Real estate
Nonprofit
BY MELISSA ENAJE
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Xeriscaping helps minimize water usage Harris County’s native landscape plants Gardening experts say choosing native plants helps homeowners create a more sustainable and resilient landscape that benefits both their property and the local ecosystem.
Hero Benefits Network helps aid emergency service personnel with homeownership costs
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Homeownership challenges Several factors have contributed to lower home ownership rates in the U.S., including high home prices and rising mortgage rates.
As city officials plan their routine water conser- vation outreach over the summer, homeowners looking for ways to lower their water usage can try xeriscaping on small portions of their yard, a form of landscaping that uses native, drought-tolerant plants that require less water. “Sometimes people think xeriscape design is removing all the green stuff in your yard and putting in rocks or cactuses,” Harris County Horticulture Agent Stephanie Gray said. “That’s not going to do very well in Houston because you’ll increase the potential for flooding by removing all the plants.” What residents should know Plants can help mitigate flooding by intercepting rainfall, facilitating soil absorption and preventing erosion, according to the U.S. Department of Agri- culture, especially native plants that do not require fertilizer and require less water than lawns. Gray recommends residents start xeriscaping in a smaller, more manageable section of their yard.
“It’s not just for the doctors and the detectives, but for the janitors to the head of the school, too,” Rushing said. “This program is for all the heroes who are serving or have served.” How it works The organization enrolls real estate agents to become certified with HBN, who then pledge to give back 30% of their earnings to the nonprofit on every commission. Mortgage and title partners can also participate in the program. According to the organization’s website, those served through the network typically receive $3,000-$10,000 in direct benefits, with $3,000- $5,000 given to those buying a home and $5,000 to $10,000 for relocation and moving expenses. The program is available for realtors to partic- ipate nationwide, with planned expansions for regional offices in the future, Rushing said.
The Hero Benefits Network was founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife duo Russell and Kerry Fitzpatrick, a pair that created the national nonprofit organization due to their deep ties with community-based roles. The overview The Hero Benefits Network is a nonprofit that raises money to aid employees and members of nine different categories with different costs often associated with buying or selling a home. For example, Regional Director Jimmy Rushing said funds can be used toward closing costs, buying down a mortgage, moving expenses, or a home purchase. The nine categories include law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, military and veterans, educa- tors, healthcare professionals, nonprofit workers, government employees and union members.
The average teacher can afford only 14.3% of homes for sale within commuting distance of their school. The homeownership rate for active- duty service members is 44% less than the general population. Nearly two-thirds of police officers indicated that housing costs are an obstacle to retention and recruiting. Only 17 out of 203 metro areas had median home prices low enough to be affordable for an EMT in 2022.
Bluebonnet: A plant that completes its life cycle within one growing season and then dies Fleabane: A drought-tolerant plant that grows low over an area of ground to protect the topsoil Texas sage: A plant that lives more than two
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years and can be grown in the shade Yellow Bells: A shrub that can grow three to six feet tall
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1. Good design 2. Soil analysis 3. Practical turf areas 4. Appropriate plant selection 5. Efficient irrigation 6. Use of organic mulch 7. Sustainable maintenance
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7 tips for xeriscaping
SOURCES: URBAN INSTITUTE, TEXAS STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION, POLICE1, HERO HOME PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: HORTICULTURE UNLIMITED, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
www.herobenefitsnetwork.org
PHOTOS COURTESY ADOBE STOCK
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486
HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722
WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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