Access to decent affordable housing is a fundamental human need. Maintaining an adequate supply of housing is also an important component of a community's economic vitality and overall quality of life.
H-GAC's Application for Funding through PRO Housing
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is pursuing funding through the PRO Housing Grant to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing in the Houston-Galveston Area Council region. The PRO Housing Grant award ranges from $1 million to $10 million to be distributed to approximately 20 jurisdictions nationwide.
If selected, H-GAC will help set the foundation and vision for regional housing in the Texas Gulf Coast Planning Region, set the groundwork for regional cooperation to meet housing need, and stimulate local affordable housing production. Our goal is to develop the resources to stimulate housing production and the preservation of affordable housing for low-income and middle-income residents in the 13-county H-GAC region. This proposal builds on existing efforts in Harris County, but will not duplicate those efforts. The effort will focus strongly on communities who would benefit most from additional organizational capacity. Proposed activities include:
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Current housing needs assessment and 10-, 20-, 30-year forecasts by income categories and projected population growth, which includes analysis of fair housing issues across the region
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Analysis of infrastructure capacity and recommendations needed to accommodate affordable housing across the region
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A detailed update of the 2020 H-GAC Regional Housing Plan
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Resource development to stimulate rural housing production through capacity-building programs for local developers like a housing production entrepreneurship program, peer exchanges, speakers bureau, and matchmaking
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Program development for technical assistance and funding for initiatives meant to preserve housing affordability in rural communities
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Development of an affordable housing toolbox, community land trust toolbox, and homebuyer education
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Coordination with the Livable Center Program, which would provide technical assistance to implement housing recommendations in past Livable Centers studies
Full text of the draft application is available for reference.
Public Comment
H-GAC accepted oral and written public comments from October 13, 2023, through October 27, 2023, by email, phone message, online form, postal mail, and hand delivery.
Public Hearing
In addition to the methods listed above, H-GAC also accepted oral and written comments related to the grant application during a public hearing on Thursday October 19, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hearing was held in person at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas, second floor conference rooms and on Zoom.
About this Grant
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will award a total of $85 million to urban and rural communities that are suffering from a lack of affordable housing. More information can be found at the grant website.
