Legal Aid for Those Facing Immediate Eviction in Texas

About 2% of eviction defendants in major Texas metros have legal representation. That’s it. Federally funded legal aid organizations, law school clinics, bar association programs, and nonprofit advocacy groups operate across every major city in the state. The resources exist. Most renters facing eviction don’t know about them, can’t find the right one for their county, or reach out too late for the help to matter.

This page maps every verified, currently active legal aid resource for eviction defense across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth as of early 2026. Free legal representation, law school clinics, bar association programs, court-based resources, mediation services, remaining rental assistance programs. All of it updated to reflect the procedural changes from Senate Bill 38, which took effect January 1, 2026.

StopTXEviction.org compiled this guide because legal defense and housing access are two halves of the same problem. Legal aid handles the court proceeding. The apartment search during or after that proceeding is a separate fight, and it’s one this service handles through eviction screening expertise across hundreds of Texas communities. But the legal side comes first. Renters who engage with legal aid before their court date get better outcomes than those who don’t.

The single most actionable first step for any Texas renter facing eviction: call 211 (or 877-541-7905) for immediate triage, then contact the regional legal aid provider for your area.

SB 38: What Changed for Texas Evictions on January 1, 2026

Senate Bill 38 overhauled Texas eviction procedures. Every resource on this page is adapting to these changes, and renters need to understand the new rules before walking into court.

First-time grace period. If a tenant has been late on rent only once during the current lease term, the landlord must now issue a “notice to pay rent or vacate” before filing for eviction. This gives the tenant a window to pay and avoid a filing entirely. For tenants with a single late payment who have the funds to catch up, this is a new protection worth knowing about. If the tenant has been late before during the same lease, the grace period doesn’t apply.

21-day appeal limit. Appeals from JP court must now be filed within 21 days of the judgment. The tenant must affirm under penalty of perjury that the appeal is in good faith and not for delay. During the appeal, rent must be paid into the court registry. If no written lease exists, the court sets rent at a minimum of $250/month or fair market value.

Electronic notice delivery. Landlords can now deliver eviction notices electronically if the tenant agreed in writing. Check the lease for any electronic notice provisions. Notices can arrive faster than traditional mail or door delivery under this rule.

Continuance limits. Continuances longer than 7 days now require written consent from both parties. That compresses the preparation window, which makes early contact with legal aid even more important.

Summary disposition for squatters. A new fast-track process lets landlords seek judgment without trial in forcible entry cases (unauthorized occupants, not standard tenant evictions). The occupant has 4 days to respond.

State preemption of local moratoria. Cities and counties can no longer enact local eviction moratoria. Combined with HB 2127’s 2023 preemption of local tenant protection ordinances, eviction law in Texas is now governed entirely at the state level. San Antonio’s Notice of Tenant Rights Ordinance (2020) predates this preemption and remains in effect, but no new local protections can be enacted.

What this means practically: The timeline from notice to vacate through judgment is tighter. The appeal window is shorter. Getting legal aid involved before the court date matters more now than it did before SB 38. TexasLawHelp.org has updated all self-help guides and court forms to reflect these changes.

Statewide Resources That Serve All Five Cities

Several programs serve Texas renters regardless of location. These are often the best starting point because they triage a renter’s situation and route them to the right local provider.

Legal Aid and Referral Services

Three Anchor Organizations That Cover Every Metro

Three federally funded (Legal Services Corporation) organizations divide Texas geographically:

• Lone Star Legal Aid covers Houston and the Gulf Coast (72 counties across eastern Texas)
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid covers San Antonio and Austin (68-county service area)
• Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas covers Dallas and Fort Worth (114 counties in north and west Texas)

Each provides free legal representation in eviction cases for income-eligible renters. Contact the provider serving your county as a first step after calling 211.

