HOUSTON — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., addressed the Houston City Council and held a press conference with Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Commissioners Lesley Briones and Tom Ramsey to announce an extension to the Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as, the launch of a collaborative outreach effort to seek out Houstonians, who were displaced under Former Mayor Turner’s tenure and not offered relocation assistance.

Commissioner Buckingham expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership between the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Harris County, and the city of Houston, stating, "The GLO's mission is to serve those we are supposed to serve and do it well. I want to thank my good friend, Mayor John Whitmire, Harris County Commissioners Lesley Briones, Adrian Garcia and Tom Ramsey for their advocacy—because together we worked to secure this HUD extension.”

Approval of the extension will enable the partnerships between the GLO and both the city of Houston and Harris County to better meet the needs of the community affected by Hurricane Harvey. The GLO will work with Houston and Harris County to apply the extension as needed and eligible under HUD requirements.

Commissioner Buckingham addressed the issue of Uniform Relocation Assistance (URA) assistance for approximately 900 households displaced from four repetitively flooded rental properties bought using federal disaster recovery funding in Houston. The Commissioner outlined the collaborative effort amongst the GLO, the City of Houston, and Harris County officials, as well as faith and other community leaders, to reach eligible former tenants and provide much-needed relocation assistance.

"We will use many resources to find these Houstonians, including outreach through schools, churches, and faith organizations, Houston Public Works, food banks, and community organizations," said Commissioner Buckingham.

Former residents of the affected apartment complexes are encouraged to visit recovery.texas.gov/URAHouston for information on eligibility for assistance or contact the URA Assistance Program at:

19219 Katy Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77094
Telephone: 281-925-7155 or 1-844-893-8937 (toll free)
Fax: 832-582-2580
Email: cdr@recovery.texas.gov

For additional questions, video and pictures from today's event, please send a request to brittany.eck@glo.texas.gov.

Monticello Square Apartments
5312 Clarewood Drive, Houston 77081
Buyout date: August 24, 2021

Spring Village Apartments
11810 Chimney Rock Road, Houston 77035
Buyout date: June 2, 2021

Biscayne at City View
17030 & 17050 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston 77060
Buyout date: Nov. 17, 2021

Appian Way Apartments
3200 N. MacGregor Way, Houston 77004
Buyout date: May 5, 2021