The city approved a program to repair and reconstruct single-family homes affected by Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho. Eligible households could receive up to $100,000 for repairs or up to $300,000 for reconstruction.
Houston approved a $45 million program to repair and rebuild single-family homes damaged by Hurricane Beryl and the derecho-type wind event that affected the city in 2024.
The guidelines approved this Wednesday, July 8, establish that households with incomes equal to or less than 80% of the area’s median income may apply for assistance. The program contemplates up to $100,000 for repairs and up to $300,000 for home reconstruction.
The program will cover damages from the derecho and Hurricane Beryl
Houston’s Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the recovery program for single-family homes.
The derecho of 2024 was described by the department as the most damaging wind event Houston has faced in almost 25 years. Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane and caused dangerous flooding, as well as damage to homes, infrastructure and businesses.
The approval comes two years after the storms and is part of the recovery process funded with federal resources.
Eligible homes could receive up to $300,000
Assistance to repair homes in Houston will be available to owners who meet the income limits established by the program.
Qualified households could receive up to $100,000 if the dwelling requires repairs. In cases of reconstruction, the maximum amount would be up to $300,000.
Houston’s Housing Director, Mike Nichols, said applications are expected to open in early August. The city has not yet published an exact opening date.
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The money is part of HUD federal funds
The $45 million of the program comes from a federal allocation of $315 million granted to Houston by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after the storms of 2024.
The initial plan of Mayor John Whitmire did not allocate HUD funds to housing. After pressure from residents, housing advocates, and Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas, president of the City Council’s Housing Committee, the city raised the housing allocation to $100 million.
That amount includes the program for single-family housing and a separate initiative for multifamily properties.
The need to repair homes and structures exceeds the approved funds
Although the program opens a path of assistance for affected families, the damages estimated exceed the approved amount.
HUD estimated in 2024 that Houston faced $229 million in needs for repair, reconstruction, and housing-related property losses. The agency also identified nearly 4,000 households with severe housing needs that remained uncovered.
If the $45 million were used solely for complete reconstructions of $300,000, fewer than 200 households could receive assistance under the new program.
Councilmember Julian Ramirez delayed the vote last week and said this Wednesday that the city should seek greater reach with the available funds. Still, he voted in favor of the program.
Other funds will be used for generators and debris removal
The federal allocation of $315 million will not be devoted solely to housing repairs.
Part of the money will also fund investments in backup generators for city facilities, debris removal operations, and the new homeless services center.
The city has presented these programs as part of the recovery following the derecho and Hurricane Beryl, which left widespread damage across various sectors of Houston.
Applications to repair homes would open in early August
The Department of Housing and Community Development of Houston will be responsible for administering the program and processing applications.
Nichols indicated that the opening is anticipated for early August. As of this Wednesday, the city had not published the exact date, the application portal, or the full schedule for distributing assistance.
