Ask at your local garden center if there is a shade tolerant native grass that they recommend. Fall or spring may be good times to plant, depending on your climate. In the meantime, try shredded bark in small areas near the house to reduce dust.

Wildflowers are also an option. Wildflower seed is not cheap but reward is great if the yard has few weed seeds to compete.

@apple_pie_order is on the right track: consult with a local garden center for shade loving ground cover, and ideally one native to your area. It looks like you may also need to till & replenish that soil with some bio mass and nutrients, it looks pretty hard and tapped out.

HI -- This time of year best you can do now is ECO-Grass - also known as No-Mow grass -- the soil doesn't have to be that great , it's drought tolerant , shade tolerant and you don't need to mow it ,if you don't want to. Also clover seeds -- spread liberally and this will probably be the cheapest to do. There are also a lot more ground covers you could plant before end of season . Check with your local garden center for these items and other options to plant now.