For many Texans, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey, or last month鈥檚 once-in-a-lifetime winter storm, are making it harder to continue pursuing the of home ownership
New York Times reporter traveled to Houston, where he found that houses are no longer the financial safety net they were intended to be, . He told Texas Standard that many Gulf Coast residents whose homes have been damaged by multiple natural disasters, are stuck.
鈥淭hey can鈥檛 afford insurance, they can鈥檛 afford to move and there are the sort of sentimental bonds that are holding them there as well,鈥� Rojas said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 less them making a conscious decision to stay in a place, or to put themselves in a situation, than it is just not having enough resources to change their situation.鈥�
Rojas says government and nonprofit assistance exists in Houston. Organizations work to untangle complicated ownership situations related to homes that have been in families for generations, and that may not be adequately insured.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard to get what you need put together to successfully apply for government support,鈥� Rojas said.
Many people of color have been drawn to Houston from small-town Texas, Rojas says, by the promise of a better life and the opportunity to find a solid working-class job. Buying a home provided a means of creating and preserving family wealth.
鈥淭hat opportunity has just caved in on itself,鈥� Rojas said.