TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — While it’s anticipated that many Texans will receive $600 as part of the recently passed COVID-19 stimulus package, realistically that’s not enough to cover a month of rent or a mortgage payment for most people in Central Texas.

It will take several months for the COVID-19 vaccines to become widely available in the state and the situation in Austin-Travis County is worsening, with hospitalizations pushing the region to the threshold for a transition to Stage 5 of Austin Public Health’s color-coded chart of COVID-19 guidelines.

With that in mind Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown have extended eviction protections until February 1, 2021.

Brown Saturday tweeted, “This week, I signed an order to extend measures to protect tenants from evictions until Feb 1. For the first time in Travis County, this order extends protection to not only residential tenants, but also bars, restaurants, music venues, & childcare centers.”

It’s important to note that the order does not forgive debt such as past due rent but will buy people more time with which to pay it.

For more information on the process, click here.