After public outcry, Mayor Whitmire said Houston will amend its $315M disaster relief proposal to include $50M for housing relief.
HOUSTON — After weeks of public concern, Mayor John Whitmire has directed $50 million in federal disaster aid toward housing repairs and construction following last year’s severe weather.
The change was announced Tuesday morning during a Houston City Council meeting, marking the first major revision to the city’s proposed plan for how to spend $315 million in federal aid tied to the May 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl.
“The idea that John Whitmire or anyone on his team would not make home repairs a priority, would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious,” the mayor said.
The original proposal faced sharp backlash from housing advocates for allocating no money for housing needs. Much of the plan had instead focused on city infrastructure, including generators for public facilities and investments in law enforcement.
However, the mayor noted that “conditions had changed,” including the city’s reduced need for police vehicles, as state plans to provide Houston with 200 police vehicles if the state budget passes, according to Whitmire.
On Tuesday, Housing Director Mike Nichols told KHOU 11 that a majority of the $50 million allocation for housing relief would go toward reconstruction and repairs, with some set aside for multifamily housing and “hopefully” new construction.
“There’s always room for change, and this was changed. The housing department supports this 100%,” Nichols said. “I think it’s a terrific response to the public.”
He added that the new allocation balances urgent disaster readiness with long-term housing recovery. When asked why housing was not included earlier in the plan, Nichols pointed to infrastructure gaps that became apparent after Hurricane Beryl.
“We had no generators at multiservice centers. We had no generators at our public works and water and sewage facilities. That’s the need that we must fulfill quickly before the next disaster,” he said.
Nichols said actual disbursement of funds to residents could begin sometime in 2026 after contractors are selected to do the work.
The city’s proposal will be finalized in July. A final virtual community meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm Tuesday evening. Houston residents can also submit feedback through an online survey.