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HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson Announce New Plan to Attack Home Repair Crisis
 

 On June 30, 2004 Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee hosts the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson in Houston, along with Houston Mayor Bill White and members of area Community Development Corporations in announcing a proposal that will hopefully end the City’s current home repair crisis. The previous Home Repair Program has been inactive since November 15, 2003 pursuant to a suspension by HUD. “Seven months of living in a home that is nearly collapsing is far too long. Elderly and disabled residents cannot bear anymore inaction. The Federal and Local governments have a duty to serve and bring relief to these people, many of whom have paid taxes for most of their lives,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
With over a week of rain in Houston, many homes have further deteriorated due to water damage and have become increasingly unhealthy due to mold. Most of the elderly and disabled who have called the City offices have been from inner city communities that have a predominantly old and substandard housing stock, such as sections of the Acres Homes Community that is about 60 years old. Statistically, in 2002, Houston had a household population of 2 million, and 8 percent was age 65 or older. Among people at least 5 years of age and older, at least 12 percent reported having a disability, and those age 65 and older were 45 percent more likely to have a disability than other age groups.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee stated, “Since March of this year, I have visited the homes of some of the residents who are in the direst need to hear the stories of how their homes have crumbled and fallen apart and how they have been unsuccessful in getting help for over seven months. It is unacceptable that since the suspension of the home repair program in November 2003 well over 700 people have called with emergency request for home repair. Today’s announcement represents the result of work done by everyone here today – Secretary Jackson, staff members from HUD’s national and regional offices; Mayor Bill White, the Houston City Council, and the City of Houston including Director of Housing and Community Development Daisy Stiner; community activist groups such as ACORN; leaders of the Community Development Corporations; the many Civic Associations in the affected areas of Houston, and the members of the community who have shown endurance until a potentially viable solution could be devised.”
With the announcement of the temporary plan proposed by Congresswoman Jackson Lee and HUD officials, Houston residents will see a program of major repair and reconstruction with competent inspectors and contractors, and the launching of a ‘Temporary Two-Tier Home Repair Program’ will respond to seniors and disabled residents who need major repair and reconstruction of their homes. With this new plan, many of the most damaged homes will receive repairs within this month.
The “Temporary Two-Tier Home Repair Program” Plan, or the Houston TTP will consist of the following steps: (1) City funds will be advanced for (a) major home repairs and (b) Reconstruction of homes; (2) HUD will then provide immediate reimbursement to the City for funds expended by a process of (a) confirmation and (b) approval by HUD; (3) initiation of an expedited Procurement Process approved by the City Council and in compliance with Texas law; (4) notice given in compliance with City and State laws and subsequent selection of qualified contractors and inspectors by the City; (5) establishment of a list of residences ready for repair; (6) selection and the awarding of contracts – Repair work would begin no later than July 2004; and (7) re-institution of HUD’s fully-approved Home Repair Program no later than September 2004.
The need for immediate home repair is imminent for communities like Acres Homes with homes that are some 60 years old. Absent a viable engine in place to quickly bring relief to these residents, the already enormous backlog of emergency callers will double. We will continue the fight until we end this crisis and repair the severely damaged houses of Houstonians to make them habitable places that they can call ‘home’ again,” concluded the Congresswoman.