Houston officials have released the first action plan for how to spend $1.15 billion in federal housing aid, part of a $5 billion package allocated to the state, the Houston Chronicle reports. The split is about 60/40 single-family homes and apartments.
“Even though a billion dollars is a lot of money, we know it isn’t enough to meet all of the housing needs in Houston,” Tom McCasland, director of Houston’s Housing and Community Development department, told the Chronicle. “But the opportunity here is one we’ve never had before. It’s a big step toward a city where everyone has a safe, affordable home, in a thriving neighborhood.”
Texas officials planned to publish one statewide plan in March, but Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner accused the state land office of “hogging the $5 billion” and cutting the city out of talks. Now, instead, Houston gets to allocate about $1 billion; surrounding Harris County will publish a similar plan for its $1 billion, and both plans will be attached as amendments to the statewide plan that will address the rest of the Gulf Coast.
NEXT CITY
BY RACHEL KAUFMAN | JUNE 11, 2018