Texas GLO Releases State Action Plan For Use Of $5B In Federal HUD Hurricane Harvey Grants

These include $1.048 billion for the Single Family Homeowner Assistance to rehabilitate, rebuild and participate in a government buyout of their homes; $100 million for the Homeowner Reimbursement program…

The General Land Office (GLO) has released a State Action Plan that outlines how the $5.024 billion in disaster funding, that was announced in November 2017, is distributed and used by the 49 counties affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The action plan was revised following a meeting with representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD), the GLO and representatives from Harris County and Houston. 

Changes to the plan will permit both Harris County and Houston to receive federal disaster funding approved in 2017, with Harris County to receive $1.115 billion and Houston to receive $1.155 billion from the funding. Included in the HUD guidelines is a requirement that 80 percent of the total funds be used in counties most impacted by the hurricane.

These counties are Harris, Jefferson, Orange, Galveston, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, Liberty, Hardin, Chambers, Aransas, Wharton, San Patricio, San Jacinto, Nueces and Victoria. The areas for funding also include 11 zip codes.

The plan also allows the GLO to oversee distribution and eligibility for several programs.

These include $1.048 billion for the Single Family Homeowner Assistance to rehabilitate, rebuild and participate in a government buyout of their homes; $100 million for the Homeowner Reimbursement program; $50 million for Homelessness Prevention; and, $250 million for Affordable Rental to allow for rehabilitation, reconstruction and new construction of affordable housing in affected areas.

The GLO also will oversee the $413 million for local infrastructure; $100 million for economic revitalization and $137 million for local, regional and state planning.

Business owners and small businesses in Harris County and Houston also will be allowed to apply for this disaster fund. The action plan is located here.

This story originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.