Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS)
In 2017 following Hurricane Harvey, the GLO was the first state agency in history to administer a Direct Housing Mission with financial and technical support from FEMA.
As a part of this mission, the GLO incorporated a program called Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS), which provided basic, emergency home repairs - not to include finish work - so Texans can shelter in their home while they are completing permanent repairs. These temporary repairs were available for homes that sustained less than $17,000 in FEMA verified loss. FEMA determines an applicant's eligibility for the PREPS program. More than 15,000 homes have received repairs through the Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS) program in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The PREPS program provided basic repairs that allow homeowners to live in their homes and their communities as they make more permanent repairs to their homes. Up to $20,000 in repairs, including restoring electricity, air conditioning/heating, and hot water, debris removal, limited drywall and insulation, and restoring a functional bathroom and kitchen facilities, were provided to return the homes to a standard of safe, sanitary and secure.