Statewide Advocacy Organizations

These provide education, policy work, and know-your-rights resources but not individual legal representation:

Federal Rental Assistance: Mostly Gone

Federal emergency rental assistance has effectively ended. The Texas Rent Relief Program closed in 2023. The ERA2 period of performance ended September 2025. The Texas Eviction Diversion Program is archived. Only scattered local programs remain, and the most notable ones are covered in the city sections below. For most Texas renters in 2026, legal defense is the primary available intervention. Not rental assistance.

Houston (Harris County)

Houston has the most developed eviction defense infrastructure of any Texas city. It also needs it. Harris County recorded over 76,000 eviction filings in 2024, the highest volume in the state.

Primary Legal Aid Providers

Lone Star Legal Aid (713-652-0077 or 361-353-8428) leads the Houston Eviction Defense Coalition and provides full legal representation at eviction dockets across all 16 Harris County JP courts. Staff attorneys appear on-site at hearings. Tenants can call or text “APPLY” to 361-35-EVICT for intake. Eligibility is income-based (generally 125% of the federal poverty level). Lone Star serves 72 counties in eastern and Gulf Coast Texas.

Houston Eviction Advocacy Center (346-771-7260; houstoneac.org), founded by attorney Mark Melton and launched in mid-2025, provides pro bono advice and representation to all Harris County tenants regardless of income. That’s the key difference from income-restricted programs. If a renter doesn’t qualify for Lone Star based on income, HEAC is the alternative.

Harris County Eviction Defense Program (hcd.harriscountytx.gov) provides county-funded free legal advice and direct representation including pre-filing advising, court representation, appeals, and mediation. Eligibility requires household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Originally ARPA-funded, the program expanded with $4 million to cover all 16 JP courts. Current funding status should be verified by calling.

The Eviction Right to Counsel (ER2C) initiative is the closest thing to a public defender model for eviction court in Texas, built around Lone Star Legal Aid’s coalition work.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Attorney Programs

Houston Volunteer Lawyers (713-228-0735) is the pro bono arm of the Houston Bar Association and the largest pro bono legal services provider in Harris County. HVL matches low-income tenants with volunteer attorneys for eviction representation. Online intake is available at legalhelphouston.org.

The Houston Bar Association (713-759-1133; hba.org) maintains a central evictions resources hub. The Houston Lawyer Referral Service (713-237-9429; hlrs.org) provides paid referrals to landlord-tenant attorneys for renters who need representation but don’t qualify for free services.

Law School Clinics

Three law school clinics actively handle eviction defense cases in Harris County:

Court-Based Resources and Mediation

Harris County JP courts in Precincts 1 and 2 run NCSC-funded diversion programs with eviction coordinators who contact tenants before hearings, volunteer lawyer mediation teams, and resource centers. These programs produced a 44% drop in default judgments at one participating court. QR codes posted at all 16 JP courts connect tenants to the Eviction Intervention Program.

The Harris County Dispute Resolution Center (713-755-8274; drc.harriscountytx.gov) offers free mediation for landlord-tenant disputes, mediating over 2,800 disputes annually. Mediation is available before or during the court process and can result in payment plans, move-out agreements, or case dismissals without a judgment on the tenant’s record.

Rental Assistance

The Houston-Harris County Eviction Intervention Program (713-874-6609; houstonharrishelp.org), administered by Catholic Charities, may have limited remaining funds, though availability fluctuates. Texas Housers reported in mid-2025 that “currently there are no major sources of rental assistance for tenants experiencing an eviction” in Harris County. Call to verify current availability before counting on this as a strategy.

Houston Quick Reference

Dallas (Dallas County)

Two primary legal aid providers anchor Dallas County’s eviction defense ecosystem, backed by a growing network of clinics and advocacy organizations.

Primary Legal Aid Providers

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (855-548-8457) operates the dedicated Home Preservation Project for eviction defense. LANWT runs walk-in eviction clinics at four locations:

LANWT provides full legal representation for income-eligible tenants (at or below 200% FPL) and has received over $740,000 in City of Dallas funding for eviction defense through the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (469-436-2704; dallaseac.org), founded by attorney Mark Melton, serves all Dallas County tenants regardless of income, race, immigration status, or native language. DEAC provides both legal advice and full representation, focused exclusively on eviction defense. The no-income-limit model makes it accessible to renters who earn too much for LANWT but can’t afford private attorneys.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Attorney Programs

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (214-243-2236; dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org), jointly operated by the Dallas Bar Association and LANWT, runs virtual clinics every Thursday and multiple in-person neighborhood legal clinics across Dallas County.

