The Mayor’s Office of Recovery seek approval of an agreement with and appropriation for Community Land Trust (CLT) to provide relocation services for the Fifth Ward Voluntary Relocation Program (FWVRP).
On July 13, 2023, Mayor Sylvester Turner created a Strike Team to begin work on a program to help relocate residents living over the creosote plume adjacent to the Union Pacific Railyard. On September 27, 2023, City Council approved funding in the amount of $5 million to assist with the relocation of certain residents who voluntarily seek to relocate away from the plume. The FWVRP seeks to provide a relocation plan for eligible homeowners and tenants who voluntarily wish to participate. The FWVRP includes options for acquisition of new residences at fair market value and relocation assistance for homeowners and to help find a comparable replacement rental dwelling for tenants. Relocation assistance will include advisory services, replacement housing payments, buyout of existing leases, relocation assistance for tenants, and moving expenses. The primary eligibility requirement is that residents must have permanently resided in the Relocation Zone prior to July 1, 2023.
Community Land Trust contracts to assist eligible low-income families or individual buyers in obtaining a quality and environmentally safe home that maintains its long-term affordability. Upon closing of each home, the Land Trust acquires and holds a leasehold title to the real property a Land Trust Lot, and transfers leasehold title to such real property to the low-income family or individual in question, who in turn owns the improvements located on such real property. CLT will work with Family Service Center of Houston and Harris County (Family Houston) to provide relocation services for the eligible residents in the FWVRP.
Fiscal Note:
No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
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Stephen Costello, Chief
Mayor’s Office of Recovery