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IT'S 10 0 1,[Housing and Community Affairs Committee on June 21, 2022.]
AND I OFFICIALLY CALLED THIS MEETING TO ORDER.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR PRESENTERS, ATTENDEES, AND STAFF JOINING US THIS MORNING.
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN A HYBRID MODE DUE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THIS MEETING IS OF COURSE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY REGARDING MASK, ALLOWABLE ROOM CAPACITY, AND SEATING ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE IN PLACE.
THEREFORE, AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE HCA COMMITTEE, I AM PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN CHAMBERS.
HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 5 1 1 2 7 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES, ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY TODAY.
JOINING ONLINE IS COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, REPRESENTATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM IN DISTRICT K, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, DISTRICT C AT LARGE FIVE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AT LARGE, FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND FASHIONABLY LATE, BUT YOU'RE FASHIONABLE.
MY WONDERFUL VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
TODAY WE HAVE A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS THAT WILL BE SHARED AND PRESENTED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR COMPLIANCE AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION DIVISION, PUBLIC FACILITIES, SMALL RENTAL, AFFORDABLE HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, MULTIFAMILY.
WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH OUR DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
AND TODAY WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT WILL JOIN US AFTERWARDS.
UH, AND YEAH, WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IT.
UM, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, OH, JUST A REMINDER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO STAFF, WE'RE GONNA ALLOW EACH, UH, PRESENTATION TO COMPLETE.
AND THEN AFTER PRESENTATIONS, WE'LL RECEIVE QUESTIONS IF WE RE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE.
UH, WE HAVE A QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION TO COVER WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED WITH OUR COMPLIANCE AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KENISHA LONDON.
THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GA GRANT CORONAVIRUS, WHICH WE FINALLY CALL CDBG CV FUNDS.
UM, AND WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD TO AMEND THE 2019, UM, ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TRANSFERRING, UM, $8.5 MILLION FROM THE PUBLIC CIVIL PUBLIC FACILITIES ACTIVITY TO THE PUBLIC SERVICES ACTIVITY.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION REGARDING THAT, AND I KNOW WE BRIEFED ON THE ITEM.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
UM, AT THE MIC AND IN THE HORSESHOE, SO WHEN WE DO OUR, UH, ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW DOLLARS ARE ALLOTTED, CAN YOU JUST PROVIDE CONTEXT AND COLOR IN ON WHY THE, UM, THE RE DESIGNATION OF FUNDS TO THIS LINE ITEM IS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE THIS WORK? BECAUSE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, THESE DOLLARS WERE NOT INITIALLY ADDED TO INCLUDED FOR THE ACTION PLAN, CORRECT? RIGHT.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT ANNUALLY WE RELEASE A, UH, AN AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, AND IN THAT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, WE LIST THE DIFFERENT, UM, ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH.
UM, AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, OR, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUT ACTIVITIES AND OTHER THINGS, THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE WE SAY, HEY, WE PUT MONEY IN ONE LINE ITEM, THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO BE USED IN ANOTHER, UM, CAPACITY.
UM, AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WHEN IT'S OVER A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, THEN WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT IN ORDER TO OFFICIALLY AMEND THE PUBLIC BUDGET THAT WE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED, UM, TO THE PUBLIC.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO WILL RELEASE A PUBLIC NOTICE, UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, INFORM THE PUBLIC, UH, THAT THE CHANGE IS, UM, OCCURRING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF GIVE SOME BACKSTORY.
SO I, I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT'S DONE, UM, A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE HUD ACTION PLAN, OUR CDBG DOLLARS, AND SO, UM, THAT INFORMATION'S ALWAYS HELPFUL FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM IN THE QUEUE.
WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC FACILITIES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RAY
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MOON.OH, I'M SORRY,
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU IN THE QUEUE.
UH, I WAS GONNA ASK KENISHA, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE WE HELPING WITH THESE DOLLARS? AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT OVER THE YEARS I'VE TRIED TO HELP A, A VIETNAM VET AND, AND HIS CARETAKER FOR YEARS, UH, TO, TO TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, AND TO GET HELP WITH, UH, AND, AND I'VE NEVER WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND, UH, RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING WITH SOME SENIORS AND THERE, THERE, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S JUST A VERY FRUSTRATING STREET.
SO WHO'S ACTUALLY THE RECIPIENT OF THESE DOLLARS? HI, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH.
UM, SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, OF ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS.
