City outlines Harvey homebuyer assistance program and raises winter-storm single-family repair caps

Housing staff presented details and legal documents for a new Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program 2 (HBAP2) and a substantial amendment to winter-storm single-family repair guidelines.

Sutter Hussain presented items 4a and 4b. For HBAP2 (Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program 2), the department recommended ordinances authorizing legal documents (deferred payment note, second-lien deed of trust, forgivable loan agreement, terms and conditions) and described program eligibility tied to Hurricane Harvey (Aug. 25, 2017). HCDD said $18,000,000 is set aside and the program will provide up to $125,000 in down-payment assistance to eligible households with area median income (AMI) limits up to 120 percent; staff listed tiered affordability periods: up to $50,000 requires a 5-year affordability period, up to $75,000 requires 8 years, and amounts greater than $75,001 carry a 10-year affordability period. The department said HBAP2 applications will open June 30 and posted materials will be available at houstontx.gov/housing under Disaster Recovery.

Item 4b proposed a substantial amendment to the 2021 winter-storm single-family home repair guidelines to raise the maximum reimbursable assistance from $6,000 to $10,000, clarify eligibility, add composite pricing procurement method and include templates for closing documents. The department said the winter-storm program will open in mid-June.

Committee members praised outreach and early public interest in HBAP2 and asked for distribution of guidelines to council offices. No committee vote is recorded in the transcript; staff presented the ordinances and said they will return to council.