FOX 26 viewers offer to help 98-year-old woman repair her flood damaged home

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - The response to our Only on FOX report about 98-year-old Naomi Williams has been overwhelming.

Mayor Sylvester Turner called FOX 26 just minutes after our story aired Monday night to say the city will be offering Ms. Williams some assistance.

In that report, we told you how the elderly woman desperately needed repairs to her home after it was damaged by flood waters. 

On Tuesday, Onecca Porter with the city’s Housing and Community Development Department paid Williams a visit.

“Once the home repair form is complete we’re going to process it and make sure she gets the help she needs,” Porter said.

But understandably the city’s program requires filling out forms and supplying documentation.

Also the city is unable to provide free hotel stays while the work is being completed.

“Believe me, there’s mold and who knows what else, and now they’re saying there’s bugs in here,” Williams’ friend Alma Shelton said. “So she needs to go like now.”

Justin Rogers is a DJ at 93.7 The Beat. He’s known as DJ Mr. Rogers to The Beat listeners.

“Her story aired yesterday from you last night and our e-mails as well as our social media got filled with people saying 'hey I know you guys can help her, we see what you’re doing around the city,'” Rogers said

Through his nonprofit group “Relief Gang”, Rogers has already started work on the elderly woman’s home for free and will also be putting her up at a hotel until the work is done.

“No hidden agendas or ulterior motives, we just want to help her out,” Rogers said. “We saw the cry thanks to you and we’re just trying to take care of Houston,” Rogers said.

“It’s marvelous,” Williams said “You don’t know how I feel on the inside, I’m just so joyous from the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.”