HCD PROVIDES PERMANENT ROOF REPAIR IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IKE City of Houston Housing & Community Development Department Assists Homeowners With Hurricane Ike Recovery Efforts
October 8, 2008 - In response to the devastation from Hurricane Ike, the Housing & Community Development Department (HCD) has announced a program to provide immediate roof repairs to low to moderate income individuals residing within five (5) Houston HOPE neighborhoods. HCD is offering on the spot roof repairs to homeowners in order to avoid any future damage incurred from rain or repairs not performed in a timely manner. “The City is bridging the gap in recovery efforts for those with low incomes who don’t have the resources to make roof repairs and we are using funding from sources within the City” said Richard Celli, Director of the Housing Department. The City is making this effort possible by providing a simple, unsecured loan with no interest and no collateral and in return, we are asking the homeowners to repay the loan once their FEMA reimbursements are received. The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) will work closely with HCD to ensure citizens are registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Homeowners will sign a one page, no interest, no collateral promissory note to repay the City of Houston within 180 days
The City will use the repayments to assist additional homeowners and recycle the money back into the community.
Housing Department Inspectors, working in partnership with the Houston Roofing Contractors Association, will begin repairing roofs after the initial site visit; no re-inspection will be needed.
HCD will coordinate the repairs in a staging process by working with the Sunnyside community on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, then access the Fifth Ward area, Denver Harbor, Clinton Park and Acres Homes by Monday, October 13, 2008
HCD is encouraging residents to contact the Housing & Community Development Department Hotline at 713-522-HOME (4663) or email us at HurricaneIkeRecovPro@cityofhouston.net for additional information.