Home Point (214-828-4244; homepoint.org), formerly Housing Crisis Center, runs tenant legal workshops every second and fourth Wednesday in partnership with LANWT and DVAP. Home Point provides advice-only services plus emergency rental and utility assistance.

The Dallas Bar Association’s LegalLine (dallasbar.org) offers free 15-minute phone consultations with volunteer attorneys every Wednesday from 4 to 8 PM. A Spanish-language LegalLine operates on select Wednesdays.

Law School Clinics

Court-Based Resources and Mediation

Dallas County’s 10 JP courts provide self-help packets, writs of re-entry and restoration forms, and appeal bond information on their court websites. The Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center (214-653-7898) provides free court-referred mediation with volunteer mediators. If a settlement is reached through mediation, it can prevent a judgment from landing on the tenant’s record.

Rental Assistance

The City of Dallas ERAP portal isn’t currently accepting new applications. Emergency funds are available through:

Dallas Quick Reference

San Antonio (Bexar County)

San Antonio runs the most formalized city-funded Right to Counsel program among the five major Texas metros. Bexar County recorded over 27,000 eviction filings in 2024.

Primary Legal Aid Providers

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (Right to Counsel line: 210-212-3703; central intake: 833-329-8752) is the anchor provider. TRLA provides full legal representation in eviction cases through the city-funded Right to Counsel program, handling everything from pre-filing advice through appeals, mediation, housing discrimination claims, and subsidized housing disputes. A January 2026 KSAT report confirmed the program remains active. Eligibility requires meeting federal income and asset guidelines within TRLA’s 68-county service area.

San Antonio Legal Services Association (210-678-8100; sa-lsa.org) runs the JP1 Eviction Appeal Help Desk on Thursdays at JP Court 1, providing same-day legal advice to eviction defendants. SALSA also operates a walk-in legal assistance clinic at Haven for Hope every Wednesday and runs a Tenants’ Rights Program where volunteer attorneys negotiate with landlords pre-trial to prevent evictions or arrange payment plans. SALSA receives TDHCA funding for eviction prevention legal services.

Law School Clinics

St. Mary’s University School of Law (210-431-2596) operates the most eviction-focused law school program in San Antonio through its Center for Legal and Social Justice. The Consumer Protection Clinic / Housing Rights Project received $690,000 from HUD’s Eviction Protection Grant and provides full legal representation by supervised law students in JP courts and county court appeals.

The school also operates two additional resources:

Court-Based Resources and Mediation

San Antonio’s Notice of Tenant Rights Ordinance (2020) requires landlords to provide a written notice of tenant rights when delivering a notice to vacate for non-payment. This ordinance informs tenants of available resources and their right to remain until a court order is issued. The ordinance predates state preemption and remains in effect.

The Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center (210-335-2128; bexar.org) provides free mediation for landlord-tenant disputes with professionally trained volunteer mediators. JP courts can order cases to mediation, and reaching a mediated agreement avoids a judgment on the tenant’s record.

The San Antonio Bar Association (210-227-8822) operates through its partnership with SALSA and maintains the SALawHelp.org resource hub.

Advocacy Organizations

The Coalition for Tenant Justice (210-201-3563) and Texas Organizing Project lead tenant advocacy efforts in San Antonio. Texas Housers maintains a Bexar County Eviction Dashboard and the San Antonio Renterzine, tracking filing trends and court outcomes.

Rental Assistance

San Antonio has the most notable remaining local rental assistance program among the five metros.

