HomeAid’s BuildAid initiative brings hope to homeowners
HomeAid Houston's Hurricane Harvey rebuild initiative, BuildAid is providing assistance to homeowners whose homes were devastated by the floods. Once prequalified through an online form on the BuildAid website, www.buildaidhouston.org, these homeowners will be matched with experienced builders, members of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) who will walk them through a finish selection process and the actual remodeling.
The scope of services provided to a homeowner varies by household, but typically includes the following cost categories: insulation/drywall/tape/float/texture/ paint, cabinetry, countertops, millwork and trim, door hardware, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom tile, pre and post-construction inspections and final clean.
One homeowner who experienced 2½ feet of water in their Katy area home, learned about BuildAid through their homeowner's association. Fredrick and Alta Hodges never dreamed they would be ferried from their home in a rubber raft by the Coast Guard, along with dozens of their neighbors. On Aug. 28, three days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, the Hodges boarded the raft and left the area for 10 days before returning to find they had lost everything on the first floor. "That was the worst part. Knowing our house flooded and we couldn't get in to assess right away. There was going to be a mold problem and we worried about that more than anything else," said Hodges.
Volunteers from a local church assisted in removing the wet materials from their home, but the question of how to move forward from there was overwhelming. Through their HOA, the Hodges were introduced to Chris Yuko, director of BuildAid and to SBP, a disaster relief organization who identifies areas in need. "The Hodges were the ideal candidates for this initiative," said Yuko. "They were quickly approved and matched with a David Weekley Home builder to begin the construction.
Hodges’ home will be completed soon.