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SAQ: Is there help if I can’t pay rent during the pandemic?

Your COVID-19 questions answered

SAN ANTONIO – Amid the coronavirus pandemic, global and local businesses alike are taking hits. Many people are being laid off or forced to stay home without pay. While President Donald Trump has signed a $2 trillion stimulus package to help taxpayers with unemployment benefits and hopefully stay afloat for another month, our viewers wanted us to ask San Antonio Ron Nirenberg about local resources.

SAQ: Is there any assistance being offered for San Antonians unable to pay rent or their mortgages due to covid-19?

The San Antonio Apartment Association (SAAA) has proposed an Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Here are some links to other resources that may be able to help:

According to the mayor, during this time no one will be evicted from their homes nor will utilities be shut off. Whether it’s a city property, private property or even business rental, no foreclosures or evictions are allowed. San Antonio Water System and CPS energy are prohibited from cutting off service due to unpaid bills during this pandemic. However that does not mean that the bills will stop coming or action won’t be taken when this is all over.

“Unfortunately we don’t have the authority to rewrite contracts that are done within private parties but we are working on various relief efforts,” said Nirenberg.

Related: Rent is due. But thousands of Texans have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic

The mayor says the city is working with state officials to make sure people are not drowned in back payments when things get back to normal.

Read more: How Texas renters can get answers to housing, payment questions amid coronavirus pandemic

Find more answers and ask your own questions on our SAQ page. Watch anchor Steve Spriester ask local leaders your questions weeknights at 6 p.m. on KSAT12 and 9 p.m. on KSAT-TV and KSAT.com. You can also sign up for our free SAQ newsletter to get answers to the most common questions in your inbox.


About the Authors
Steve Spriester headshot

Steve Spriester started at KSAT in 1995 as a general assignments reporter. Now, he anchors the station's top-rated 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Alyssa Medina headshot

A San Antonio native currently in her dream job as the executive producer behind KSAT special programming like Fiesta parades, Dia De Los Muertos and the Rodeo special. When she's not prepping for these productions, she's helping run KSAT's social media channels.

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