Report details the cumulative trauma of family violence and natural disaster during Hurricane Harvey
In a natural disaster, it is vital to act as quickly as possible to help those most vulnerable first. SomeContinue Reading
Category: State issues
Texas Housers and Texas Appleseed urge HUD to follow established law in joint comment on mixed-status families
HUD’s proposal to disrupt the lives of mixed immigration status families is both contradictory to meaning of the law intendedContinue Reading
The expansion of Interstate 45 is harming low-income communities in Houston. Here’s what can be done to fix that.
For the past several months, Texas Housers and our partners have been tracking the public concern around the expansion ofContinue Reading
TxDOT’S Historical Resources Report Omits Houston’s Independence Heights
For more than 14 years, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been planning the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP),Continue Reading
RAPIDO is now a proven solution for disaster home rebuilding that is rapid, efficient, and just – let’s use it!
On June 12, 2019 at an open house for the final RAPIDO test home in Houston, Texas Housers co-director JohnContinue Reading
Disaster survivors often faced double the financial toll when rebuilding their homes. A new law now ensures that won’t happen.
Following a natural disaster, a survivor’s road back to normal can be long and difficult. If they are lucky enoughContinue Reading
Late fees can destabilize renters struggling to get by. These punishing bills empowering landlords endanger them further.
Long-established Texas laws that have protected tenants for years from paying punitive and unreasonable late fees for overdue rent areContinue Reading
Lessons learned from a rapid response to the ITC Disaster
Following the breaking news of the ITC disaster, SE Texas Co-Director Zoe Middleton joined a rapid response team of advocatesContinue Reading
If this small fix to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program pushed further, it could reshape affordable housing
Building affordable housing can be a long journey with approval needed from many groups and individuals along the way. Unfortunately,Continue Reading
The Houser Guide to the 2019 Texas Legislative Session
In Episode 6 of the Texas Housers podcast, A Little Louder, we talk to our advocacy director, Charlie Duncan aboutContinue Reading
The Stunning Difference Between These Neighborhood Storm Drains Is Inequality At Work
The equality in government resources, specifically storm drainage in Houston, is a path toward justice and a major policy priorityContinue Reading
Where You Live Impacts Your Health Right Down To The ZIP Code
Life expectancy is inextricably tied to an individual’s socioeconomic circumstances; this is fairly common knowledge. However, what is less knownContinue Reading
These bills strengthening Texas tenants’ rights and disaster recovery could reshape our future
Texans face a host of housing issues: an inadequate amount of quality affordable homes and the lingering effects of HurricaneContinue Reading
Master leases provide relief to voucher holders discriminated against in search for for decent housing
Only one in four people who qualify for rental assistance in this country receive it. It’s no wonder that gettingContinue Reading
After years of resident advocacy, Hidalgo County adopts higher standards for drainage and streetlight infrastructure for new model subdivisions
Colonia residents in Hidalgo County have experienced far too much flooding and darkness, the dangerous symptoms of poorly-planned subdivisions whereContinue Reading
Texas is offering $1 billion for cities to build resilience to prepare for the next storm. But the process could leave out communities that need it most.
(Photo: A lineman checks on a downed powerlines in Port Arthur) In the last blog on Port Arthur, we predictedContinue Reading
The 8 things I’ve learned in my 40+ years in housing and community development
I’m often asked to summarize what I have learned in my 40+ years of activism in the field of housingContinue Reading
The goal of disaster recovery should be more than returning to normal
I was honored to give the keynote at the 43rd Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop on July 9 inContinue Reading
Texas Housers calls on TDHCA board to follow rules that promote housing opportunity for low-income people
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs board on several recent occasions has overruled staff recommendations and waived rulesContinue Reading
Texas Housers tells state lawmakers that neighborhoods across the state must meet basic standards that keep Texans safe
Texas Housers urged state lawmakers this afternoon to ensure that all neighborhoods where Texans make their homes meet the basicContinue Reading
West Street Recovery makes recommendations to improve state-run rapid repair program
This is a guest blog, written by West Street Recovery staff Ben Hirsch and Becky Selle. West Street Recovery is aContinue Reading
Port Arthur residents told to wait for disaster recovery for too long, but hold out hope their government come through
As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey approaches, there are unanswered questions from residents and a rising level of concernContinue Reading
Press release: Civil rights groups sue HUD over suspended implementation of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule
Media Contacts: Kelli Johnson, Texas Appleseed, (512) 473-2800 x103, kjohnson@texasappleseed.net Christina Rosales, Texas Housers, (512) 477-8910, christina@texashousing.org Jessica Aiwuyor, NFHA,Continue Reading
Texas Housers calls on state to amend Harvey recovery action plan to be more equitable and inclusive
The state must commit to an equitable, inclusive plan that will make new and repaired housing affordable to Texans withContinue Reading
State must amend plan for disaster recovery so thousands of low- and moderate-income Texans can rebuild and recover
Texas Housers and partners Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and Texas Appleseed held a press conference Friday morning about theContinue Reading
An equitable Houston demands continuous engagement in the wake of Harvey
Hurricane Harvey “pulled back the curtain” on inequality in Houston, revealing some “scary truths about the city we are livingContinue Reading
Texas Housers seeks disclosure of disaster housing program data maintained by State of Texas
The State of Texas is spending many millions of dollars in public funds on short-term housing for Harvey survivors. ThatContinue Reading
A friendly city where the problems of race and equity go unacknowledged and unresolved
Lubbock proudly bills itself as “The Friendliest City in America.” The people of Lubbock are indeed friendly. Yet, like mostContinue Reading
To achieve an equitable recovery, we propose a fairer way to determine needs of Hurricane Harvey survivors
When the methods used to determine needs of hurricane survivors favor higher income people and communities, the process of recoveryContinue Reading
Houston coalition for equitable recovery advocates more resources for low-income survivors in comments to Texas officials
A Houston-based coalition advocating an equitable recovery for vulnerable survivors of Hurricane Harvey is calling on the State of TexasContinue Reading