HOUSTON — Belinda Galvan was approved for Harris County’s Single-Family Reconstruction Program in June 2025 and signed a reconstruction contract in August 2025, but as of May 2026, construction on her Houston home had not yet begun.
The Galvan family’s home on Majestic Street sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl and an electrical fire in January 2025. The back half of the house—including her bedroom, one bathroom, and kitchen—has remained without power. Galvan and her 97-year-old father, who relies on oxygen, sleep in the living room.
Galvan said, “On this side of the house, we're not able to live.” She added, “I just want a house. I just want to be where I don't have to dread coming in.”
According to Harris County Housing and Community Development, Galvan completed onboarding shortly after her approval in June 2025, and the project moved through design, permitting, and pre-construction phases. However, in February 2026, Galvan raised concerns about flooding conditions and requested to change the home’s orientation for safety reasons.
Harris County Housing and Community Development paused the project to regroup with construction professionals and incorporate revisions and elevation adjustments in response to her concerns. Galvan said, “Nobody has called me, nothing. He said in two weeks he'd be calling me. I'm on the fourth week. It's the same thing they did last year when they told me to declutter and that they'd be calling me.” She also recalled saying, “I said, ‘But y'all told me it was too expensive to keep my house leveled up.’ So I said, ‘Wait a minute.’”
As of the time of reporting, updated plans for Galvan’s home were under final review and the project was moving toward construction, though no firm start date had been provided. Harris County stated it remains on track to rebuild 30 homes by the end of 2026, with 18 currently under construction and five already completed.