More than 20% of Harris County housing units are located in major flood areas, according to the 2025 Houston report. As John Brunnen explains in Urban Edge, the report “found a strong link between the neighborhood share of single-flood plains single-family homes and the poverty rates in their neighborhoods.”
Many homes in the area are not prepared for climate risks. Over 100,000 people are lacking in central air conditioning. “The housing report also highlights the inadequate air quality that plagues the area. In recent years when data is available, all Harris County neighborhoods have failed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency standards for a concentration of PM 2.5, particulate matter above 2.5 microns in diameter.”
Lack of housing resilience is likely to have the most impact on low-income households. “There are health risks that arise from inadequate housing in the face of extreme weather, and the compounding effects of disasters lie in the challenges of the best housing in the region,” said Elaine Morales-Díaz, senior director of partnerships and policies at Connective and panelist on the Kinder Institute panel, who discusses the report. Houston-area housing units in the coming years could be at risk of flooding.
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