San Antonio Quick Reference

Austin (Travis County)

Austin recorded 13,210 eviction filings in Travis County in 2024. A record high. Through mid-2025, filings were on pace to surpass that record. The city’s primary direct rental assistance program, I Belong in Austin, is closing its application portal in March 2026 and redirecting remaining funds to negotiated eviction settlements through legal partners.

Primary Legal Aid Providers

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (Austin office: 512-374-2700; central intake: 833-329-8752) serves as Austin’s primary legal partner for eviction defense, providing full legal representation for income-eligible tenants. Since December 2022, TRLA has absorbed two major Austin tenant organizations as special projects:

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (512-476-5550 ext. 2; vlsoct.org) runs the Eviction Docket Program, placing teams of volunteer attorneys directly at Travis County JP Court eviction dockets for same-day representation. VLS holds weekly free legal advice clinics at ACC Highland, Austin public libraries, and other community locations, with “Eviction & Other Landlord Issues” listed as a practice area. A dedicated Housing Stability Staff Attorney and Housing Stability Coordinator lead the work.

Austin Community Law Center (austincommunitylawcenter.org) offers sliding-scale legal representation at roughly $300 flat fee for JP court eviction defense. That’s an option for tenants who earn too much for income-based free services but can’t afford full private representation.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Programs

The Austin Bar Association (512-472-0279; austinbar.org) actively recruits pro bono volunteers for eviction cases. The Association of Corporate Counsel Austin Chapter partnered with DLA Piper and Dell Technologies to form an eviction defense task force with VLS.

The Texas Legal Services Center (855-270-7655; tlsc.org) provides statewide eviction help but may prioritize rural counties over Travis County residents. Worth calling, but local TRLA and VLS are more likely to take Travis County cases.

Law School Clinics

The UT Austin School of Law Housing Clinic operates during the spring semester from TRLA offices, with law students representing low-income families in eviction defense, Section 8 terminations, and subsidized housing disputes under faculty supervision. The school’s pro bono program also partners with the Austin Community Law Center on an Eviction Protection Clinic.

Court-Based Resources and Mediation

The Travis County Law Library and Self-Help Center (512-854-8677; lawlibrary.traviscountytx.gov) provides eviction guides, appeal kits, and filing forms for self-represented defendants. This is the primary resource for renters who are representing themselves and need to understand the paperwork.

The Dispute Resolution Center of Travis County (512-371-0033; austindrc.org) handles landlord-tenant mediation with a 75% agreement rate. The Austin Tenants’ Council specifically recommends mediation before pursuing litigation. Travis County JP courts can also refer eviction cases to mediation under local rules. A mediated settlement avoids a judgment on the tenant’s record.

Rental Assistance

The I Belong in Austin program, administered by El Buen Samaritano, distributed over $16 million to 3,100+ households since 2021. With the portal closing, remaining funds are being channeled into legal negotiation rather than direct rental payments. Tenants who contact TRLA or VLS may still benefit from settlement funds even though direct applications aren’t available anymore.

Austin Quick Reference

Fort Worth (Tarrant County)

Fort Worth has the most consolidated eviction defense landscape of the five metros. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is headquartered here and serves as the dominant provider. Fewer specialized eviction-focused organizations operate in Tarrant County compared to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin.

Primary Legal Aid Provider

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (817-336-3943; legalaidtx.org) provides full legal representation in eviction cases for income-eligible residents. LANWT handles wrongful evictions, security deposit disputes, utility cutoffs, wrongful lockouts, retaliation claims, repair-and-remedy actions, and subsidized housing issues. Intake runs Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 to 11 AM and 1:30 to 4 PM. The organization also staffs outreach at JP courts, homeless shelters, food pantries, and libraries across Tarrant County.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Attorney Programs

Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services, a committee of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, operates the LANWT-TVAS Evictions Defense Project, a joint initiative pairing pro bono volunteer attorneys with Legal Aid staff to assist tenants facing imminent eviction. This is the most targeted eviction defense initiative in Tarrant County.

