Facing Eviction in Tarrant County? Here's How to Get Help
If you're behind on rent, have received a notice to vacate, or have already lost housing in Tarrant County, there's a coordinated system of programs designed to help — ranging from one-time emergency rental assistance to longer-term rehousing support. This page explains how that system works and where to start.
Your First Step: Housing Crisis Screening
The fastest way to connect with available resources in Tarrant County is through the online Housing Crisis Screening at https://partnershiphome.org/help/. The screening walks you through your situation and connects you to the programs and services that may apply — shelter, rent help, legal resources, and more.
If you live outside the city limits of Fort Worth, Arlington, or Grand Prairie, and you have a notice to vacate or an eviction letter and low income, you may also be eligible to apply directly for Tarrant County's ESG-funded prevention assistance. Details and the application form are available through the county's Community Development and Housing Department. Dial 2-1-1 at any time for free, 24/7 referrals to local programs — 211 Texas is available by phone and at 211texas.org.
Who Runs the System
The Tarrant County Continuum of Care (CoC TX-601) is the federally recognized structure through which homeless assistance funding is coordinated across Tarrant and Parker Counties. The CoC's lead agency is Partnership Home. Partnership Home doesn't provide direct services to individuals but oversees the coordinated entry system, manages the HMIS data system used across all providers, and coordinates the community-wide response to homelessness.
Think of Partnership Home as the hub that keeps all the spokes — the shelters, rapid rehousing providers, prevention agencies, and outreach teams — working together. You don't call Partnership Home to get help; you use the housing crisis screening tool at their website, which routes you to the right provider.
What "Coordinated Entry" Means for You
When you complete a housing crisis screening, a trained housing assessor evaluates your situation using a standardized tool. This isn't a first-come, first-served process. The system prioritizes people based on vulnerability and how severe their housing crisis is. That means a family that's been sleeping in a car will generally be prioritized over a household that has a notice but stable income — but it also means that reaching out early, before your situation hits rock bottom, gives you more options.
Assessment sites are located across the county, and assessments can also be conducted at shelter access points and community hub locations. Call ahead to confirm current availability at the site nearest you.
Homelessness Prevention: Emergency Rental Help
If you still have housing but are at risk of losing it, homelessness prevention programs can provide one-time financial help to cover overdue rent, utility arrears, or other specific costs that are putting your housing at risk. Tarrant County's ESG-funded prevention program is specifically for residents living outside of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie — those three cities run their own prevention programs separately.
To qualify for county-administered prevention funds: you must have low income, have received a notice to vacate or eviction documentation, and be able to show you can cover future rent once the emergency is resolved. Landlord participation is also required — the landlord must agree to accept payment and halt the eviction process. In addition to the county funds, if you want other options, see rent assistance programs in Tarrant County.
For Fort Worth residents specifically, the City of Fort Worth administers its own ESG homelessness prevention funds. Contact the City's Neighborhood Services Department for current program availability.
External Resources: Tarrant County ESG program details are available at https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/community-development-and-housing-department/programs/emergency-solutions-grant-program.html. For the full network of current CoC-funded service providers, visit partnershiphome.org.
Rapid Rehousing: Getting Into a New Home Quickly
For households that have already lost housing, rapid rehousing is the primary tool. A rapid rehousing program provides short- to medium-term rental subsidies — the program pays part or all of your rent for a set period — combined with a housing specialist who helps you locate a unit and negotiate with landlords, plus case management to stabilize your situation once you're housed.
The goal is permanent housing in the private market as fast as possible, rather than extended shelter stays. Access to rapid rehousing programs in Tarrant County runs through the coordinated entry system — start with the housing crisis screening at https://partnershiphome.org/help/.
Legal Help and Tenant Rights
A notice to vacate is not the same as a court-ordered eviction. Texas law requires a formal court process before a landlord can remove a tenant, and a tenant who shows up in court with documentation and a plan often has more options than they realize. Several legal aid organizations serve Tarrant County renters, including
A Note on City-Specific Resources
Because Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie each administer their own federal CDBG and ESG funds separately from the county, residents of those cities should contact their respective city housing or community services departments in addition to the county system. The coordinated entry system through Partnership Home applies countywide, but the funding pools differ by jurisdiction..
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