THIS $8.5 MILLION THAT WAS INITIALLY FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES IS GOING TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND IS PART OF THE CHIP 0.2 PROJECT, THE CO THE COMMUNITY COVID HOUSING PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S GONNA SERVE OVER, I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, OVER 5,000 IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND SO IT'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT, UM, POPULATIONS, SOME OF WHICH YOU MENTIONED.
I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT, UH, UNDERSTANDING YOUR FRUSTRATION AND HOW WE CAN BETTER MANAGE AND MAKE REFERRALS.
I, I WORKED WITH, UM, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WITH MR. DEMBO FOR, FOR, FOR A LONG TIME.
HE ACTUALLY MET THE, UH, THE VET.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I GET VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN I'M TRYING TO HELP SOMEBODY TO GET IN HOUSING AND, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE LEGIT THAT NEED HELP.
AND, UH, I, I, I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE YET, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF 'EM, BUT I HAVEN'T MET ANYONE YET THAT'S EVER, UH, BEEN ASSISTED, UH, RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THIS.
I'M KINDA WONDERING WHERE THESE DOLLARS GO AND IT FRUSTRATES ME.
SO YOU HAVE MY, YOU HAVE MY OFFICE NUMBER.
IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'D REACH OUT TO ME, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT, RATHER THAN TAKE THE TIME NOW TO PREVENT MY FRUSTRATIONS.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I JUST MAY, UM, COLOR IN SOME ADDITIONAL LINES AND, AND, AND DIRECTOR, UM, FEEL FREE TO AS WELL.
SO, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AROUND OUR WORK AROUND HOMELESSNESS, UM, AND THE SPECIAL ADVISOR WAS HERE LAST WEEK, SHARING ABOUT THAT COORDINATED CARE SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PUT OUR HANDS ON EXACTLY WHO BENEFITS FROM THE DOLLARS IN THE WORK IN, IN OUR SYSTEM.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE'RE NOTED FOR HAVING PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST, YOU KNOW, UH, FORWARD, FORWARD-THINKING, UM, RESPONSES TO THE UNHOUSED IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AROUND OUR VETERANS THAT ARE UNHOUSED AROUND OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORK.
AND WHAT WE ALL LEFT WITH AFTER THAT CONVERSATION WAS THE FACT THAT WE DO NEED A RESPONSE FROM HOTEL OWNERS, APARTMENT OWNERS TO MAKE HOUSING UNITS MORE AFFORDABLE.
SO THESE DOLLARS A PART ARE INVESTING IN THAT SO FAR, OUR LONG TERM STRATEGY.
SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, THOSE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TWO INDIVIDUALS AND WE HAVE OVER, IS IT 94% THAT IF THEY'RE OFFERED HOUSING, THEY SAY YES AROUND THAT, AROUND THAT, AROUND THAT NUMBER.
SO OUR SUCCESS RATE IS HIGH, AND THE THESE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE STREET.
AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT OUR IMPACTS ARE, I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED TO KNOW WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING.
AND, AND JUST TO, I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE AS MUCH AS THE MONEY IS OUT ON THE STREET AND AS WELL AS WE ARE DOING, AND WE ARE A NATIONAL MODEL, THE JOB ISN'T DONE YET, AND WE CAN DO BETTER UNTIL THERE'S NO ONE ON THE STREET.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, UM, AND WHEN, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VETERANS, THAT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE TRUE.
SO, AND SO I, UM, I DEFINITELY WILL REACH OUT TO YOU AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT DIALOGUE.
MA MADAM CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY, UH, SURE.
I, I HIGHLY PRAISE MARK IKEN BOMB.
AND I REALLY WASN'T ADDRESSING THE, UH, THE ISSUE OF THE HOMELESS BEING SERVED BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT IT, IT'S WHEN, WHEN I RUN INTO SENIORS AND, AND, UH, SOME OF THESE VETERANS WHO ARE, WHO ARE NEEDING HELP AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALREADY LIVING SOMEWHERE AND, AND THEY'RE NOT HOMELESS, I, I, AND THEY JUST NEED HELP.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, UH, SPEAKING IN REFERENCE TO.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN THE QUEUE.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE BACK TO OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES, UH, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ADAM MARTINEZ.
ITEM THREE A WILL BE THE FIRST ITEM I'M PRESENTING.
THIS ITEM IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
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A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS, PROVIDING $6.7 MILLION IN HOME A RP OR HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CAMPUS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT, SERVICES AND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.
