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Rita Restoration

Orientation Day June 19, 2008

Round 2 of the Hurricane Rita Homeowners’ Assistance Program (HAP) began in earnest in Newton County with a Community Day held at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 17. 210 Million Dollars have been available to the 22 counties area that was hit by Rita. Supplemental Packages are being sent out to the 387 families who applied for aid previously. Families are being asked to update their status to qualify for assistance in repairing their homes or replacing existing homes with new construction. Those families who received their packages were offered help from experts at this first Community Day in Newton.  

At the Community Day were representatives from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Development (TDHCA), ACS (manager of the project), Shaw (providers of assistance to applicants), Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization (process consultant), and Lonestar Legal Aid (advocacy for homeowners). The case workers from the Shaw office in Jasper assisted applicants.  

Since the homes will be built on a first-come first-served basis, those who complete the application process successfully will receive assistance first. If you are in need of assistance because of damage by Hurricane Rita, and you received a package in the mail, be sure to follow up on the application process. If you did not receive a letter of package you may still be eligible to be put on a waiting list for assistance.  

There is a toll free number to call for assistance in complying with the application: 877-839-4477. Also, a Jasper office has been set up to provide assistance to applicants: 381-8354. If you do not how to proceed, call the toll free number for further information.