By Kaila Contreras, Staff writer   Updated 4:11 pm CST, Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Houston launches Homeowner Assistance Program for residents affected by Hurricane Harvey

Houston City Councilman Dave Martin recently announced the City of Houston has launched is Homeowner Assistance Program to help residents rebuild and repair their homes after Hurricane Harvey.

The City of Houston received the $1.17 billion for housing recovery through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Texas General Land Office.

The recovery funds include the Homeowner Assistance Program, which offers five options including reimbursement for completed repairs, homeowner-managed rehabilitation, city-managed rehabilitation and reconstruction, buyouts and interim mortgage assistance.

There will be several meetings held this month for those interested for more information.

Residents that are interested in applying for this program are encouraged to take the Harvey Recovery Survey. The survey can also be taken through the phone at 832-393-0550 from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or in person at any of the four new Housing Recovery Centers.

City officials urge residents to take the survey before attending one of the public meetings.

The survey a tool to direct residents to the appropriate recovery program and to help the city prioritize those with urgent needs. No documentation is required to take the survey, and it takes less than 15 minutes to complete, city officials said.

While priority will be given to low and moderate income homeowners, assistance is available to homeowners of all income levels. An intake specialist will contact applicants after they have completed the survey regarding the next steps.

kaila.contreras@chron.com