Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds are explicitly appropriated and allocated for “the unmet needs of specific communities, which are the least likely to fully recover without additional assistance” and must be used to address long-term recovery and restoration of housing and infrastructure, economic revitalization, and mitigation efforts that are tied back to the disaster’s impact.
This is the federal government’s guiding principle for this program, imbued with the promise to affected communities that our leaders will act both preventatively as well as post-disaster to make our hardest hit communities whole again. The City of Houston is receiving $314.6 million following several disasters in 2024 including the April 2024 floods, the May 2024 Derecho, and Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. These funds must be used to address the disaster-related damages by remedying homes and neighborhoods, adding to the distressed housing stock, or to build infrastructure that helps mitigate future disaster impacts.
Texas Housers was joined by members of the Northeast Action Collective (NAC) at City Hall on Tuesday, March 4th to speak to Mayor Whitmire and members of the City Council to advise of them of the needs of the community that remain unaddressed after the 2024 disaster and ask for better and improved collaboration with impacted communities.
After appearing at City Hall, it was reported that the City’s current plan for this funding would be to fund homelessness services and purchase generators for police and fire stations amid the city’s budget crisis. The City anticipates releasing the Action Plan for public comment in early May 2025. We will be closely watching and be in contact with the City of Houston regarding these funds and we will make certain that they are being used in the proper way to protect and provide for those hit hardest by natural disasters.
Below, you can read our joint letter, signed by dozens of organizations, outlining where the precise need is for this funding. If your organization agrees with the disaster recovery principles outline in this document and would like to sign on, please visit this link to add your organization’s name in support.
