Apr 13th 2020 | Posted in Federal by Texas Government Insider

Overview of Texas Covid Relief Plan Funding by HUD

Texas is set to receive $220 million of $3.06 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
HUD will distribute the funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS programs.

Details of Texas Covid Recovery Plan Funding Thus Far

HUD headquarters

Funding for Texas includes $144 million through HUD’s CDBG program that may be used to construct medical facilities for testing and treatment, acquire a motel or hotel building to expand capacity of hospitals to accommodate isolation of patients during recovery, or replace HVAC systems to temporarily transform commercial buildings or closed school buildings into clinics or treatment centers. CDBG funds also may be used to support businesses manufacturing medical supplies, construct a group living facility to centralize patients undergoing treatment, and support other initiatives.

HUD Funding for More Homeless Shelters

Texas is set to receive $71.7 million through HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant Program to build more emergency homeless shelters, operate emergency shelters, and provide other social services.

HUD will send $4.2 million to Texas through its Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program to help Americans with compromised immune systems.

List of HUD Allocations to Texas Cities Through the CARES Act

Some specific allocations to Texas’ metropolitan cities and counties are:

  • Austin – $7.85 million;
  • Dallas – $15.12 million;
  • El Paso – $6.39 million;
  • Fort Worth – $7.41 million;
  • Houston – $24.69 million;
  • San Antonio – $13.1 million;
  • Harris County – $14.1 million; and,
  • Hidalgo County – $7.75 million.

Texas also will receive $68.08 million in nonentitlement grants.

Additional funds will follow this first tranche. The CARES Act allows HUD to broaden the reach of its existing grant programs for the remaining $9.14 billion in relief funding. HUD began writing new formulas immediately and working quickly to address communities’ needs and ensure these funds are distributed soon and do not get delayed.