City Opens Recovery Centers to Provide Federal Aid for Repair of Homes Damaged by Hurricane Harvey
January 15, 2019 — The City has taken a critical step forward with the opening of four Housing Resource Centers, one in each quadrant of the city, to use $1.17 billion in federal aid to assist Houstonians whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
Anyone who may be eligible must first complete a survey:
Mobile outreach teams are also available to serve home-bound residents and others.
Please see the info flyer.
Mayor Sylvester Turner opened the Northeast center on Monday, encouraging community members to be ambassadors for the recovery effort to ensure that no eligible homeowner is left out.
The mayor told people in the packed room, “Our goal is to reach and serve as many of the affected homeowners as possible, especially those who are hardest to reach – our disadvantaged, senior citizens, those with limited English proficiency and those with special needs. We will not leave anyone behind.”
On the importance of taking the Harvey Recovery Survey, the mayor continued, “No one wants another delay in the process. The survey will help us understand each homeowner’s situation better and determine which program they may be eligible for.”
Tom McCasland, director of the City Housing and Community Development Department, emphasized that the City has moved quickly to ensure recovery was launched as soon as federal funds became available. McCasland said, “The contract for the money was signed on the 4th, today is the 14th – it’s ten days later and we’re rolling out programs.”
The City will receive the $1.17 billion for housing recovery through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Texas General Land Office.
The recovery funds include the Homeowner Assistance Program, which offers five program options including: 1) reimbursement for completed repairs, 2) homeowner-managed rehabilitation, 3) city-managed rehabilitation and reconstruction, 4) buyouts, and 5) interim mortgage assistance.
While priority will be given to low- and moderate-income homeowners, assistance is available to homeowners of all income levels.
To schedule a mobile outreach team, or for any additional information, please visit https://houstontx.gov/hcdrecovery or call the Harvey recovery hotline number 832-393-0550, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Housing Resource Centers hours of operation are:
- Mondays – Tuesdays, 9 am – 6 pm
- Wednesdays – Thursdays, 10 am – 8 pm
- Fridays, 9 am – 6 pm
- Saturdays, 9 am – 3 pm
Contact:
Alan Bernstein
Communications Director
Office: 832.393.0800
Mobile: 832.943.9835
Brittany.Hyman@houstontx.gov
