The deadly storm was indiscriminate during its week of destruction. Texans living in the massive disaster area were thrust into a historic housing recovery effort rife with bureaucratic roadblocks, agonizing financial decisions and still-lingering anxieties.
housing
Posted in
Transportation
Austin officials backing away from controversial rewrite of land-use regulations
Amid a fierce battle over the city’s attempts to improve traffic and combat housing unaffordability, Austin leaders are looking to drop CodeNEXT and start a new process.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Six figures for six feet: Some Harvey victims in Houston spend huge sums to elevate their homes
Across Houston, thousands of people are receiving letters saying their homes are so damaged that they must elevate them to meet current floodplain regulations. But the cost is out of reach for many families.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Harvey victims say FEMA hotel program plagued by confusion
Two Texans displaced by Harvey who say they were kicked off the hotel assistance program are confused by FEMA’s explanation — or lack of one.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Harvey was three months ago. These displaced families are still in limbo
Two families displaced by Harvey say they’re not close to having their lives back to normal. Tens of thousands of others are also facing a long recovery before their biggest need — a permanent place to live — is settled.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Texas county official after Harvey: The “Red Cross was not there”
According to emails obtained by ProPublica, officials in several counties were extremely critical of the Red Cross’ response to Hurricane Harvey, saying the organization communicated poorly and didn’t bring in supplies as expected.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Can a web tool help coastal Texans assess their flood risk? A professor thinks so.
A university professor who studies natural hazards launched a flooding risk assessment tool for homes in Harris and Galveston counties. But after Hurricane Harvey, flooding risks are even harder to determine.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Houston housing officials draw ire for evicting elderly residents
Public housing leaders say a high-rise along Buffalo Bayou is unsafe because of flooding from Hurricane Harvey. But folks who live in 2100 Memorial say officials have mishandled the situation.
Posted in
Blocked Out
Despite “Texas miracle,” affordable housing difficult for many urban dwellers
A new Harvard study found that Americans — especially poorer ones — are having a harder time find a suitable place to call home. Texas lawmakers, experts and development industry leaders say there are plenty of reasons why that’s true here, too.
Posted inState Government
Profiting off pain: Trump confidant cashed in on housing crisis
When the housing market crashed, Tom Barrack was ready. He built a company that bought more than 30,000 homes across the country — including nearly 5,000 in Texas — and converted them to rentals.
