The first 10 homes are reserved for flood victims who are unable to rebuild on their own due to financial hardship.
KERRVILLE, Texas — On a quiet stretch of land in Kerrville, the frames of new homes are going up — symbols of stability for families who lost everything during the devastating July 4 floods.
The first 10 disaster recovery homes are now under construction, marking the beginning of a 44-home community built by Habitat for Humanity of Kerr County. The first 10 homes are reserved for flood victims who are unable to rebuild on their own due to financial hardship, safety concerns or lasting trauma tied to the disaster.
“It’s for families who can’t build,” said Mary Campana, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Kerr County. “Where their house existed, it’s been destroyed. Or because of elevation they’re not able to build — or even trauma, that they don’t want to live where they saw horrific things happening.
The development, known as the Mariposa Community, is part of Habitat’s affordability program. The primary requirement is income eligibility, with priority given to those with the greatest need and fewest resources.
“We started with the people who needed it the most,” Campana said. “Folks that don’t have other resources, and the foundation empowered us to do so.”
Funding for the first phase of construction — totaling $2.5 million — is being provided by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. Campana said nearly all of that investment is staying close to home.
“Everything that we have received is going back to the local economy,” she said. “Ninety-eight percent of the money we are spending goes directly to suppliers and local contractors. So it’s thank you, because you’re doing it with us.”
As crews work through the Texas heat, the vision for the neighborhood stretches far beyond bricks and lumber. Habitat leaders say affordable housing is a critical step toward long-term recovery and economic stability.
“It’s really about empowering the family,” Campana said. “It’s about giving them a chance. Once you have an affordable home, you can now afford better health care. You can get a better education. So it’s really the single best way to lift someone out of poverty.”
The full 44-home community is expected to be completed within three years. The first 10 homes are scheduled to be finished by May.
For families displaced by the floods, each plank nailed into place represents something deeper — a chance to rebuild not just a house, but a future.