Money available for Rita-damaged homes
Polk County Enterprise, March 2007

LIVINGSTON – Homeowners who have been unable to repair damage caused by Hurricane Rita can still apply for the HOME grant program through County Judge John Thompson’s office.
The county has extended the deadline since not enough qualified applicants have been identified to use the funds available, according to Jan Shandley.
The project is funded by a federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Applications are available in the county judge’s office.
The program focuses on houses that are so severely damaged they need to be replaced, said grant consultant Mark Taylor.
“We’re trying to meet the greatest need first,” Taylor said. “We potentially identified some homes for the program. We will submit them to commissioners’ court for final approval.”
Taylor listed five basic criteria that applicants must meet:
Low to moderate income as defined by HUD;
Own and occupy the property;
Reside within Polk County;
Damage has to be a direct result of Hurricane Rita; and
Property taxes must be current.
Taylor’s office is currently processing applications for a similar project in Tyler County and is still accepting applications for those counties as well.
Homeowners with questions about the grant program can call (866) 751-4646.