Hurricane Harvey has been estimated to have caused more than $150 billion in damages to Houston and the surrounding areas. One of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, its impact on the area will be seen for years to come. While billions in aid has been set aside to help in the recovery,
Dixie Sanders, a Mortgage Loan Originator in the Sugar Land, Texas branch of HomeBridge Financial Services, is leading a relief effort designed to assist members of the community with their immediate needs. Dixie and her daughter Allison, both of whose homes incurred flood damage as a result of the storm, launched “Operation: Rebuild TX” from their hotel room as a way to help friends and neighbors begin the rebuilding process.
The simple goal of “Operation: Rebuild TX” is to provide victims of Hurricane Harvey with some of the essentials needed to start the rebuilding process. Through the resources raised from its crowdfunding page on the
You Caring Web site and other efforts, Sanders, along with her staff and colleagues, have raised more than $50,000, which has been used to create more than 1,450 cleaning kits for residents to use as they return to their homes.
Other local businesses within the real estate industry who have also donated resources to Operation: Rebuild TX include Select Title and RE/MAX Fine Properties. Of particular note, Nimesh Patel, co-owner of RE/MAX Fine Properties, was incredible in bringing together his team of agents to support Operation: Rebuild TX.
“Even though my home was damaged, I fared better than many and I couldn’t just sit in my hotel room while friends and neighbors suffered from such horrific devastation,” said Sanders. “As a mortgage professional, I’ve made my career helping people finance the homes of their dreams, but as a neighbor, my goal is simply to help the people in my community return to their homes and get back to living a normal life as soon as possible.”
In addition to funding relief efforts through Operation: Rebuild TX, Sanders has put together a
Facebook page with updates and details on what Hurricane Harvey affected homeowners need to know regarding FEMA home inspections, as well as information on ways to finance repairs or the purchase another home in the area. Among the resources found on the page is an explanation of the FHA 203(h) mortgage loan program, designed specifically to assist homeowners whose primary residence is located in one of the Presidentially-declared disaster areas affected by the recent hurricanes and tropical storms.
“A small upside of this tragedy the way our professional community has come together to help our neighbors in need,” said Sanders. “Hurricane Harvey is out of the national spotlight, but here in Texas, its ramifications are something we’re going to have to deal with for years to come and now is the time for neighbors to be there for one another.”
