In a year, over 200 in permanent, 600 in temporary housing in Texas Hill Country

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(The Center Square) – As Hill Country residents continue to press forward after the one-year anniversary of the July 4 flood disaster, communities are continuing to rebuild. This includes hundreds returning to permanent housing after hundreds more received temporary housing. 

So far, 130 households have returned to permanent housing. Another 98 households are also “actively progressing toward permanent housing solutions,” the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country says. It’s managing more than $150 million donated to the Kerr County Relief Fund, which was established to provide financial assistance with a range of recovery efforts.

So far, 228 flood-affected households “are either home or moving through an established pathway toward permanent recovery. The milestone reflects significant progress in one of the largest housing recovery efforts ever undertaken in the Texas Hill Country,” it says.

After the deadly disaster last year, Americans and well-wishers from around the world donated to relief efforts through a range of organizations. One was the Kerr County fund, which supports the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort through grants to nonprofit organizations, first responder agencies and local governments.

Within a couple of weeks of the disaster, $80 million had been raised through the fund and through GoFundMe, The Center Square reported. Within four months, the foundation had allocated an initial $16 million to more than 50 local nonprofit organizations working directly with flood survivors. This helped more than 700 families with emergency assistance, more than 200 small businesses, 17 volunteer fire departments, and two public school districts, the foundation said, The Center Square reported. 

Recognizing an immediate need to provide financial assistance directly to survivors and not through third party grants, Country Music legend George Strait and Vaqueros del Mar partner Tom Cusick raised $7 million through a “Strait To The Heart” concert. Within weeks, Gov. Greg Abbott handed out $25,000 checks directly to survivors. 

Donations were also made to directly support survivors through GoFundMe verified flood fundraisers, The Center Square reported. 

Over the last year, the foundation continued to manage ongoing, long-term relief. By the one-year anniversary of the flood, it had distributed $82 million in grants to more than 100 nonprofit partners. The grants supported more than 1,500 families, more than 600 small businesses and more than 30 first responder groups, it says. That includes the housing assistance.

“Recovery is built around people, not programs,” Austin Dickson, CEO of the foundation, said in a statement. “Every family affected by the flood faced different challenges and needed different solutions.” Now, the majority of displaced households are “either back home or actively working toward a permanent housing solution.”

“The flood happened in a day. Recovery takes years,” Dickson added. “The goal is to help people recover. Every household that returns home is evidence that recovery investments are producing real results for the community.”

The foundation claims housing recovery is a central focus of its long-term recovery strategy, having committed more than $50 million to help flood survivors return home. That’s roughly one-third of the $150 million Kerr County fund the foundation is managing.

Grants have also supported temporary housing and recovery programs, which have supported 184 households and 401 individuals, it says. Another 200 families have received financial assistance through an unmet needs programs. Another 108 flood-affected households have received property tax relief, it says.

One of its key partners and grant recipients, Habitat for Humanity, has provided a range of housing assistance to survivors statewide, including after major hurricanes in Houston, Galveston and elsewhere. It received $2.5 million and its sister organization in Kerr County received $3 million to support housing and rebuilding efforts.

Habitat for Humanity Kerr County executive director Mary Campana said that “a home provides more than shelter. It provides stability, security and a foundation for recovery.” Being able to help residents move into a new or refurbished home “reflects the resilience of flood survivors and the power of partnerships across our community,” she said. “While recovery is not finished, more families are returning home and taking important steps toward rebuilding their lives.”

The foundation also published grantees and award amounts to provide transparency. Recipients who’ve received the largest amounts include the LiftFund ($10 million), the city of Kerrville ($8.4 million), Connective ($5 million), Hunt Preservation Society ($4.3 million), Episcopal Relief & Development ($3.5 million), San Antonio Botanical Gardens ($2 million), Airbnb ($1.6 million), Hill Country Alliance ($1.1 million) among others.