UPDATE: Hurricane Harvey Recovery Programs

TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE

Community Development & Revitalization

CDBG-DR

George P. Bush, Commissioner

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 31, 2018

THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:

Commissioner Bush Calls For Funding Flexibility to Improve Recovery Efforts
Hurricane Harvey Recovery Programs
Homeowner Assistance Program Update
Local Buyout and Acquisition Program Update
Commissioner Bush Sends Harris County and Houston Local Plans for Hurricane Harvey Housing Recovery Funds to HUD for Approval
Statewide Recovery Efforts
Be Prepared! Tornado Season
Recovery Updates by County

"We work to rebuild communities, to put Texans back

in their homes, and to help businesses recover

after the trauma of disaster."

George P. Bush

COMMISSIONER BUSH CALLS FOR FUNDING

FLEXIBILITY TO IMPROVE RECOVERY EFFORTS:

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced he sent a letter to the Texas Congressional Delegation requesting support for his request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for greater flexibility in the rules governing $4.383 billion in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocation for mitigation.

"We must be bold in our efforts to recover responsibly," said Commissioner Bush. "Innovation, preparedness and mitigation are the best remedies to address the threats posed by natural disasters. These recommendations will not only help the residents of the Texas coast, but will reduce future federal costs. I encourage those who want a fiscally conservative and smart approach to disaster recovery to express your support for these requests to Secretary Carson and HUD, who can make these sensible recommendations become a reality."

Commissioner Bush petitioned HUD for maximum flexibility which includes several waivers and rules in the upcoming publication of the Federal Register governing the next $4.383 billion CDBG-DR funds coming to Texas . These requests include removing the need for a "tie-back" to a specific event allowing local officials to determine the most effective uses of mitigation funds to protect the whole region from future events.

To read the full story, click the following link:

http://www.glo.texas.gov/the-glo/news/press-releases/2018/october/cmr-george-p-bush-calls-on-texas-congressional-delegation-to-support-request-for-mitigation-funding-flexibility-to-improve-recovery-efforts.html

HURRICANE HARVEY RECOVERY PROGRAMS:

HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UPDATE:

The GLO will begin taking applications for the

Homeowner Assistance Program in late November.

The GLO allocated $1.098 billion of the total $5.024 billion allocation of Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Homeowner Assistance Program for rehabilitation and reconstruction of owner-occupied single-family homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey outside of the City of Houston and Harris County.

For implementation of this program across 48 eligible counties, the GLO divided the program in to six regions.

Each region was apportioned an allocation of the available funds and conducted an ongoing Regional Needs Assessment to determine need by income category and other local factors, to inform how outreach should be targeted to direct funds within impacted areas.

All six draft Regional Housing Guidelines for the Homeowner Assistance Program have

been posted for a federally mandated 30-day public comment period .

Each of the Regional Housing Guidelines will be posted for public review and comment on the GLO's website for 30 days from posting until

NOVEMBER 18, 2018 .

*All comments should be submitted to

[email protected] .

HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HAP) REGIONS:

Central/Golden Crescent Region ($116,828,970):

Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Madison, Milam, Victoria, Washington

Coastal Bend Region ($121,608,469):

Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio

South East Texas Region ($205,019,250):

Hardin, Jefferson, Orange

HGAC-W/Lower Colorado Region ($218,621,431):

Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Waller, Wharton

HGAC-E/Gulf Coast Region ($258,049,169):

Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, Walker

Deep East Texas Region ($127,884,027):

Jasper, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Tyler

HAP RESOURCES:

Public notices for disaster recovery are found at

http://recovery.texas.gov/public-notices/index.html

LOCAL BUYOUTS AND ACQUISITIONS PROGRAM:

The Local Buyout and Acquisition Program will provide $275 million to remove homes from harm’s way. These funds were distributed based on Methods of Distribution (MOD) developed by the Regional Councils of Government. Local government entities may select between the two programs based on the specific needs of their communities.

Alamo COG: $4,152,165
Brazos Valley COG: $5,840,778
Capitol Area COG: $12,929,474
Coastal Bend COG: $34,375,695
Central Texas COG: $1,384,055
Deep East Texas COG: $35,867,032
Golden Crescent RPC: $18,430,647
Houston-Galveston Area Council: $110,953,432
South East Texas RPC: $51,687,614

*The city of Houston and Harris County will develop their own

programs through their direct allocation.

The GLO has requested communities let us know by NOVEMBER 30, 2018

if they plan to use the funds. Application deadline is JANUARY 31, 2019 .

LOCAL BUYOUT AND ACQUISITION RESOURCES:

COMMISSIONER BUSH SENDS HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON LOCAL PLANS FOR HURRICANE HARVEY HOUSING RECOVERY FUNDS TO HUD FOR APPROVAL:

Local plans, comments, and responses included as

Amendment 1 to the State Action Plan

Cmr. Bush sends Harris County and Houston Local Plans...

George P. Bush submitted Amendment 1 to the State Action Plan for Hurricane Harvey recovery, which includes local plans detailing the distribution and eligible uses of $2.3 billion in direct allocations for Harris County & the City of Houston to HUD

Read more
www.glo.texas.gov

STATEWIDE RECOVERY EFFORTS:

This week, GLO recovery teams hosted Homeowner Assistance Program meetings for caseworkers, elected officials and non-profit groups in Victoria, Rockport, and Corpus Christi. Teams are preparing for the application process to help Texans rebuild their homes.

GLO recovery team members are kicking off the first of many grant manager workshops in preparation for the upcoming Hurricane Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program

application release in late November. Helping Texans rebuild their homes!

*THE GLO IS HOLDING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS ACROSS THE IMPACTED

AREA IN NOVEMBER FOR THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM!

Hurricane recovery staff speaking at the American Planning Association Texas Chapter's # APATX18 Conference on Hurricane Harvey lessons learned and the Texas at Risk Report. http://www.recovery.texas.gov/texasatrisk

GLO Community Development and Revitalization Sr. Deputy Director Pete Phillips addressed the 96th Annual County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Conference.

BE PREPARED!

Tornadoes can happen anywhere at any time. Know the signs, sign up for your community warning system, pay attention to the weather and practice your severe weather plan with your family.