November 23, 2018 | Mark Young, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

AUSTWELL — Grace Hernandez has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Fifteen months after Hurricane Harvey ripped apart her trailer, she and her family are returning home.

They were given the keys to the home by the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group, which is building homes in six counties affected by the storm. This is the second home they’ve given away.

“It’s upsetting that Grace and her family have been homeless since the storm,” said Warren Phipps, the group’s executive director. “But, it’s so great to see her return to the place where she grew up.”

The land where Hernandez’s family will live is across the street from a plot of land that her father farmed growing up.

“This is all I’ve ever known,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been living like a nomad the past year and it’s been really hard but I’m so grateful.”

The recovery group was able to pay for the house through the Rebuild Texas Fund and plans on giving away a total of six homes.

Now, Hernandez plans to prepare to have Thanksgiving at her new house this week.