The city’s Housing and Community Development Department has announced that its home repair program has run out of funds and will stop accepting new applications until it receives fresh federal money, which is expected to arrive in late October.
Homeowners throughout the area are confronting higher expenses for maintaining and insuring their homes, which has prompted a pause. Darrell Marbley’s situation illustrates the difficulty: he can no longer return to the house where he grew up because of a lack of repair help.
Marbley’s Home
Marbley said he has lived in his home since childhood, though worsening conditions now make it unlivable. He said the house lacks running water and air conditioning, and it also needs major plumbing and roof repairs.
“I’ve been living in this house all my life since I was a little boy,” Marbley said.
The pressure on Marbley’s home began to grow as he faced a serious health problem. He had surgery to remove a large brain tumor in January 2025, and from that point onward, he stayed with his aunt Willie while she helped him look into repairing the property.
“I couldn’t do anything without her,” Marbley said. “She’s my angel.”
Willie and Marbley say the repairs required at their home are serious and more than they can manage on their own. Marbley reached out to Houston’s home repair program for assistance. That program relies on federal government grants to assist low-income residents like Marbley with home repairs, but it currently has no money available.
“It’s just a lot of repair work that needs to be redone, and we don’t have the financial means at the present to get it done,” Willie said.
The Funding Picture
Last October, the department reported taking in a little over $2 million from federal grants for the program. Once 15% was set aside to cover administrative expenses, roughly $1.7 million was left over for repairs.
The department said that funding assisted eight homeowners. Officials noted that the work frequently extends past small repairs into major restoration, which restricts how many households the available money can assist.
Another seven or eight homeowners could get help from an estimated new allocation of roughly $1.9 million in federal funding expected to arrive in late October. The department says 16 people are currently awaiting assistance.
Insurance Costs
Marbley stated that he cannot afford homeowners insurance either, because its costs have risen greatly over time. The Texas Department of Insurance reports that the average yearly homeowners insurance premium stood at $3,500 in 2025, while the figure rises above $4,100 for people living in Harris County.
The average premium in Harris County stood at $2,400 in 2019.
Officials from Houston’s Housing and Community Development office said they intend to reach out to Marbley personally to provide him with help and direction as he takes on the task of fixing up his house.
Key Facts Box
- $2 million: federal grants received last October
- $1.7 million: remaining funds after 15% set aside for administration
- 8 homeowners helped with the initial funding
- $1.9 million: expected additional federal funding in late October
- 7 or 8: estimated number of additional homeowners the new funds could help
- 16: people currently in the pipeline for assistance
What This Means for Homeowners
There is no money left to process new applications, and the situation is plain. Eight homeowners received assistance from that $1.7 million, while 16 people remain on the waiting list.
The figures come from the department’s estimate that the late October funding will help another seven or eight homeowners. The pipeline has 16 people in it, and the new allocation serves fewer than half of them based on the department’s assessment.
How the Program Works
- The program relies on federal government grants to assist low-income residents with home repairs.
- Last October, the department took in a little over $2 million from federal grants.
- Once 15% was set aside to cover administrative expenses, roughly $1.7 million was left over for repairs.
- That funding assisted eight homeowners.
- The work frequently extends past small repairs into major restoration, which restricts how many households the available money can assist.
- Another seven or eight homeowners could get help from an estimated new allocation of roughly $1.9 million in federal funding expected to arrive in late October.
- The department says 16 people are currently awaiting assistance.
A Personal Cost
The numbers become personal through Marbley’s account. He grew up in the house, and now he can no longer go back to it because it has neither running water nor air conditioning. He is staying with his aunt Willie while recovering from surgery for a large brain tumor.
Willie laid out the state of things without embellishment, stating simply that “We don’t have the financial means at the present to get it done.” the work needed to fix the damage is far-reaching.
The Bigger Picture
The hold on funding is brief, the department says. Federal cash is coming in late October, and the agency intends to reach out to Marbley directly with aid.
Marbley’s situation is tight, and insurance costs are not helping. The Texas Department of Insurance data shows an average premium rise from $2,400 in 2019 to $3,500 in 2025, with Harris County residents paying more than $4,100.
What Happens Next
The department will reach out to Marbley directly. Officials intend to provide him with aid and direction as he works through the state of his home.
Until the federal funding arrives, the program will stay paused. The department cannot begin accepting applications again until that money shows up.
For now, the message to other homeowners is simple: wait.
Source material: “Houston's Housing and Community Development Department says program is temporarily out of money,” ABC13 Houston.
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