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State assistance programs, checked against official sources

Try a program (“LIHEAP”), a state (“Ohio child care”) or an agency (“TDHCA”).

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Texas assistance programs

Written by Editorial team Checked against 7 Texas agencies Last reviewed How we review

In Texas, seven state bodies hand out the federal and state money covered on this site, and they rarely share a front door: housing and energy help runs through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), cash assistance through the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and child care and job training through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and its 28 local boards.

Most help is not applied for at a state office. Homebuyer assistance comes through approved mortgage lenders, energy assistance through local community action agencies that cover all 254 counties, and child care subsidies through local Workforce Solutions offices. The state agencies set the rules and publish the limits; the local partner takes your application.

Texas runs two homebuyer agencies side by side: TDHCA (My First Texas Home, My Choice Texas Home) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (Homes for Texas Heroes, Home Sweet Texas). The Texas homebuyer guide compares them.

For cash assistance, SNAP and Medicaid, one application at YourTexasBenefits.com covers all three. Calling 2-1-1 connects you to Texas Information and Referral Network specialists who can point to local help.

TX

Texas at a glance

Who runs each kind of help

Homebuyer grants, Energy assistance
TDHCA
Homebuyer grants
TSAHC
Cash assistance
HHSC
Childcare help, Student grants, Business grants, Cash assistance
TWC
Student grants
THECB
Childcare help
TEA
Benefits portal
YourTexasBenefits.com

Six kinds of help in Texas

Texas assistance by category, with the main program and our guide
CategoryMain programKey figureReviewed
First-Time Homebuyer Grants My First Texas Home Up to 5% of the loanMaximum assistance
Small Business Grants Skills for Small Business Up to $2,000 per new employee trainedKey figure
Energy and Utility Assistance Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) $49,500 a yearIncome limit (household of 4)
Cash Assistance Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) $388 a monthMaximum monthly benefit (family of 3)
Childcare Assistance Child Care Services (CCS) $6,678 a monthEntry income limit (family of 3)
Student and Vocational Grants TEXAS Grant $16,197 a year (up to $5,399 a semester)Maximum state grant

Texas agencies

Key figures

Up to 5% Down payment help from TDHCA

My First Texas Home pays 2% to 5% of the loan through approved lenders, as a 30-year deferred loan or a loan forgiven after 3 years. Details.

$49,500 Energy help limit, household of 4

CEAP utility assistance uses 150% of the 2026 poverty guidelines, and SNAP, TANF or SSI households qualify automatically. Details.

$388 Monthly TANF, parent and two children

The maximum grant from October 1, 2026, under the Texas Works Handbook; One-Time TANF pays $1,000 instead. Details.

Other states

All states
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Neighboring states: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Programs stop at the state line: you apply in the state where you live (or, for homebuyer help, where you buy).

  • Texas, this page
  • State guides published
  • Coverage in progress