Fort Bend County homeowners still living with Hurricane Beryl damage can apply for state-funded repairs or reimbursement through two Texas General Land Office (GLO) programs.
The GLO allocated $244.1 million for home repairs and reconstruction and $43.1 million for reimbursements across 27 federally designated counties, including Fort Bend, KPRC 2 reported on Aug. 27. The money comes from a $555.7 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Applications are available at recovery.texas.gov/apply. Completed applications will be processed first-come, first-served until funds run out.
"I would tell everyone to go on and apply … There's nothing that helps you by waiting," GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told KPRC 2 on Aug. 27. "It's always better to be first at the table, so come on and apply."
Two programs, one choice
Homeowners must pick one program. They cannot receive help through both.
Homeowner Assistance Program: The GLO will repair or reconstruct a damaged home. The cap is $90,000 for a nonhistoric home and $175,000 for a historic home. Damage must total at least $8,000 as verified by a GLO inspector. Approved applicants may also qualify for temporary relocation assistance of up to $7,000 during construction, hazard-mitigation work such as elevation, one year of homeowners or flood insurance, and a 10-year structural warranty on reconstructed homes.
Homeowner Reimbursement Program: Homeowners who already paid for their own repairs can seek between $3,000 and $75,000 back for a traditional stick-built home, or $3,000 to $50,000 for a manufactured home. Repairs must have been completed and paid for before July 7, 2025. Buckingham stressed that applicants need receipts, paid invoices or other proof of payment.
Who qualifies
Both programs are limited to a homeowner's primary residence. Rental properties, vacation homes and second homes are not eligible.
Applicants must show they owned and lived in the home when the disaster struck. Household income cannot exceed 200% of the area median income, though the exact limit varies by county and household size. Homes in a federally designated floodway are not eligible.
The GLO will factor in any assistance already received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), private insurers or nonprofits. Federal rules prohibit paying twice for the same repair, so prior aid may reduce the final amount.
What to bring
The GLO requires a valid photo ID for every adult in the household, proof of ownership, proof the property was the primary residence, income records for every adult, property-tax records, mortgage information and photos or videos connecting the damage to an eligible 2024 disaster. FEMA, insurance, SBA and NFIP documents are also needed.
Reimbursement applicants must additionally provide receipts and proof of payment.
How to apply
No in-person intake event has been scheduled in Fort Bend County. Residents can apply online at recovery.texas.gov/apply or call the GLO recovery hotline at 1-844-893-8937, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Homeowners can also email [email protected] with their full name, address and county.
Residents of the city of Houston and Harris County are not eligible for these GLO programs. HUD awarded those jurisdictions separate disaster recovery allocations.
