Applications will open on August 25 to eligible homeowners who qualify for up to $150,000 in repairs caused by damage from the 2021 storm.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Four years after a devastating winter storm left North Texas buried under snow and ice, Fort Worth is ready to distribute federal relief money to homeowners still struggling with damage from the February 2021 disaster.
The City of Fort Worth will open applications from August 25 to November 25.
The city has nearly $27.5 million in federal grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development available for long-term recovery efforts. The money will be used for mitigation efforts, multi-family housing, and homeownership.
The Homeowner Assistance Repair and Rehabilitation Program is known as HARRP. The city has $6.8-million available for that.
For homeowner Shakita Reynolds, the announcement represents hope after years of living in a partially uninhabitable house.
“I didn’t know you all get storms here in Texas,” said Reynolds, who bought her Fort Worth home just months before the storm hit.
Reynolds left town for a funeral in February 2021, leaving her home without heat because she didn’t expect extreme weather in Texas. When she returned, burst pipes had sent water cascading through her ceilings. Carpet molded throughout the house, leaving half of it unusable and unsafe.
“We just stopped using the upstairs,” Reynolds said. The house has been without air conditioning or heat for four years.
Who qualifies?
Homeowners in the City of Fort Worth who experience damage because of winter storm Uri and have never been able to address those repairs due to funding or just not being a priority.
Does income status matter?
Yes. Households will be prioritized based on household income and family size. Families must be 60% Area Median Income for Priority 3 and between 60% and 80% for Priority 4. The City of Fort Worth sent WFAA the graph below.
Will the city reimburse?
No, the city will not reimburse money already paid to fix storm damage.
What kind of proof do I need?
Homeowners need proof that the damage to their home was caused by the 2021 winter storm. If you only have pictures, it might be an uphill climb. The city is looking for documentation, like quotes you got during that time frame, or claims submitted but not fully covered by insurance.
Why did it take so long?
“This was a brand-new grant program for the city of Fort Worth. We’ve never had a disaster recovery grant,” said Kacey Thomas, Director of Neighborhood Services.
“For us, part of it was coming to a point where we understood what the grant requirements are what the procedures are. Making sure we’re comfortable with the program before we launch it to our residents.”
How much will I get?
After going through the application process, the city’s team will send someone out to inspect the repairs needed. From there, city staff will contract out to have the work done.
Homeowners can qualify for up to $150,000 in repairs. But Thomas said most homes average $20,000-$40,000. Homeowners can find more information online here.