Land Commissioner, UT Partner On Hurricane Harvey Survey

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas General Land Office and the University of Texas Bureau of Business Research in Austin is surveying homeowners and renters who were adversely affected by Hurricane Harvey, and assess the remaining needs.

The survey was announced on Monday and will help the Texas General Land Office help determine the best course of action in helping those residents in the 49 affected counties receiving Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery funds, for housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We are partnering with the Texas General Land Office on a survey to determine how we can best help Texans whose homes or apartments were damaged by Hurricane Harvey,” said Bruce Kellison, director of the Bureau of Business Research. “This survey is important to ensure that available relief funds are targeted correctly for the greatest impact.”

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The survey, which launched June 1, will be open for two weeks. The results will be analyzed and submitted to the General Land Office later this month.

Researchers at UT helped design the survey, and after responses are collected, will analyze the results and make recommendations to the GLO about how housing needs vary among the 49 counties affected by Hurricane Harvey.

For example, some areas may have greater need for affordable rentals, while other areas may have a greater need for homeowner reimbursement for reconstruction and repairs. This analysis will help inform the needs assessments associated with many of the recovery programs the GLO plans to administer.

“As the GLO continues to work with local leaders to provide long-term recovery assistance to the people of Texas, it is important to continue to reassess the remaining housing needs of individual communities,” said Pete Phillips, senior director for community development and revitalization. “The GLO remains committed to helping communities to effectively and efficiently recover from one of the most damaging storms in our nation’s history.”

The General Land Office is responsible for coordinating with federal agencies and community officials to support Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, including the short-term housing assistance programs in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the administration of Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery funding.

“It may go without saying, but in many places, economic recovery starts with repairing regional housing stock. If you can’t live there, you can’t work there, either,” Kellison said.

Individuals whose housing was affected by Hurricane Harvey may participate in the short survey by visiting www.harveysurvey.com.

Image: Rufus Lee of Top to Bottom Home Renovations carries moldy drywall out of a flood damaged home that he is cleaning out on September 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Over a week after Hurricane Harvey hit Southern Texas, residents are beginning the long process of recovering from the storm. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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