The GLO has undertaken very impressive efforts using $588 million in Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds to help rehabilitate, reconstruct and construct 81 multifamily rental housing damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in 48 eligible counties outside of the city of Houston and Harris County, which requested and were granted direct allocations of funds from HUD to conduct housing programs.
In total, 5,909 rental homes are being rebuilt or newly constructed to replenish affordable workforce housing. Of the multifamily affordable housing units being rebuilt by the GLO, nearly 80% are guaranteed to house low-to moderate-income residents for 20 years after completion of new construction and 15 years after completion of repairs.
In this program, applicants for the funding are required to designate at least 51% of the units for low- to moderate-income families with rents capped at the HUD Home Investment Partnership (HOME) limits. Per HUD guidelines, a family is considered low- to moderate-income if they earn 80% or less than the Area Median Family Income (AMFI). Each apartment complex will be restricted for low-income housing for 20 years after completion of new construction and 15 years after completion of repairs.