Harris County Commissioners Court has approved full funding for a justice of the peace program that connects tenants facing eviction with rental assistance, and the program is expanding to a third court, ABC13 reported Tuesday. It had previously run in part on grant money.
The program operates inside justice of the peace courts, where eviction cases are heard. Court staff meet tenants at the courthouse, screen them for rental assistance and help them work through the hearing rather than simply defaulting. Loreta Kovacic, the eviction diversion coordinator in Precinct 2, Place 1, told the station that “if you show up, you have a chance.”
Who Qualifies
ABC13 reports the screening looks at whether a tenant is no more than three months behind on rent, has not received rental assistance in the past year, and can show a plan to get back to self-sufficiency. Assistance amounts vary by case.
Scale of the Problem
A Rice University report cited by the station counted more than 75,000 eviction filings across Harris County in 2025.
Where It Runs
The courts named in the report are in Precinct 7 and Precinct 2, with a third court being added. Those are not the justice courts that serve the Lake Houston area, so the program is not currently available at the courthouse most Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita and Huffman residents would be summoned to. It is funded countywide by Harris County Commissioners Court.