THE FACILITY WILL SIT ON 2.7 ACRES AND WILL BE LOCATED AT 1111 LOVETT IN THE MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED IN DISTRICT C.
THE CURRENT STRUCTURES WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WILL BETTER SERVE THEIR TARGET POPULATION.
NEXT SLIDE, IN ADDITION TO HOUSING, THE NEW FACILITY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, CAREER CENTER, COURTYARD, RECREATION FACILITIES, AS WELL AS AGE APPROPRIATE FACILITIES FOR CHILDCARE TO INCLUDE ART ROOMS, MUSIC ROOMS, A LIBRARY OFFICE SPACE, AND MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS FOR THE YOUTH ACTIVITIES.
COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS IS AN AFFILIATE OF COVENANT HOUSE INTERNATIONAL AND WAS FOUNDED IN 1983.
THEY PROVIDED, THEY PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR YOUTH 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO YOUTH THAT DO NOT RESIDE AT THE FACILITY.
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET IS 47.2 MILLION.
UH, HARRIS COUNTY IS ALSO A PARTNER IN THIS TRANSACTION AND IS CONTRIBUTING $3.5 MILLION.
HERE YOU'LL SEE A MAP OF THE FACILITY, UH, TO BE LOCATED ON LOVETT, UH, IN YOAKUM.
NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE FLOOR PLAN OF THE PROPOSED, UH, 104,000 SQUARE FOOT SITE.
NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE A RENDERING OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE FACILITY.
NEXT SLIDE WILL BE A RENDERING OF THE INTERIOR AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING SLIDE.
AND THEN NEXT SLIDE WILL BE A RENDERING OF THE CLINIC SPACE.
UH, IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, WE HAVE, UH, A FEW PEOPLE HERE FROM COVENANT HOUSE.
WE HAVE LESLIE BORN, THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE MIKE HOLLAND, THEIR BOARD PRESIDENT, UH, AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT ARE REPRESENTING THE COVENANT HOUSE BOARD.
UH, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT THIS IS, UH, A LONG TIME COMING AND I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE WITH THE BOARD, UH, HAVE PUT A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS INTO THIS.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S SURELY WELCOME.
I'VE LOOKED AT IT IN DETAIL DIRECTOR, AND, UH, I KNOW WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO TO SERVE OUR, OUR YOUTH.
UM, MANY OF WHOM ARE ON THE STREETS IN HOUSTON, AND CERTAINLY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN MONTROSE.
UH, THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR US, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIRELESS WORK AND, UH, THIS PROJECT CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH.
UH, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THIS PROPERTY AT THIS TIME.
UH, COVENANT HOUSE, UH, ON 11, UH, ON 1111, UH, LEVIT BOULEVARD.
UH, COVENANT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COVENANT HOUSE ACTUALLY HOLDS THE DEED TO THE PROPERTY.
ARE ARE THEY LOCATED HERE IN HOUSTON OR IN NEW YORK? OH, THEY'RE HERE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN AFFILIATE, BUT THEY'RE SET UP AS COVENANT HOUSE OF TEXAS.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, HCA, IT SAYS THAT THE OWNERS ARE, UH, ARE IN NEW YORK.
AND, UH, I JUST THOUGHT I'D MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
IT ON, UH, IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.
UH, 404 4 60 WEST, UH, 41ST STREET.
SO JUST, UH, I'M JUST, JUST, JUST TRYING TO DO SOME DO RESEARCH.
THANK YOU TO WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
A QUESTION, UM, THE 18 TO 24-YEAR-OLD GROUP, THAT IS A, A SWEET SPOT AND OFTENTIMES A GROUP THAT'S LEFT OUT OF A LOT OF SERVICE WORK.
SO IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO, TO SPEAK TO, UH, THAT MIGHT BE WILLING TO, TO COMMENT? CAN YOU COME UP PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, I ALWAYS HEAR THIS QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THOSE THAT ARE ON THE STREET, AND, AND THIS SEEMS LIKE THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THAT, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, AND JUST REALLY TO KIND OF FRAME, ARE THE, THE INDIVIDUALS YOU'RE SERVING, ARE THEY'RE HOUSTONIANS OR ARE THEY GONNA BE REFERRED INTO THE PROGRAM TO PARTICIPATE? THEY'RE MOSTLY FROM HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
WE DO GET SOME OCCASIONALLY FROM OUT OF STATE THAT HAVE HAD NO PLACE TO GO, AND THEY HELP ON A BUS AND SOMETIMES
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WE PICK 'EM UP AT A BUS STATION AND THEY COME AND STAY WITH US.BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR YOUTH ARE FROM THE HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, ESPECIALLY AROUND IMPACT.
