On January 16, a group of residents who have come together to utilize their collective power under the name Harvey Forgotten…
Tag: Disaster recovery
Disaster Recovery in Houston is a tangled mess. This is what I learned that needs to change in my first six months.
Julia Orduña is Texas Housers’ Community Navigator in the greater Houston area. She is sharing her initial impressions of working…
The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 succeeds in the House of Representatives, but more work lies ahead
The Federal Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 (RDRA) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 18, 2019…
Episode 19: Disaster recovery is leaving out renters
When a disaster hits, flooding and fires might not discriminate, but the systems and funding intended to rebuild our communities…
Lawsuit by four Texas renters says State of Texas, HUD discriminate on race in Hurricane Harvey aid
Four South Texas renters filed a civil rights lawsuit last week in federal court alleging HUD and the State of…
Here is how the Seven Principles for Disaster Recovery could be a roadmap to repair following Hurricane Dorian
The harsh toll Hurricane Dorian took on the Bahamas, Southeastern United States, and Atlantic Canada is a cruel, but unfortunately…
Two years of disaster recovery: we are holding our fire for now as we listen to survivors and ask government for a honest accounting
In the two years since Hurricane Harvey made landfall, so much has changed. There has even been some encouraging movement…
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. Some…
The U.S. Senate wants to establish a permanent resource to rebuild with the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act Of 2019
Disaster recovery at this moment does not work for all who need it. Structural issues like drainage or organizational issues such…
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 enough…
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 Hurricane…
How to avoid disaster recovery Groundhog Day
There is no question that natural disasters will hit Texas again. We hope Mother Nature will keep the peace, but…
Low-income households disproportionately denied by FEMA is a sign of a system that is failing the most vulnerable
For some, Hurricane Harvey is now a distant, if not unpleasant, memory. Looking back on 2017, many Texas families will…
Lessons on disaster recovery, from the Rio Grande Valley to Puerto Rico
One year since Hurricane Maria made landfall, residents and advocates have been rebuilding and preparing themselves for the distribution of…
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 predicted…
Notes from the field: Charlton Pollard neighborhood works to change the pattern of neglect post-hurricane
Charlton Pollard Resident, Chris Jones, stands on Irving Street looking at a map of his neighborhood, “This area was affected by…
Houston coalition holds People’s Tribunal to amplify voices of vulnerable hurricane survivors
As the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey approached the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity coalition also known as HOME…
Who’s rooting for Port Arthur?
(Photo: U.S. Air National Guard rescues family trapped in home in Port Arthur) Port Arthur sits on the shore of…
Disaster relief rolls out in the Rio Grande Valley; residents hope for just and fair process
(Home in Indian Hills colonia that experienced flooding after the June storms. Photo taken a week after the storms hit.)…
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 in…
Texas Housers submits comments to City of Houston on proposed Hurricane Harvey action plan
Texas Housers submitted comments to the City of Houston last week about the city’s proposed plan for spending $1.15 billion…
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 a…
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 with…
Where health happens: Housing’s impact on health and quality of life
Image by Elizabeth Conley from Houston Chronicle This post was written by Quianta Moore, M.D., J.D., a Child Health Policy Fellow at…
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 the…
Homeowners demand state officials fix disaster recovery partial home repair program
This week, Houston homeowners spoke out about their experience with the state-run, FEMA-funded rapid repair program, called PREPS. One homeowner…
Field Notes: An unequal response to disaster in Beaumont
More than 48 inches of rain inundated Beaumont after Hurricane Harvey struck last August, and the deluge impacted people across…
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. That…
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu shares lessons learned from recovery in New Orleans
Houston has a responsibility to its community to rebuild Houston stronger than it was before Hurricane Harvey. In order to…
Community planning and resiliency expert encourages being purposeful and prepared during hurricane rebuilding
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston has an opportunity to leverage its unique characteristics to build not only a…