Austin, Texas, Aug. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nonprofits providing critical home repairs and other housing assistance to low-income Texas families affected by Hurricane Harvey now have a second chance to apply for grants to accelerate their work. This opportunity, made possible by generous donations from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and The Meadows Foundation, comes just days after the awarding of 14 initial grants totaling $500,000 for recovery projects.
The Housing and Economic Assistance to Rebuild Texas (HEART) program, a grant and technical assistance partnership between the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), began accepting grant applications from nonprofits in May. Due to an overwhelming number of preliminary proposals, HEART temporarily suspended submissions in June.
Initial funding for HEART came through a generous commitment from the Rebuild Texas Fund, a joint initiative of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation.
That support enabled the HEART Program to award $500,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations last week. This first round of grants will finance the repair of 47 hurricane and flood-damaged homes, fund emergency rental and utility assistance for households struggling with lost income, and support case management and volunteer management staff to assist with ongoing recovery efforts. For specific information about each grant, visit the HEART website.
The donations from Center for Disaster Philanthropy and The Meadows Foundation have enabled HEART to reopen applications, which will lead to support for more organizations helping rebuild the lives and communities damaged by Harvey. The Rebuild Texas Fund will match these two new donations, amplifying their impact and expanding HEART’s reach. The total funding available for its vital work has now reached $1.5 million.
The HEART program supports nonprofits serving all areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, with an emphasis on rural communities. TSAHC will continue to concentrate its grants on organizations that help people in their communities repair their homes, from the foundations to the roofs. Enterprise’s focus will remain on supporting programming such as supportive housing services, financial counseling and long-term planning, including assistance with resilient and green building practices.
For more information and to apply for the HEART program, please visit www.rebuildwithheart.org.
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About Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created at the direction of the Texas Legislature to serve as a self-sustaining, statewide affordable housing provider. To fulfill our mission, TSAHC provides innovative housing programs that help developers build affordable housing, help low and moderate-income households purchase a home, and help households facing financial hardship stay in their homes. Learn more at www.tsahc.org.
About Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise is a proven and powerful nonprofit that improves communities and people's lives by making well-designed homes affordable. We bring together the nationwide know-how, partners, policy leadership and investments to multiply the impact of local affordable housing development. Over 35 years, Enterprise has created nearly 470,000 homes, invested $28.9 billion and touched millions of lives. Join us at www.EnterpriseCommunity.org.
About Rebuild Texas Fund
The Rebuild Texas Fund is a collaborative project of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation, established to support the rebuilding efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The Rebuild Texas Fund works alongside organizations within the impacted communities that are making an impact in the following six focus areas: community and economic development; health; housing; education and childcare; transportation and workforce; and capital for rebuilding small businesses. The Rebuild Texas Fund will continue to fund projects and organizations within these areas through the end of 2019. Funding through the Rebuild Texas Fund is provided to eligible nonprofit, government, corporate, and philanthropic organizations working on the ground in Texas communities, that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. More information about the Rebuild Texas Fund is available at www.RebuildTX.org.