UM, AND REALLY, UM, SUPPLEMENTING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE CITY AND, AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP.
AND, UM, AS THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS THE IMPACT OF THAT TYPE OF WORK, UM, OF CLIENTS THAT YOU'RE SERVING THAT ARE COMING FROM THEIR DISTRICTS.
IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SOMETIMES MICRO-FOCUSED.
UM, AND THEN IF WE CAN EVER EXTEND THAT RESOURCE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET TO YOU.
AND I WOULD SAY, UM, PRIOR TO COVID, WE WOULD HAVE A HUNDRED YOUTH A NIGHT ON OUR CAMPUS AND IN OUR PROGRAMS THAT IS TURNING AWAY ABOUT 30 YOUTH A NIGHT AND SLEEPING AT LEAST 25 TO 30 ON EMERGENCY MATS WITH COVID AND SAFE DISTANCING.
WE'VE HAD TO TAKE OUR NUMBERS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF YOUTH THAT WE WERE TURNING AWAY, WE WERE CONSISTENTLY AT 120, 25% CAPACITY IS THE EXACT REASON WE'RE KNOCKING THE CAMPUS DOWN IN REBUILDING SO WE CAN SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 50% YOUTH.
I JUST WANTED, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT QUESTION ON YOUR PART.
THERE, THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO THIS, UH, DEMOGRAPHIC AND TRANSITIONING OUT OF ADOLESCENT CARE IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THEIR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DR.
UH, HARRIGAN REDDER IS, HAS DONE INCREDIBLE WORK BOTH AT BAYLOR AND AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
AND AS, UH, SOMEONE WHO'S A BIG BELIEVER IN DR.
AL'S WORK, I KNOW THAT HE IS, HE'S AN EXPERT HERE.
UH, AND FRANKLY, HE IS CONTINUING TO PULL DOWN SOME GREAT GRANT MONEY, UH, TO ASSIST WITH PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE, THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THIS, THIS GROUP OF FOLKS.
AND IT'S A POPULATION THAT HAS HAD, UM, LITTLE ACCESS TO ANY RESOURCES, LET ALONE MEDICAL CARE OR DENTAL CARE.
AND SO WE'VE HAD A 30 YEAR RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH BAYLOR MEDICAL SCHOOL.
IT IS ALSO A FORMAL ROTATION FOR THE RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS SO THAT THEY IN TURN, GET EXPERIENCE IN HOMELESS MEDICINE.
AND, AND TO FURTHER THAT POINT, I KNOW THAT, UH, DR.
AL HAS ALSO WORKED TO ENGAGE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HARRIS HEALTH, UH, AND A NUMBER OF, UM, INTERSTITIAL AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE, UH, AUTHORITY IN JURISDICTION.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL AGAIN FOR THAT.
AND I CAN ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE DEED, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO.
SO COVENANT HOUSE? THAT IS CORRECT.
COVENANT HOUSE INTERNATIONAL, THAT IS OUR PARENT COMPANY OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, DID HAVE THE DEED TO THE LAND.
THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE JUST NOW DEEDED IT OVER TO US.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN HE CHECKED IT PROBABLY STILL HAD COVENANT HOUSE INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK ON THERE, BUT IT'S OURS.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.
UM, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT, UM, THIS FACILITY WILL SERVE KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, AGING OUTTA CPS.
WHAT ABOUT DUAL STATUS YOUTH, YOUTH THAT ARE AGING OUTTA CPS, BUT THEY ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THEIR HOMELESS.
AND I'M SORRY, I HAD A HARD TIME HEARING WITH THE BAND HOUSE.
WE HAVE A LITTLE PRELUDE OUTSIDE MM-HMM
SHE'S ASKING ABOUT ARE THEY ALSO INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM? YES, ABOUT 36% OF OUR YOUTH SELF-REPORT THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT WE SUSPECT IT'S HIGHER.
SO WE WORK WITH ATTORNEYS WHEN NEED BE AND WORK WITH THEM ON, WITH THEIR CASES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I, I CERTAINLY WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR, FOR WORKING WITH, UH, CHILDREN THAT ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF, OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
UH, THE ONLY, THE ONLY GROUP THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS, UH, OTHER THAN YOU, IS, UH, THE GOOD HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WITH DZ COFIELD.
