Texas Foundations Fund Awards

The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation would like to thank the many nonprofit organizations that submitted proposals for grants under the Texas Foundations Fund.  We applaud each organization for their efforts to provide affordable housing to low-income families in Texas.  We are very pleased with the overwhelming response and interest in the Texas Foundations Fund and know it illustrates the tremendous need that exists in Texas for funding of multifamily rental supportive services, and rehabilitation, critical repair and construction of affordable single family housing.

We would like to thank the Mr. Jerry Romero and Mr. Russell Vandenburg, members of the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation Advisory Council, for reviewing the Texas Foundations Fund proposals and for being committed to the cause of affordable housing for low-income families in Texas.

We congratulate the following nonprofits on being awarded grants of the Texas Foundations Fund!

2008 HURRICANE RELIEF CYCLE

Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (CDCB) – The grant will be used for the rehabilitation and/or critical repair of owner-occupied homes affected by Hurricane Dolly in Cameron County.  Critical repair and/or rehabilitation is defined as construction work necessary to alleviate hurricane damage to a home that without repair would cause or is causing a health or safety problem for the individual or family. Furthermore, the grant is designed to assist those individuals at or below 50% of the area median family income who were affected by the storm.  It is anticipated that approximately 10 single family homes will be repaired, $5,000 allocated per home, utilizing this grant. 

Fort Bend CORPS – The grant will be used for the rehabilitation and/or critical repair of owner-occupied homes affected by Hurricane Ike in Fort Bend County.  Critical repair and/or rehabilitation is defined as construction work necessary to alleviate hurricane damage to a home that without repair would cause or is causing a health or safety problem for the individual or family. The grant is designed to assist those individuals at or below 50% of the area median family income who were affected by the storm.   Fort Bend CORPS will not only be serving those at or below this income level, but will be giving priority to those individuals who are 62 years or older or have a disability.  It is anticipated that a minimum of 10 single family homes will be repaired, $5,000 allocated per home, utilizing this grant. 

Self Help Housing of East Texas– The grant will be used for the rehabilitation and/or critical repair of owner-occupied homes affected by Hurricane Ike in Newton and Jasper Counties.  Critical repair and/or rehabilitation is defined as construction work necessary to alleviate hurricane damage to a home that without repair would cause or is causing a health or safety problem for the individual or family. Furthermore, the grant is designed to assist those individuals at or below 50% of the area median family income who were affected by the storm.  It is anticipated that a minimum of 5 single family homes will be repaired, $10,000 allocated per home, utilizing this grant. 

Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization (SETIO) – The grant will be used for the rehabilitation and/or critical repair of owner-occupied homes affected by Hurricane Ike in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange Counties.  Critical repair and/or rehabilitation is defined as construction work necessary to alleviate hurricane damage to a home that without repair would cause or is causing a health or safety problem for the individual or family. The grant is designed to assist those individuals at or below 50% of the area median family income who were affected by the storm.  SETIO will leverage this grant with funding from the United Way and the Southeast Texas Emergency Relief Fund.  Based on SETIO’s past experience assisting disaster victims, it is anticipated that approximately 8 single family homes, up to $6,000 per home, will be served with this grant.  However, other grant funds might be used with this award, and as a result more than eight homes could be repaired.

2008 GENERAL CYCLE

Affordable Homes of South Texas - The grant will be used to construct one single family home in rural Hidalgo County.  The average homeowner served by Affordable Homes of South Texas earns approximately $21,000 a year, which is 48 percent of the area median income for a family of four in Hidalgo County.  Affordable Homes of South Texas will also provide over 30 hours of homebuyer education and leverage other government and private sources of funding, including funding from the County of Hidalgo Urban County Program and from the City of McAllen.  The new homeowner will benefit by being able to purchase an affordable home at a below market interest rate. 
 
Foundation Communities - The grant will be used to fund supportive services for the residents of seven multifamily apartment complexes in Austin.  The grant will enable Foundation Communities to enhance supportive services for two specific populations at risk of homelessness, homeless single adults and homeless families with children.  Foundation Communities anticipates serving 432 individuals and 60 families through these supportive services housing programs.  The income of the average residents is $8,000 for the homeless single adults and about $15,000 for the homeless families.  This grant, which will go toward supportive services staff, will leverage $372,684 in private, government and earned income funding. 
 
Midland Habitat for Humanity - The grant will be used to construct one single family home for a family earning between 25 to 50 percent of the area median income in Midland.  This grant will fund the building materials for the three-bedroom home, which will be approximately 1,150 square feet and cost $52,000.  Approximately 2,500 volunteer and sweat equity hours from the new homeowner will leverage this grant award.  Financing of the home will be provided at no interest to the new homeowner, directly from Habitat.
 
Brazos Valley Affordable Housing Corporation -  The grant will be used for the rehabilitation and/or critical repair of owner-occupied homes for the elderly or disabled in rural Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington Counties.  The housing repair assistance program is designed to alleviate immediate threats to the health and safety of low-income home owners by making repairs costing up to $5,000.  Examples include installing grab bars and transfer benches in bathrooms, and ramps and handrails for home access.  Brazos Valley Affordable Housing Corporation will leverage this grant with funding from the Area Agency on Aging.  Approximately 10 to 15 low-income single family households will be served with this grant.
 
United Cerebral Palsy of Texas -The Critical Home Accessibility Modifications Program (CHAMP) is designed so that homeowners who have a family member with a disability can secure critical home rehabilitation assistance.  Homes that lack ramps, accessible bathrooms and accessible kitchens pose a serious life-threatening situation in the everyday lives of individuals with disabilities.  Eligible low-income homeowners must reside within the county limits of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, Williamson, Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, Dallas, Ft. Bend, Harris or Montgomery Counties. United Cerebral Palsy estimates that it will be able to serve two households at $15,000 and three households at $5,000 - $10,000 with this grant.