The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced more than $226 million in grants aimed at improving housing conditions across the country to protect families, especially children and seniors, from home health hazards. Texas is a key recipient of this funding, with local governments, non-profits, and research institutions set to benefit from these grants. The funding will address a range of housing-related health issues, from lead poisoning and asthma triggers to fall risks and poor indoor air quality.
Key Grants Awarded to Texas Communities
Texas has been awarded significant portions of the funding across several programs, including the Healthy Homes Production Program, Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP), and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program. These grants aim to improve housing conditions, promote healthy living environments, and support the health and safety of vulnerable populations.
- City of Houston – Healthy Homes Production Grant: $2,000,000
The City of Houston Health Department’s Bureau of Community and Children’s Environmental Health will be awarded $2,000,000 in the Healthy Homes Production Grant Program. The grant will fund a comprehensive approach to address multiple childhood diseases and injuries in homes, focusing on housing-related hazards in a comprehensive and coordinated fashion. The remediation will address healthy housing principles, primarily, moisture-related hazards (e.g. vermin), contaminant related issues, clutter concerns, and other health and safety hazards. Healthy home assessments and intervention will be performed on 90 housing units of families with low or very low income.
Contact: Decrecia Limbrick, [email protected] - Tejano Center for Community Concerns Inc. – Healthy Homes Production Grant: $2,000,000
Tejano Center of Community Concerns Inc. will be awarded 2,000,000 in Healthy Homes Production Grant funding. The organization will address health and safety hazards in 45 homes of families with low or very low income and educate more than 600 families, seniors aged 62 or more, and families with persons with disabilities, on housing-related health and safety hazards.
Contact: Sheila Turner, [email protected] - University of Texas at Arlington – Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant: $860,147
The University of Texas at Arlington will be awarded $860,147 for a Healthy Homes Technical Studies project to investigate the long-term effectiveness of four types of residential energy recovery ventilators and portable air cleaners in reducing indoor air pollutants. The study will also investigate mold levels in the homes to improve asthma-related health outcomes in inner-city children and adults’ diagnosis with asthma in low income households.
Contact: Insung Kang, [email protected] - Green River Society – Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP): $2,000,000
The Green River Society will be awarded $2,000,000 in Older Adults Home Modification Program grant funding to complete safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs in primary residences of 250 eligible senior homeowners and renters aged 62 and older with low or very low income living in rural areas. The Society’s work will improve safety, increase accessibility, and improve residents’ functional abilities in the home for their safe and successful aging in place.
Contact: Larrez Green, [email protected] - City of Longview – Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP): $1,919,028
The City of Longview’s Department of Community Services will be awarded $1,919,028 in Older Adults Home Modification Program grant funding to complete safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs in primary residences of 250 eligible senior homeowners and renters over age 62 with low or very low income. The City’s work will improve general safety, increase accessibility, and improve functional abilities in the home and lengthen the amount of time each older adult can continue to safely live in their primary residence.
Contact: Dietrich Johnson, [email protected] - Rehabilitation Education & Advocacy for Citizens with Handicaps (REACH) – Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP): $1,189,489
Rehabilitation Education and Advocacy for Citizens with Handicaps (REACH), a nonprofit located in Fort Worth, will be awarded $1,189,489 in Older Adults Home Modification Program grant funding to complete safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs in the primary residences of 300 eligible senior homeowners and renters over age 62 with low or very low income. REACH’s work will promote fall prevention and successful aging in place. This program will focus on increasing home accessibility, enabling aging residents to remain independent in their homes safely, reducing fall risks, and decreasing the need for costly medical interventions or institutional care.
Contact: Jennifer Stonemeier, [email protected]