The Tarrant County Bar Association’s LegalLine provides free 15-minute phone consultations on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 5 to 8 PM, covering landlord-tenant issues among other topics. The TCBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service offers $20 consultations with 100+ attorneys.

The Texas Tenants’ Union (214-823-2733; txtenants.org) serves the entire DFW metro area from its Dallas base with free tenants’ rights workshops, though it doesn’t provide legal representation.

Law School Clinics

Texas A&M University School of Law (817-212-4123; law.tamu.edu) runs 14+ clinics from its Fort Worth campus but doesn’t have a dedicated eviction defense clinic. The Community Development Clinic handles affordable housing from a transactional and policy angle. The Civil Rights Clinic may take housing discrimination cases. The Foster Youth Program assists youth ages 14 to 26 with housing concerns. For direct eviction defense representation, LANWT remains the primary provider.

Court-Based Resources and Mediation

Tarrant County’s 8 JP precincts provide self-help information packets including “When an Eviction Case Has Been Filed Against You,” e-filing guides, and appeal information. The Dell DeHay Law Library maintains a comprehensive free and low-cost legal assistance directory.

Tarrant County Dispute Resolution Services (817-884-2257; tarrantcountytx.gov) offers court-ordered or voluntary mediation with fees waivable for indigent parties. Non-eviction JP appeals are more commonly referred to mediation than eviction cases specifically, but the service is available for landlord-tenant disputes.

Rental Assistance

Emergency rental assistance in Tarrant County is limited:

Fort Worth Quick Reference

What Legal Aid Doesn’t Cover: The Housing Search Side

Legal aid addresses the court proceeding. That’s crisis number one. Finding an apartment during or after that proceeding is crisis number two, and it runs on a completely different system.

Even when legal aid produces the best possible outcome (a dismissed case, a negotiated settlement, a vacated judgment), the eviction filing itself sticks on tenant screening databases for up to seven years. Apartment screening software pulls from databases maintained by vendors like LexisNexis, RealPage, and CoreLogic. If an eviction record appears, the application gets flagged and declined at roughly 85 to 90% of Texas apartment communities before a human looks at the file.

That’s the gap between the legal system and the housing market. A renter can win in court and still hit screening barriers at the application counter. A dismissed case is a much better screening profile than a judgment. But “dismissed” doesn’t mean “invisible” to the screening software.

Roughly 95% of the time, when an eviction, broken lease, or property debt shows up on a screening report, a third-party bonding service is required to secure approval. The bond insures the apartment community against financial risk (up to 3 months of lost rent if the tenant defaults during the lease term) and typically costs one month’s rent. Communities across all property classes in Texas work with the bonding service.

StopTXEviction.org exists to handle this second crisis. The service screens each renter’s eviction profile against community-specific policies and matches to apartments with compatible screening criteria, so renters stop burning $50 to $75 per application at communities that auto-decline their profile before a human reviews the file. A full breakdown of the process is available in the guide to renting an apartment in Texas with an eviction.

Fill out the free screening form to get matched to communities that fit your specific eviction profile. Or call 1-877-595-8745.

The service is free. Communities pay a referral fee from their marketing budget when the renter selects “Apartment Locator” on the application and lists Spirit Real Estate as the referring source. The renter’s rent, deposit, and move-in costs are the same as what they’d pay applying independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first if I’m facing an eviction right now?

Two parallel tracks. For the legal side: call 211 for triage, then contact the regional legal aid provider. Lone Star Legal Aid for Houston, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas for Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for San Antonio and Austin. Get in touch before the court date. For the housing side: fill out the screening form at StopTXEviction.org so the team can identify communities with compatible screening criteria before application fees start stacking up.

Do I have to qualify based on income to get free legal help?

Most legal aid providers are income-restricted (125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, depending on the organization). Two notable exceptions: the Houston Eviction Advocacy Center (346-771-7260) and the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (469-436-2704) both serve all tenants regardless of income. Austin Community Law Center offers sliding-scale representation at roughly $300 for JP court defense. The State Bar Lawyer Referral Service provides $20 attorney consultations at 800-252-9690.

