HOUSTON – Starting Monday, Houston homeowners impacted by two major natural disasters will be able to apply for federal aid through new city-managed programs.
More than $40 million will go toward helping homeowners still recovering from the 2021 winter storm, while $18 million will support first-time homebuyers who lived in Houston during Hurricane Harvey.
$40M Winter Storm Home Repair Program Begins June 30
Homeowners affected by the February 2021 winter storm can apply for help through the city’s Winter Storm Home Repair Program. The program offers two pathways based on a homeowner’s situation and includes a structured priority system to determine when applications will be processed.
Pathway I: Reimbursement for Repairs
For homeowners who already made repairs and are seeking to be reimbursed (up to $10,000).
Pathway II: Rehab or Reconstruction
For those who could not afford to fully repair their homes and need more substantial work including up to $300,000 in funding.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at deferred maintenance items as well,” said Cedrick LaSane, the assistant director at the Housing and Community Development Department. “They’ve had roof damage from a pipe burst that a bone shingles out or, you know, or have caused a lot of sheetrock damage in the home. So, we are going to correct deferred maintenance items and bring the house up to code.”
Priority Classification for Both Pathways
All applicants will be assigned a priority phase based on income and household status. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, but elderly and disabled residents will be prioritized, Lasane said.
Pathway I – Reimbursement:
- Phase 1 – Elderly or disabled, household at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)
- Phase 2 – Households at or below 80% AMI
- Phase 3 – Households at or below 120% AMI
Pathway II – Rehab or Reconstruction:
- Phase 1 – Elderly or disabled, household at or below 80% AMI
- Phase 2 – Households at or below 80% AMI
“Because of the winter storm, resilience is a component that’s required by HUD. And as part of that resilience, we’re going to be offering some components such as either solar panels or even generators as part of that reconstruct or rehab,” LaSane told KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun.
What You’ll Need to Apply
For Reimbursement:
- Insurance claims
- Contractor invoices
- Receipts or out-of-pocket proof (such as bank records or check images)
For Rehab/Reconstruction:
- Property title
- Proof of winter storm-related damages
- Income documentation confirming low- to moderate-income status
Applications can be submitted electronically and in-person at:2100 Travis St., 9th Floor, Houston, TX
A Resource Fair will also be held on July 12 at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center for in-person help.
$18M Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program Relaunches
At the same time, the city is relaunching its Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program 2.0, aimed at helping first-time homebuyers who lived in Houston during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The program will provide up to $125,000 to assist with:
- Down payments
- Closing costs
- Interest rate reduction
- Principal reduction
“I think it’s gonna be a game changer in this market, especially with rising construction costs. It opens the door for a lot of homebuyers that may have been locked out of the process right now,” LaSane said.
Harvey Program Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must prove they lived in Houston at the time of Hurricane Harvey. The city will verify this using:
- Tax returns
- Utility bills
- Driver’s licenses (with issue dates showing pre-Harvey residence)
The program is limited to low- to moderate-income buyers purchasing within Houston city limits.
Applications for both programs open Monday, June 30 at 8 a.m.
