BCL of Texas receives NeighborWorks award to initiate Wildfire Relief Housing Assistance Program

Sept. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Austin, Texas – BCL of Texas and its housing affiliate, Texas Community Builders, both nonprofit organizations based in Austin, Texas, announced that it will launch an effort to help some of the 1,500 homeowners who lost their homes to the Bastrop wildfires.  A charter member of the NeighborWorks network, BCL of Texas considers itself as a member of the Bastrop community because they have worked with area small businesses for over 21 years.

BCL proposes to work with various banks and federal organizations to obtain Real Estate Owned (REO or foreclosed) homes and place homeowners in the properties either temporarily or, if possible, long term.  Congressman Lloyd Doggett joined with BCL in requesting emergency financial support from NeighborWorks America, who has granted BCL of Texas $120,000 to start the program.

BCL will work cooperatively with FEMA, the Red Cross and the Bastrop Emergency Management officials.  Their role is not as a first responder but instead providing a safety net for families that demonstrate assistance is not available elsewhere. The program will seek to help those families in most desperate conditions due to lack of insurance or where family resources are scarce.

In addition to helping to located REO homes BCL of Texas will also work to form a list of qualified homebuilders who have builders risk, surety bonds and related insurances, bank references and the financial capacity to build a home.  This effort is needed to combat unqualified builders coming in and scamming desperate homeowners.

Homeowners will also receive help from housing counselors at BCL of Texas.  CEO Rosa Rios Valdez is the initial point person for the Bastrop emergency housing effort.  Valdez and all of the Bastrop Housing Emergency team can be reached at (888)718-0180.

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Established in 1990 as a statewide not-for-profit Certified Development Corporation, BCL of Texas successfully promotes business and community development and provides business capital and commercial real estate loans throughout Texas. True to its mission to create jobs through business development, BCL of Texas has helped to create jobs for more than 4,400 Texans. In addition to providing businesses with counseling and technical assistance, BCL of Texas originates, underwrites, processes, closes and services business loans to healthy, growing businesses. The organization also offers homebuyer education classes, assists first-time homebuyers with the purchase of their first home and helps customers remain responsible and successful homebuyers. BCL of Texas is a member of the nationwide NeighborWorks® Network, which engages in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. For more information, visit www.bcloftexas.org.