Can a dismissed eviction still affect my apartment search?

Yes. The filing record sticks on screening databases even when the case is dismissed. A dismissed case creates a much better screening profile than a judgment, and some communities treat dismissed filings differently. But the record remains visible to screening software for up to seven years regardless of outcome.

How long does an eviction stay on my record in Texas?

Eviction filings can remain on tenant screening databases for up to seven years regardless of case outcome. For a detailed breakdown of exactly when an eviction appears on a screening report, the timeline starts earlier than most renters expect. Texas doesn’t have a broad eviction record sealing or expungement statute for civil cases. Some dismissed cases may be eligible for removal through a motion to the court, but success varies by judge and circumstances. The Fair Credit Reporting Act lets renters dispute inaccurate screening information through the CFPB’s tenant background check resources or through LexisNexis consumer disclosure.

What changed under SB 38 that I need to know about?

The biggest changes: a first-time grace period (if a tenant has only been late once during the lease, the landlord must give a chance to pay before filing), a 21-day appeal limit (down from the prior window), electronic notice delivery (if agreed in writing), and continuance limits (both parties must consent to delays over 7 days). TexasLawHelp.org has updated all court forms and self-help guides.

Does paying off property debt from an eviction fix the screening issue?

Paying off the debt improves the screening profile and may open in-house approval options at some apartment communities when the debt is under $1,000, credit sits above 600, and income meets 3x rent. But the eviction filing or judgment stays on the screening report regardless of debt status. A deeper look at what happens after paying off eviction debt covers the distinction between clearing the balance and clearing the record. The debt should be resolved for financial and credit reasons. It doesn’t erase the eviction record.

Is mediation a good option if I’m facing eviction?

Mediation can be a strong option. Every major Texas metro has a dispute resolution center offering free or low-cost mediation for landlord-tenant disputes. The key advantage: if a mediated agreement is reached, it can prevent a judgment from showing up on the tenant’s screening record. The Travis County Dispute Resolution Center reports a 75% agreement rate. Harris County mediates over 2,800 disputes annually. Ask the legal aid provider or the court about mediation options before the hearing.

How much does it cost to rent an apartment with an eviction on my record?

Total move-in cost depends on the community’s deposit policy and when in the month the lease starts. It typically includes first month’s rent (which may be prorated if moving in mid-month), the third-party guarantee fee (typically one month’s rent), application and admin fees, and a security deposit that varies by community. Some communities require no increase to their standard deposit when the guarantee is in place. Others may charge 1.5x to 2x the standard amount. It’s property-specific. On a $1,300/month apartment, total move-in can range from under $3,000 with a prorated start and standard deposit to around $4,925 on the high end. The guarantee fee can sometimes be split over 5 to 6 months at roughly $180 to $240/month. For a full timeline breakdown, see how long after an eviction you can rent again in Texas.

Is the apartment locating service really free?

Yes. StopTXEviction.org is a licensed apartment locating service. After matching to a community, renters select “Apartment Locator” on their application and list Spirit Real Estate as the referring source. The community pays a referral fee from their marketing budget. The renter’s rent, deposit, and move-in costs are identical to what they’d pay applying on their own. Licensed under Spirit Real Estate Group (TX Broker License #562021).

Take Both Steps: Legal Defense and Housing Access

The court process and the apartment search run on parallel tracks. Legal aid handles one. Screening expertise handles the other. Waiting until the legal process wraps up before starting the housing search burns time that renters in urgent situations don’t have.

For legal defense: Call 211, then contact your regional legal aid provider before your court date.

For housing access: Fill out the free screening form at StopTXEviction.org or call 1-877-595-8745.

This page provides informational content about eviction processes and legal aid resources. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal questions specific to any individual situation. Legal aid resource information is current as of early 2026; contact organizations directly to confirm availability, eligibility, and current funding status.

Screening criteria vary by community and change over time. The thresholds discussed on this page reflect general patterns across Texas apartment communities and should be verified directly with any property before applying.