Ease The Burden

Handy list of COVID-19 financial assistance for Houston residents and businesses

Local groups and organizations are here to help Houstonians during trying these trying times.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The coronavirus is causing massive layoffs and widespread furloughs around Houston, and it feels like there may be more to come. Fortunately, a number of local, state, and national agencies are offering some financial relief. And remember in Houston, 2-1-1 is a tool available for community resources and information regarding food, housing, healthcare, and more.

Here are some options to get through these tough times.

Jobs and meals
Workforce Solutions has a plentiful job listings page for Harris and the surrounding 12 counties. They also offer career services and resources to find for child care.

WorkinTexas.com has updated job openings that you can search by city, state, or county. Other tools include a resume builder, career services, and job training services.

Houston Food Bank has pantries all over the city and nearby areas, including Burleson, Trinity, and Chambers County, with many still operating to serve the communities. If you're in need of food, call 832-369-9390.

Montgomery County Food Bank has continued to operate as normal and has mobile markets and pantry services available. Check the calendar here or call 936-271-8800.

Industry-specific
Houston Arts Alliance has a list of grants and relief available to a wide variety of artists, including writers, musicians, and actors. Some have application deadlines, but many are ongoing and you can apply at any time.

Southern Smoke Foundation funds out-of-work employees from the food and beverage industry through an application process. The money can go toward medical bills, family support, healthcare, or any other pressing needs.

Car
State car fees have been put on hold. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing extensions on registration, renewals, and vehicle titling. There's no end date on this temporary waiver; the DMV says it'll be in effect for at least 60 days.

Auto insurance companies are pausing payments or extending payment deadlines including Geico, which is offering flexible payment plans, and Allstate, which is allowing deferred payment plans that let you go two billing cycles of nonpayment with no penalty.

Rent/mortgage
Gulf Coast Community Services Association has help for Harris County renters who have a vacate notice. The site also has food, utilities, and transportation assistance.

West Houston Assistance Ministries is available to help with the cost of rent, mortgage, or utilities for residents in these zip codes: 77042, 77057, 77063, 77077, 77082. For an interview, call 713-780-2727 ext 200, Monday-Thursday. The nonprofit also offers job and food assistance.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has suspended evictions and foreclosures on any mortgages through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some private lenders are also offering grace periods, including Chase Bank which has a payment assistance program here or call 1-800-848-9136; and Wells Fargo, which is offering a three-month payment suspension with an option to extend for an additional three months, with no late fees.

Healthcare
Harris County Public Health has a COVID-19 self assessment tool to help you learn whether you need testing and should see a doctor. If you don't have healthcare access, the Harris Health Ask My Nurse line can help with any inquiries related to COVID-19. It's open seven days a week from 9 am-7 pm. The number is 713-634-1110.

HOPE Clinic offers a range of healthcare services for the uninsured and under-insured across the Houston area. The clinic can accommodate services in 30 different languages including Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, and Spanish. Please note that it does not offer COVID-19 testing. Call 713-773-0803.

Small businesses
The newly enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has a variety of programs for small businesses including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which has grants of up to $10,000. Lenders are anticipating delays since they're still awaiting guidelines.

The Small Business Administration has a page dedicated to coronavirus relief options that include low-interest loans and disaster relief.

Taxes
The IRS has extended tax day, which means you don't have to file until July 15, free of interest and penalties.

Unemployment
Some workers qualify for state unemployment benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission. The site has been slow due to a surge in applications, but the organization is waiving the normal waiting period; once you apply, you get your first check in about a month.

Stimulus
As you probably know, taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 are due to receive a check of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples, and up to $500 for each qualifying child. The payments decrease if you make more than $75,000, or more than $150,000 as a household, so check the site to see how much you qualify for.

Student loans
Federal student loan payments have been placed on hold until September 30. U.S. Department of Education Select loans will carry zero percent interest rate.

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Pestilence News

New invasive pest threatens farms and pastures in greater Houston

TAMU

Mealyworm is small but damaging.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

Mealybug history
Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

MealybugTAMU

Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

“This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

A problem for Houston
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

Symptoms:

Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
Purpling or reddening of foliage
Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
Poorly developed root systems
Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens

How to spot it

Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

“Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

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