HOUSTON – Families displaced from four flood-prone apartment complexes in Houston may be eligible for federal relocation assistance, but many are still unaccounted for, with hundreds of residents yet to claim the aid they’re entitled to under federal law.
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The General Land Office (GLO) took over the relocation program nine months ago after the City of Houston handled it previously as part of a disaster recovery effort under the Uniform Relocation Act (URA).
The URA is a federal law designed to help individuals displaced by federally funded projects, offering financial assistance for moving, rent differentials, and other related costs. For Houston residents forced to leave apartments that were repeatedly flooded, the law promises a lifeline. However, many former tenants of the four affected apartment complexes have not received the funds they’re entitled to.
The affected apartments are:
- Monticello Square Apartments 5312 Clarewood Drive, Houston 77081 Buyout date: August 24, 2021
- Appian Way Apartments 3200 N. Macgregor Way, Houston 77004 Buyout date: May 5, 2021
- Spring Village Apartments 11810 Chimney Rock Road, Houston 77035 Buyout date: June 2, 2021
- Biscayne At City View Apartments 17030 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston 77060 and 17050 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston 77060 Buyout date: Nov. 17, 2021
KPRC2′s Rechelle Turner spoke to one resident who successfully navigated the system—Linda Mejia Zuniga. After years of living in a one-bedroom unit at Biscayne at City View Apartments in Greenspoint, Zuniga was displaced when the City of Houston bought the flood-prone complex in 2021.
“I had been there for 10 years, and I prayed to get out,” Zuniga said, explaining the emotional journey. “They gave me a whole year,” she said.
Facing delays with her relocation file, compounded by the loss of her job, Zuniga eventually received a check for more than $17,000 from the GLO’s Relocation Assistance team. She now lives in what she proudly calls her “dream house.”
“The money didn’t come when I expected it, but it came when I needed it the most because I hadn’t been working for four months,” Zuniga explained. “I just turned 50. This is my first house. I picked the color of the floor. I picked the color of the cabinets. I picked the floor plan. I picked the color of the counter. I picked everything. It’s exactly what I prayed for and what I wanted.”
With the help of the GLO’s relocation assistance team, Zuniga navigated the application process, and despite the challenges, she remains grateful for the outcome.
“When they did call, my heart [was] full of appreciation,” she said.
But not everyone has had the same success. According to the GLO, about 200 former residents of the four flood-prone complexes—Monticello Square Apartments on Clarewood Drive, Biscayne at City View Apartments, Appian Way Apartments on MacGregor Way, and Spring Village Apartments on Chimney Rock—have received assistance. Another 300 could be eligible, but they need to come forward with proper documentation.
Brittany Eck, Director of Communications for the GLO, explained the importance of reaching the remaining displaced individuals.
“They’re going to tear those down and make sure that those are areas of green space for flooding,” Eck said. “But those individuals that lived in these apartment complexes were owed that relocation assistance.”
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Despite extensive outreach efforts, including partnerships with local pastors, food banks, and school districts, the GLO has struggled to locate around 400 displaced residents.
“We have about 370 individuals that were living in different apartments that we can’t find them. We don’t know who they are. We might have a name, but it might be too common to find them,” Eck shared.
The GLO is urging any former residents of these apartment complexes to reach out and begin the application process for the federal aid they are owed.
“We want them to reach out to us. We’ve been doing a lot of outreach…but the clock is ticking for these individuals to come forward and receive the federal aid they’re owed,” Eck emphasized.
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For those still navigating the process, Zuniga has advice: “There are good people out there. There are people that want to help you if you do your part,” she said.
While the process can be complicated, Zuniga’s story serves as a reminder of the life-changing impact the aid can have. The GLO is continuing its efforts to assist displaced residents with the application process and to determine eligibility for relocation assistance.
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To be eligible, you must have been a tenant of the property on the buyout date. The GLO has a team of URA counselors available to answer your questions and help determine if you are owned URA assistance from the Houston HCDD Buyout Program. For questions or concerns, please visit or contact us: URA Assistance Program Office 19219 Katy Freeway, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77094
Telephone: 281-925-7155 or 1-844-893-8937 (toll free) Fax: 832-582-2580 Email: cdr@recovery.texas.gov
For more information on how to apply or determine eligibility, visit Uniform Relocation Assistance (texas.gov).
COMING UP: At 8 AM, tune in to KPRC2+ for an exclusive interview with GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who will discuss the program and the GLO’s ongoing efforts to reconnect with displaced residents.