HE HAS A PROGRAM AND HE, HE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDREN THAT THEY AGE OUT OF, OF FOSTER CARE.
I WAS A, UH, FOSTER PARENT FOR YEARS.
UH, I WAS A CH LICENSED CHILDCARE ADMINISTRATOR.
AND, AND I SAW THIS, BUT I, I, I, I WOULD LOSE TOUCH WITH 'EM AS SOON AS THEY LEFT.
UH, THEY DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE FACILITY.
SO CONSEQUENTLY, UH, IT, IT'S A REAL TRAGEDY.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE PARENTS AND, AND YOU'RE RAISED IN A HOME AND YOU TRY TO TRANSITION INTO ADULT LIFE.
AND, AND HERE THEY HAVE NO ONE.
SO, UH, I, I WANT TO APPLAUD COVENANT HOUSE FOR TAKING ON THIS CHALLENGE.
THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, ALL ITEM THREE B.
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JUST WANTED TO ADD A QUICK KIND OF PRECURSOR TO THE NEXT TWO ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING TWO PUBLIC FACILITIES PROJECTS THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY, WERE SELECTED THROUGH THE MOST RECENT PUBLIC FACILITIES NOFA, UH, WHICH CLOSED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, UH, WITH AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, GETTING ISSUED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.UH, THE PRIORITY FOR THE NOFA WAS WORKFORCE TRAINING SITES SERVING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CLIENTS AND AREAS.
UH, SO THE FIRST PROJECT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS SARAH JOBS NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.
HCD IS RECOMMENDING AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND SARAH.
JOBS FOR PROGRESS, PROVIDING $1,343,307 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RONALD MCDONALD CHILDREN'S HEALTH EDUCATION ENRICHMENT RESOURCE OR CHEER ROOM, UH, AS WELL AS AN EMERGENCY POWER GENERATOR FOR THEIR NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.
THE FACILITY IS LOCATED AT 1960 TILLSON IN THE EAST END AND DISTRICT I.
THE CURRENT, THE SITE CURRENTLY INCLUDES EIGHT CLASSROOMS, TRAINING LABS, UH, EQUIPMENT AND OFFICE SPACE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN PLAY WITH A PURPOSE WHILE PARENTS AND GUARDIAN GUARDIANS RECEIVE SERVICES.
SARAH JOBS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS RESIDENTS IN THE PAST 57 YEARS.
THEY HAVE ASSISTED CLIENTS IN BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PROVIDED QUALITY SERVICES.
THE TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET IS $1.3 MILLION.
UM, I DO WANNA MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION FOR THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUND STATEMENT.
UH, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, AND WE WILL UPDATE OUR, OUR COVER SHEET TO REFLECT SOFT COSTS BEING, UH, APPROXIMATELY 11, UH, 11,500.
AND THEN HARD COSTS FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE 1.3 MILLION.
UH, IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, WE HAVE TIAR, I, SORRY, IF I'M BUTCHERING THAT NAME, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, UH, AS WELL AS BETH WILSON, ALMA PEREZ SILVA, AND GERALD EATON.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM ALSO.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR THAT ITEM.
UH, ITEM THREE C, FIFTH WARD, CRC, UH, HCD IS RECOMMENDING AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND FIFTH WARD, PROVIDING 750,000 IN CDBG FUNDS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE NEW FIFTH WARD TECHNOLOGY CENTER FACILITY WILL BE LOCATED AT 2,602 STREET IN DISTRICT B.
THE FACILITY WILL BE A BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROVIDING OFFICES, DESKS, CONFERENCE ROOMS, TRAINING ROOMS, AND COLLABOR COLLABORATIVE SPACE, UH, WITH AFFORDABLE LEASE OPTIONS.
THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION AMONG ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
CRC WAS ORGANIZED IN 1989 TO FOCUS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF HOUSTON'S FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMING.
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET IS $5.37 MILLION.
UH, THEY'RE ALSO CONTRIBUTING, UM, 3.7 MILLION FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.
AND YOU'LL SEE A MAP THIS SITE SHOWING THAT THE SITE IS, UH, NEAR LOCKWOOD AND LIBERTY ROAD OVER IN THE FIFTH WARD.
YOU'LL SEE A RENDERING OF THE EXTERIOR AS WELL AS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND WE'LL HAVE AN INTERIOR RENDERING, UH, IN ATTENDANCE.
