Houston City Council is altering its plan to allocate $315 million in federal funding for disaster recovery efforts from two recent extreme weather disasters after residents expressed disapproval of zero funding going toward housing.

The details

Houston is expected to receive $315 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at a future date to support long-term recovery efforts following major disasters such as Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho, according to a drafted plan from the city.

The original plan included allocating parts of the federal funding to needs such as public facilities, vehicles and the city's homeless population.

• $151 million: slated for adding resilience measures toward public facilities to provide backup power during disasters
• $56 million: purchasing public safety vehicles and equipment, such as mobile cell sites and emergency communications systems for effective emergency response
• $41 million: toward the city’s $70 million homeless initiative

Initially, no funding went toward housing, despite the plan finding that over $229 million is needed for housing repair, reconstruction and personal property loss.

What they’re saying

The decision to leave out housing costs by Mayor John Whitmire’s administration was met with backlash from Houston residents, many of whom commented during numerous public hearings throughout June.

“Many residents, especially in working-class neighborhoods like mine in District E, are still facing unsafe living conditions, including unresolved housing damages with little to no support,” said Letty Ortega, a community organizer in Houston, during a June 17 City Council meeting.

Synnachia McQueen Jr., a Houston resident and leader of the Texas Organizing Project, urged the city during the same meeting to prioritize the $315 million toward housing needs, especially since he said people were displaced during these disaster events.

“During the 2024 storms, I lost power for four days,” McQueen said. “I had to replace my food, relocate to a motel with my little girl for three days. I had to replace my refrigerator. I missed medical appointments during that time.”

Whitmire announced June 17 during a City Council session that $50 million of the federal funding would be reallocated toward housing, specifically $30 million for multifamily housing and $20 million for housing repairs, he said. The plan is being altered as part of this decision, Whitmire said.

What’s next?

The plan was originally slated to be voted on by City Council members during the June 25 City Council meeting. However, as the city continues to alter its plan, the item has been pushed back for later approval.

The mayor’s chief of communications, Mary Benton, said it’s unknown when City Council will vote on the $315 million federal disaster aid plan.