HomeAid initiative brings hope after Harvey
Days after Hurricane Harvey, David Weekley joined forces and funds with HomeAid Houston and the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), to develop an initiative to help homeowners with limited means restore their flooded homes. During those early days, BuildAid Houston was formed with a $1 milllion contribution from the David Weekley Family Foundation and a $5.5 million grant from the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF).
Homeowners must meet a specific criteria to be qualified for assistance. This includes homes that are construction ready with a mold certificate, homes that have no deferred maintenance such as prior foundation or framing problems, low- to moderateincome homeowners, homes valued at plus or minus $150,000, depending on the homeowner’s circumstances, and homes not in the 100-year flood plain. Pre-qualified homeowners are matched with a professional builder who is on loan from Houston area homebuilding companies. These builders work with the homeowner from start to finish during the restoration process.
On the night of Aug. 26, 2017, Crystal Wicks, a homeowner in Northeast Houston watched the Mayweather/McGregor fight that was billed the “fight of all time.” Later that night, what would eventually be labeled the “storm of a lifetime,” 51 inches of rain fell throughout the Houston area. Wicks watched as 5 feet of water quickly rose inside her home. She dialed 911 and getting no answer, fled outside where she became stranded on top of her Jeep. There she began the fight for her life, as debris swirled around her in the dark. Eventually, Wicks’ neighbors heard her cries. They threw her a rope and she jumped in and began both swimming and trying to run toward them, going under several times before she reached higher ground.
Wicks returned to her home four days later after the water had receded — 6 feet of water had destroyed everything.
Wicks was fortunate to hear from Bayou City Relief and they connected her with BuildAid Houston. The BuildAid team responded immediately by getting Wicks qualified for assistance and she was matched with a BuildAid builder. The work on her home is nearing completion and Wicks will soon be able to move back in.