Randy Weber: “I also rise to honor Steve Mataro: Whereas, just over 35 years ago, Mr. Mataro founded Servant Builders as a recovery…”

“I also rise to honor Steve Mataro: Whereas, just over 35 years ago, Mr. Mataro founded Servant Builders as a recovery mission geared toward helping young men with addiction learn a trade in construction while rebuilding relationships with families and communities; and Whereas, Servant Builders provided job training and placement assistance for over 200 men, enabling a better future for their entire families; and Whereas, Mr. Mataro utilized the same principles learned through Servant Builders in launching DSW Homes in southeast Texas in 2009 to assist rebuilding homes following Hurricane Rita, often providing job training and assistance to the very men whose homes were being rebuilt; and Whereas, lessons learned via Servant Builders are displayed in often accommodating low-income and elderly homeowners, driving clients to construction appointments, and even temporarily paying their rents; and Whereas, now operating in four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DSW Homes currently completes an average of 1,000 homes annually in disaster-hit regions with a record of 15 days from demolition to completion for a total of 12,000 homes; and Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, DSW Homes has rebuilt homes for over 3,000 families throughout five recovery zones.…”