Applications being accepted for housing repair assistance

People with homes destroyed by Hurricane Rita still have the opportunity to apply for assistance to replace their storm-damaged homes when Michael Hunter of Hunter and Hunter takes a second round of applications this Friday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) building at 210 Premier Drive (behind Lowe's).

The Jasper County Commissioners Court has applied for two housinggrants through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). These grants allow up to $900,000 to replace approximately 17 homes for low and moderate income families.

"The highest priority will be given to very low income elderly persons who have lost their homes as a result of the hurricane and who do not have insurance and did not receive enough assistance from FEMA to rebuild their homes," according to County Judge Mark Allen.

Applicants need to bring evidence of their annual income such as recent paystubs, bank statements or benefits letters from Social Security, current paid tax receipts, and a copy of the deed to their property if available.

Based on income eligibiity, the grants offer a range of benefits from a five-year forgivable loan, in which the owners will owe nothing as long as they occupy the home five years, to a 30-year no interest loan. The county has accepted a bid from McDonald's to replace damaged homes with manufactured housing.

The deadline for completion of the first grant for $300,000 has been extended to September of this year. The county still has 11 conditionally approved people from the first round of applications, but several of the original applicants have dropped off the list for various reasons.

"Families already on the waiting list from the first round of applications will not have to reapply," Hunter said in a press release. For more information, contact Hunter at 800 277-8590.