Community Foundation pledges $40 million for housing, funds partnerships to house flood survivors

Austin Dixon, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, announced Monday that the foundation has committed $40,000,000 to a new housing fund to aid residents displaced by the July 4 floods.

"I'm proud to share that the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has committed $40,000,000 to a new housing fund," Dixon said. He added that, in the first 45 days of recovery, the foundation had granted $16,000,000 to more than 50 local nonprofits, which the foundation says has helped "over 700 families," supported "over 200 small businesses," funded 17 volunteer fire departments and aided two public school districts, including Hunt and Ingram.

The fund is intended to cover a range of housing needs, the foundation said, including temporary stays, repairs and rebuilding through trusted local nonprofits and builders, RV repairs and replacements for families who lived in RVs, and case management to guide families through recovery for 18 months or more.

Governor Greg Abbott, who attended the event, described the foundation's effort as an example of fast local response. "The state has already spent, well over $200,000,000," Abbott said, referring to what he called initial emergency and recovery operations, and he said the Texas Legislature was considering adding another $200,000,000 to assist recovery. Abbott urged local governments to decide which federal floodplain maps to use and said homes in floodplain areas can be elevated if residents choose to do so.

Local officials described how foundation grants were already being put to use. Lucy Harmon, superintendent of Hunt ISD, said her district received $300,000 from the foundation that enabled an early resource event that distributed funds directly to families; she also noted a $500,000 grant to the Hunt Preservation Society to help reestablish a community center and temporary post office. "We were so grateful to receive $300,000 from the community foundation," Harmon said, and she added that Hunt School reopened this week.

Bobby Templeton, chair of the West Kerr Chamber of Commerce and a former Ingram ISD superintendent, described severe local damage and warned of a looming housing shortage for low-income residents. "We are already starting to see a really big crisis in terms of housing," Templeton said.

The foundation announced a $1,600,000 grant to airbnb.org to expand short- and long-term housing placements. Christophe Gorder, executive director of airbnb.org, said the organization has housed about 350 community members and first responders over the past six weeks and that the partnership will allow longer stays, with the foundation funds used to pay local hosts. "As a donor to us, Airbnb covers all of our operating expenses and waives all of the Airbnb fees," Gorder said, adding that "100% of that" donation would be used to pay hosts and keep funds in the local three-county area.

Local builders also described early reconstruction work. Katie Culver of Kerrville Design Build said vetted subcontractors and licensed tradespeople are working to restore homes immediately, calling the effort "rebuilding lives." The foundation said local advisory councils and a board-appointed grant process will guide allocation decisions so that resources remain in the affected communities.

Dixon said the foundation will next turn to mental health and well-being, quality-of-life and economic recovery, and that an advisory council of mental-health professionals will meet next week to recommend allocations. The governor said the state response has included search-and-rescue and evacuation efforts and debris removal, and he emphasized that local officials will decide which federal floodplain maps to use for rebuilding.

The foundation directed affected residents to register online for assistance and urged nonprofits and builders that want to help to sign up with its resource assessment. The event concluded with officials saying the combination of private philanthropy, local partners and state resources aims to accelerate families' return to permanent housing.