Despite advocate complaints, council approves final Ike recovery projects
November 20, 2015 – The Galveston Daily News – By John Wayne Ferguson
The City has officially declared how it intends to spend the last of a major portion of the recovery money given to the city after Hurricane Ike.
Collaborating Organizations letter to GLO regarding CDBG infrastructure funds release
July 8, 2013 – Letter to Jorge Ramirez from Collaborating Organizations
LSLA v. GHA Complaint to HUD
June 3, 2013 – Administrative Complaint & Fair Housing Complaint
Collaborating Organization letter to Galveston regarding re-negotiations
May 25, 2013 – Letter to City of Galveston, City Manager, City Attorney and Grant and Housing Department Director
Galveston Public Housing Plan Moves Forward
April 17, 2013 – The Texas Tribune – By Audrey White
GALVESTON – The city of Galveston on Wednesday took a major step toward beginning the rebuilding of public housing facilities demolished after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Christie hires Sandy firm fired for same job in Texas–and will housing money go to marketing?
February 7, 2013 – The Philadelphia Inquirer – By Matt Katz
Here’s my story in today’s paper on a new firm hired by Gov. Christie to handle Sandy recovery: To devise a plan to distribute billions in federal money for Sandy relief, the Christie administration hired a company fired for poor management under a similar contract int he aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
COG Approved GHA Rebuilding Plan
September 28, 2012 – Resolution No. 12-033
Galveston Still Holding Out in Public Housing Fight
August 20, 2012 – The Wall Street Journal – By Robbie Whelan
Housing officals in Galveston, Texas have revealed that they have a stubborn streak. Earlier this month, the Journal visited Galveston to report on a controversy surrounding the re-building of some public housing projects that were destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008.
A Texas-Size Housing Fight – U.S. Threatens to Cut Aid After Galveston Rejects Rebuilding Low-Income Units
August 3, 2012 – The Wall Street Journal – By Robbie Whelan
GALVESTON, Texas — Four years ago, Hurricane Ike swept through this island town on the Gulf of Mexico, flooding homes, destroying property and wreaking havoc on the economy. Now, Galveston has become the center of a different type of tempest, as local officials battle the Obama administration over plans to replace 569 public-housing units ruined by the storm.
Hurricane Ike Recovery: SSBG Collaborative Return on Investment
September 13, 2011 – Galveston County & Brazoria County 2009-2011 Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) Collaborative
Report to Show Where Grant Funds Spent
August 18, 2011 – County Lines published in The Daily News – By T.J. Aulds
The Gulf Coast Center Houston-Galveston Area Council Gulf Coast Interfaith and the University of Texas Medical Branch will have a public meeting to present a report on how social service block grant funds were spent from 9:00am-11:00am September 13 at the Galveston Island Convention Center 5700 Seawall Blvd.
HUD Steps Up in Texas
June 13, 2010 – The New York York Times – Editorial
Washington too often looks the other way as state governments rob low-income victims of their fair share of federal disaster aid.
TLIHIS and Texas Appleseed v. Texas
May 25, 2010 – Conciliation Agreement
TLIHIS v. Texas Fair Housing Complaint to HUD
December 1, 2009 – Fair Housing Complaint
TLIHIS and Texas Appleseed v. Texas CDBG Administrative Complaint to HUD
October 28, 2009 – CDGB Administrative Complaint
Area to get $225M more in Ike funds
September 17, 2009 – The Galveston County Daily News – By T.J. Aulds
Sometimes the squeaky wheel does get the grease – Or in the case of federal funds for Hurricane Ike recovery an additional $225 million.
Is God good at politics?
September 5, 2009 – The Houston Chronicle – By Rick Casey
It must have seemed like a good idea at the time: let God decide how to distribute $1.7 billion in federal money to clean up Texas after Hurricanes Dolly and Ike.
LSLA v. GHA Complaint to HUD Settlement
March 13, 2009 – Settlement of Administrative Complaint.
LSLA v. GHA Complaint to HUD
March 2, 2009 – Administrative Complaint on behalf of displaced tenants.
Galveston asks for more federal relief money
February 11, 2009 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Leigh Jones
Few area leaders and officials who spoke during a disaster relief public hearing Wednesday credited the Houston-Galveston Area Council with fairly divvying up $814 million in federal funds.
There’s money in the pipeline
January 25, 2009 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Heber Taylor
There’s no reason to believe that federal money that could be used to rebuild houses in Galveston County is being hijacked. But there’s little reason to believe based on the actions of government so far that helping the ordinary people recover from Hurricane Ike is the top priority of those who are handling the money.
Faith and cash can help on peninsula
January 22, 2009 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Gene Straatmeyer
More help is coming to Bolivar Peninsula’s Hurricane Ike survivors. Galveston County Restore & Rebuild (GCR2) is a group of non-profit and faith-based groups whose volunteers aid county residents who have exhausted all other possible sources of funding to get back into their homes.
The Jesse Tree is ready to help needy
November 22, 2008 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Ted Hanley
The Jesse Tree takes its name from Scripture: “A shoot will come up from the stem of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit.”
Archived Hurricane Ike Resources
Disaster Recovery Resources:
Hurricane Ike
- Do you or someone you know still need help to recover from Hurricane Ike?
- Do you still need to make roof repairs or have major damage to your home that was caused by Hurricane Ike?
- Do you still need to replace appliances or personal property in order to complete your recover?
- Do you need advice to find and qualify for the assistance that will help you recover?
Help is still available through Galveston County and several faith-based organizations which are working to assist our families in recovery but you must ask for help now, before assistance programs end. You can find out how to get the help you need by calling the following phone numbers.
To learn about all the kinds of assistance that you could receive for recover from Hurricane Ike, call the Mainland Children’s Partnershipat: (409) 643-8240or at (281) 578-8594.
For help repairing your home in Galveston County, call (877) 221-8215.
For help repairing your home in the City of Galveston, call (409) 797-3773.
If you want to help people in your congregation or community learn more about how to finish their recovery from Ike, feel free to send an email to info@gulfcoastinterfaith.orgor call (409) 939-8017.
Resources for Download
- Ike Outreach flyer
- Four Key Questions for Funding Eligibility
- What Pastors Can Do to Inform Their Congregations
- Bulletin and Pulpit Announcements
Documentation: Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Recovery & Hurricane Preparedness
12/07/2009: Solicitation for Public Comment
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is seeking input on the method of distribution for $729,517,257 in Community Development Block Grant Supplemental Disaster Recover Funds. This funding is the second allocation of disaster recovery assistance allocated to the HGAC region by the Texas Department of Rural Affairs. Written and oral comments regarding the Method of Distribution will be taken at two public Hearings scheduled for the following dates, times and locations.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Greenspoint Marriott, located at 255 N. Sam Houston Pkwy East, Houston, TX 77060
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Hobby Airport Marriott, located at 9100 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77017
More information can be found at the H-GAC web-site: http://www.h-gac.com/home/default.aspx
9/24/2009: Flyer for September 25, 2009 Public Hearing
9/24/2009: Top 10 Reasons NOT to adopt TDRA Model
9/25/2009: Why the TDRA Weather Model Doesn’t Work
9/17/2009: Impact on Housing % if GOCs reduces allocation below 50%
9/17/2009: ORCA Estimated Damages vs Actual Housing Damage from FEMA
9/17/2009: Proposed testimony for GCI on August 17, 2009
9/17/2009: How Much Money is allocated for Housing less rental
Gulf Coast Interfaith 