The U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) gave Houston and Harris County each over a billion dollars to help repair and build homes for Hurricane Harvey victims. The Texas General Land Office announced the grants Monday. However, it could be November before the city of Houston spends a dime.
HUD awarded the state of Texas $5 billion overall for long-term disaster recovery separate from aid coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The HUD money is for home reconstruction, buyouts, repair reimbursements and help with utility and rent. Unlike FEMA money, the HUD community development grant is supposed to buy permanent, affordable home for working families struggling.
“They’re school teachers, they’re nurses, they’re first-year firefighters and police officers,” Tom McCasland, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Houston. “We are looking at making sure people can afford a home.”
Of those stranded for weeks after Hurricane Harvey inside the George R. Brown Convention Center emergency shelter, 33 landed new apartments through New Hope Harrisburg, according to the city housing department. Haydn Johnson lost all of his belongings and wants little more than a job to buy his own place. However, he’s skeptical of HUD’s promise.
“Hopefully it helps,” he said. “Hopefully (the city housing department) stands by their word.”
Charles London is a skeptic too. Floodwater shifted the foundation and wrecked the inside of his place in Kashmere Gardens. The house and $5,000 check from FEMA to fix things are in his mother’s name. However, she died before the storm along with his wife and brother. London cannot afford repairs or empty promises.
“(The HUD money) sounds good but I (have) to see it,” London said. “You can say what you want to say but until I see it I believe it.”
Harris County and Houston each get more than $1.1 billion. Over the next 60 to 90 days, staff will meet with those who need it most then decide who gets what in the fall.
“This isn’t go up and slap some paint on a home and just get it livable,” McCasland said. “It’s really making sure that it’s a home that someone can live in for the future and is sustainable for them.”
McCasland sees a chance to help victim to get ahead.
“So that people are beginning to build wealth in their household and are bouncing forward, as the mayor says, as opposed to just recovering from Harvey,” he said.