Repair work will soon be getting underway on 26 homes in Houston and Harris County that were damaged during Hurricane Harvey two years ago. Houston Habitat for Humanity is administering the project after receiving a grant of approximately $1.34 million from the Qatar Harvey Fund.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, the State of Qatar announced a gift of $30 million for the long-term recovery of the storm’s victims in Texas. The Qatar Harvey Fund (www.QatarHarveyFund.com) was created to administer the gift.

The grant to the Houston affiliate is one of three from the Qatar Harvey Fund to affiliates of Habitat for Humanity in Texas. The three grants, which were first announced last July, total $3.2 million, with Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County and Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity being the other two recipients. In all, 64 homes will be repaired or rebuilt in Texas via the Qatar Harvey Fund. The home repair projects in Houston and Harris County are scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.

The Qatar Harvey Fund is chaired by Qatar’s Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, who said: “I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey on the Houston region. Two years after the storm, there is still a pressing need to assist low-to-moderate income homeowners in restoring their homesteads to safe, sanitary and secure conditions. We are honored to partner with Houston Habitat for Humanity to enable this home restoration so that Texans can fully recover from the storm.”

Allison Hay, Executive Director for Houston Habitat for Humanity, said: “Houston Habitat has thus far repaired more than 450 homes damaged during Hurricane Harvey, but the needs persist. Our repair work extends to such services as mold assessment and remediation, the use of water resistant and/or waterproof building materials, and a variety of other measures to strengthen resiliency and preparedness for future flooding. Houston Habitat is truly grateful to the Qatar Harvey Fund and the leader of Qatar who created it, His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.”

Amy Ledbetter Parham, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Texas, said: "Texas saw damage across 54 counties. Seventeen of our local offices were affected by Harvey. As Habitat Texas and these affiliates ramped up to help rebuild our communities -- work that continues across Texas today -- the generosity of our partners addressed critical needs. Research says that 80% of donations come in the days after a disaster strikes, although 80% of the need comes later. It is rare that someone gives and responds with generosity when most who weren't affected have moved on. I'm so proud of our partnerships and faith in the work we continue to do."