The Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) Board took action Thursday that is expected to allow its Regional Housing Program to operate more efficiently. DETCOG Executive Director Lonnie Hunt started by telling the board that nationally recognized housing program consultants, Nan McKay and Associates, had just completed a 6 week review of the DETCOG Regional Housing Program.
The DETCOG Regional Housing Program partners with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide quality, affordable housing to more than 1,800 families in Deep East Texas through the use of Housing Choice Vouchers. As an added benefit to the region, this program pumps $10 million a year into the local economies.
Hunt said the overhaul of the Housing Administrative Plan reflects updates in HUD regulations and incorporates best practices and operational changes which will benefit recipients and provide for a more efficient operation. Acting on the recommendation of the Housing Advisory Committee the board accepted the 23 changes to the Housing Administrative Plan.
Hunt followed by introducing Janett Lewis as the newly hired director of the DETCOG Regional Housing Program. Lewis had previous experience in related programs in the City of Beaumont. Most recently she directed the DETCOG Hurricane Ike Housing Recovery program that has just completed more than 200 new homes for families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.
The DETCOG board also heard an update on efforts to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) federal funding. Ten of the twelve DETCOG counties contain National Forest land. Those counties and more than 40 school districts within them have received SRS funds since 1999 to offset the loss of timber related revenues. The program expired in late 2015 and the final payments were received in April of 2016. Since then attempts to renew the program have been stalled in Congress.
The next DETCOG Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 23, 2017. It will be held in San Jacinto County at the Shepherd Community Center.
