Texas Grow Home

A Conversation Series Dedicated to Developing a Disaster Housing Reconstruction Program for Low Income Homeowners

01/14/2010

The Texas Grow Home Conversation Series will consist of eight meetings held every third Wednesday from 4pm – 6pm (location to be announced). Each meeting will discuss and develop recommendations for various topics associated with low-income homeowner recovery. Recommendations developed during each meeting will be used to inform the work of the Natural Disaster Housing Reconstruction Advisory Committee. Each topic will be posted on the Texas Grow Home blog one week prior to each meeting. We encourage you to post questions and comments associated with each topic in order to expand and enhance the conversation.

The first of the Texas Grow Home Conversation Series will focus on the topic of Design and will be held, Wednesday, January 27. Attendance is ideal, but the goal of the Conversation Series is to get people thinking about solutions. Stay tuned to the blog and join us in person when you can. Read the rest of this entry »

2 Comments | Conversation Series | Permalink
Posted by Tillie Croxdale

Natural Disaster Housing Reconstruction Advisory Committee

01/05/2010

During the last legislative session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2450, effective September 2009. H.B. 2450, among other things, called for the creation of a Natural Disaster Housing Reconstruction Advisory Committee. Section 2306.541 states that the director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) shall appoint an advisory committee “composed of representatives from appropriate local, state, and federal entities and organizations and nonprofit organization”. H.B. 2450 is vital to the progression of the Texas Grow Home Project and we ask that TDHCA appoint the committee without delay. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Natural Disaster Housing Reconstruction Advisory Committee, Policy | Permalink
Posted by Tillie Croxdale

New Texas Grow Home website launched

11/27/2009

Visit the new website to learn all about the project.

Visit: www.texasgrowhome.org.

Leave a Comment » | Overall project | Tagged: Port Arthur, Texas Grow Home project | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

Open House 11:00 – 3:00pm Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st

11/18/2009

An innovative solution to the post-hurricane housing crisis is soon to be unveiled in Port Arthur. Join us this Friday, November 20 in celebrating the completion of the first two Texas Grow Homes. Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Design, Families, Port Arthur Pilot Project, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Tillie Croxdale

Virtual open house website coming Friday, Nov 20

11/16/2009

Beginning Friday, Nov 20 this blog will be transformed into a comprehensive web site about the Texas Grow Home Project, complete with virtual open house tours of the completed Texas Grow Homes.

Leave a Comment » | Overall project, Port Arthur Pilot Project | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

First two Texas Grow Home prototypes nearing completion

11/03/2009

The first two prototypes of the Texas Grow Homes are nearing completion in Port Arthur, TX. We invite you to join us for the two House Blessing Ceremonies on November 20th, where you can learn about our initiative to reform post-disaster housing programs, meet the families, and hear from the people and organizations that partnered to make these homes possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Port Arthur Pilot Project | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

Is Port Arthur becoming the dumping ground for the nation’s toxic waste

06/19/2008

As if Port Arthur does not have enough problems trying to recover from Hurricane Rita and deal with a huge unemployemnt and 25 percent poverty rate the New York Times reports today that a plan s afoot to bring tons of highly toxic PCBs to the city from Mexico for disposal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

Security considerations conflict with design

06/15/2008

The conflict between the aesthetic and functional considerations of design and the realities of living and maintaining a house in a low income neighborhood keeps coming into play. Are large windows, designed for day-lighting and energy efficiency, a security concern when living in a low-income neighborhood? Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Design | Tagged: Home security | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

We will build in Port Arthur, Texas

06/07/2008

We have selected Port Arthur, Texas as a location for building the prototype homes For the Texas Grow Home project. The city, located at the southeastern most part of Texas right on the Gulf of Mexico, was near Ground Zero for Hurricane Rita. Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Overall project, Port Arthur Pilot Project | Tagged: Port Arthur | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger

We are working to post all of the designs

06/06/2008

I have been contacted by a lot of people who would like to see all of the designs that were submitted for the Texas Grow Home design competition. I started out telling people we would have all the designs posted online by the end of March but that deadline came and went. For those who’ve been waiting patiently, we appreciate your patience and are doing our best to bring the presentation of all the design entries online in the next couple months. Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Design | Permalink
Posted by John Henneberger