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ETCOG to Host Community Meeting Offering Housing Assistance Opportunities Available to Alto Tornado Victims

ETCOG's Home Program • Jun 27, 2019

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) will host a community meeting for residents affected by the April 13, 2019 tornadoes in Alto to offer assistance through its new HOME Disaster Relief Program. Through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), ETCOG is able to assist qualified individuals impacted by storms and other disasters in East Texas. The community meeting will be held at Alto City Hall located at 404 W. San Antonio Road on Monday, July 8, 2019, from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. 


“Our objective is to help as many people as we possibly can rebuild their homes and move forward with their lives” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “This Alto community meeting will be a positive step toward accomplishing that objective.”   


The HOME Disaster Relief Program allows ETCOG to support the rebuilding or repairing of eligible storm victims’ homes in the affected area. To rebuild, the single-family homes average costs are from $85,000 to $94,000 depending on the size of the family. Interested applicants will be required to meet the HOME Disaster Relief Program standards set forth by the TDHCA. Applicants must also meet federal rules and standards set by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Eligible clients must have experienced property damage from the tornado, have a clear title on their home with no liens, and not to have received FEMA assistance. 


With the support and direction of the ETCOG Executive Committee, ETCOG staff invested over 12 months last year working in conjunction with TDHCA to prepare for the launch of the new HOME Disaster Relief Program. In August, ETCOG learned it had been approved to administer TDHCA HOME Disaster Relief Program, a long-term housing program designed to serve income eligible households impacted by disasters. The program was established in East Texas as a direct response to the tornadic storms that occurred on April 29, 2017 which caused many residents in Van Zandt, Henderson and Rains Counties to lose their homes.  


We encourage individuals looking to seek assistance to attend the community meeting on July 8th, or to contact the ETCOG Housing Program at 903-218-6565 or housing@etcog.org. 


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