.3 million in HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to Texans experiencing housing challenges due to COVID-19. 

  • Individuals needing assistance should visit Help for Texans (https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/texans.htm) to search for rental assistance providers in the area; simply click Long Term Rent Payment Help, enter “Rowlett,” and click on the Find Help button.

Utility Assistance

At the City of Rowlett, the health and well-being of our customers and our community is our top priority.  We understand the concern and uncertainty you may be experiencing regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and are committed to remaining responsive to the needs to our customers as the situation evolves.  We also understand that there may be instances when our customers find themselves facing financial difficulties.  Rowlett is here to help, so we encourage customers who may be impacted to contact the Utility Office to discuss payment options.

  • To set up a payment plan, please call 972-412-6105 or visit us in person at 4004 Main Street – we are available to serve you Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm.
  • Rowlett residents may also qualify to receive utility assistance administered by the Salvation Army in Garland. Please call 972-272-4531 for more information.
  • Also, if you have a deposit on file with the City of Rowlett and have had on-time payments for 12 months prior to March 9, you can call us to request your deposit be applied to your utility account balance.

Atmos Energy 

  • has temporarily suspended natural gas disconnections for non-payment and offers payment installment plans.
  • financial assistance is available on a first come, first served basis to eligible residential customers through a local energy assistance agency. To locate an agency, visit atmosenergy.com/assistance or call 211.

Homeowner Assistance

Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend foreclosure and evictions for homeowners in Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed single-family mortgages. HUD also authorized the Federal Housing Administration to impose a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for single-family homeowners with mortgages insured by FHA. 

  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency has extended its moratorium on single-family foreclosures through at least February 28, 2021, for homeowners in Fannie and Freddie-backed single-family mortgages.
  • The FHA has extended its foreclosure and eviction moratorium through at least March 31, 2021, for homeowners with FHA-insured single family mortgages covered under the CARES Act. 
  • The USDA has extended its suspension of foreclosures and related evictions for borrowers with USDA Single Family Housing and Direct and Guaranteed loans through March 31, 2021.

Dallas County has halted all delinquent property tax litigation and property tax foreclosure proceedings until further notice. See more...  

Business Assistance

ROBUST Grant - Rowlett Business Stimulus Grant
The Rowlett Ready program of the Rowlett Community Organizations Active in Disaster (RCOAD) recognizes that small businesses are suffering from financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The RCOAD Board of Directors, and the Rowlett City Council feel strongly that the Rowlett business community needs our support during this extraordinary health crisis. The Rowlett Business Stimulus (ROBUST) grant was developed to provide short-term, immediate financial aid to small businesses, providing a maximum award total of $10,000 per business for economic losses sustained as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ROBUST Grant Program Outline and Qualifying Criteria

Three rounds of ROBUST Grants have been conducted: 

Business Resources

Help us keep in touch with YOU!

Sign up for Connect Rowlett Notifications
We encourage you to register your contact information with Connect Rowlett, the City’s emergency notification service. Connect Rowlett allows residents to opt-in and receive information via phone call, text message, and/or email based on locations and subjects relevant to you. This system is used to notify residents of imminent threats to health and safety as well as informational notifications that affect home and/or work environments, such as severe weather, flooding, gas leaks, police activity and more.