I DIDN'T SEE HER, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S MADE IT IN.
WE HAD MYRA BON TEMP, THEIR CHIEF REAL ESTATE OFFICER.
SO, UM, GLAD TO HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS THAT HAVE APPLIED.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE, UH, PROJECTS COMING ONLINE.
WE HAD REALLY GOOD TURNOUT FOR THE NOFA, AS YOU CAN SEE.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY NEXT MONTH YOU'LL GET TO SEE THE REST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE SELECTED TO PUT FORWARD.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM UP IS SMALL RENTAL PRESENTING BY, UH, RAY MILLER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
GOOD MORNING, CO-CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'LL BE PRESENTING ON ITEM FOUR, UH, THE PROPOSED, UH, COST AND, UH, GRANT INCREASE FOR AVENUE CDC.
BEFORE I START MY PRESENTATION, I DO WANNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PREAMBLE ON, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT
[00:25:01]
THAT WE ARE, UH, SEE OURSELVES TODAY REGARDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD.WE, WE'VE SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THIS LAST TIME I PRESENTED THAT.
WE ARE NOW REALLY STARTING TO SEE THE INFLATIONARY COSTS ENVIRONMENT REALLY CATCH UP TO THE TRANSACTIONS THAT WE ARE FINANCING.
UM, AND THIS IS DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.
UM, EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE SPIKE IN GAS AND ENERGY PRICES.
UM, THE MATERIAL DELAYS, UH, THE INTEREST RATE INCREASES THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, UH, AND ALSO INCREASES IN WAGES IN LABOR.
ALL OF THESE HAVE COMPOUNDED IN PROBABLY THE HIGHEST CON, HIGHEST SPIKE IN CONSTRUCTION, UH, COSTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
UM, DEPENDING ON THE INDEXES AND THE, YOU KNOW, ARTICLES THAT YOU'VE SEEN YEAR OVER YEAR, INCREASES OF RANGE, ANYWHERE FROM 8% TO 17% DEPENDING ON THE, UM, THE PRODUCT, THE STYLE, SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY, UM, INDUSTRIAL.
BUT IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT NOW, UM, HIT OUR PORTFOLIO.
SO TWO, WE DO HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TO HOUSING COMMITTEE TODAY THAT, UM, THAT ARE A, A FACTOR OF THIS.
THE FIRST ONE IS ITEM FOUR, AND TO START MY PRESENTATION IN NOVEMBER OF 2021, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 948, UH, A GRANT, UH, 1,000,783 TH $783,923, UH, FUNDED FROM OUR DR 17 PROGRAM, SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM TO AVENUE CDC.
THIS IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR, UH, SMALL RENTAL UNITS LOCATED IN DISTRICT H.
UM, WHAT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW? WHEN WE PRESENT ITEMS TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CLOSING CONDITIONS.
AND EVEN THOUGH CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE, THE ITEM, UH, THERE ARE STILL CLOSING CONDITIONS THAT THE BORROWER HAS TO MEET.
THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION WAS CAUGHT IN PERMITTING FOR ABOUT TO TWO TO THREE MONTHS DUE TO A, UH, A SCHEDULE CHANGE, UH, REGARDING, UH, SMALL LOT, UH, DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE SEEN TIME IS NOT, UH, A AN ALLY IN OUR SIDE.
SO BY THE TIME IT TAKES TO CLOSE A TRANSACTION AND THEN LOCK INTO PRICE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, THOSE DELAYS END UP COSTING US.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, ABOUT A 13% INCREASE IN COSTS WHEN THE PROJECT WAS AT, ORIGINALLY PRICED OUT IN JUNE OF 2021 TO TODAY'S PRICING.
AND THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT 1% A MONTH.
AND THAT'S, WE REALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING WITH A LOT OF THE DEALS THAT HAVE NOT COMMITTED INTO THEIR FINANCING AT THIS POINT.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A 300 AN INCREASE TO THE EXISTING GRANT OF $306,031 TO MAKE UP THESE INFLATIONARY COST FACTORS.
AND ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL GRANT, UH, THE RECIPIENT AVENUE CDC WILL BE ABLE TO CLOSE ON THEIR FINANCING WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM IS SOMEWHAT OF A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND SECURE FINANCING FOR SPECIFICALLY NONPROFITS WHO ARE GONNA HOLD THESE TRANSACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS WITH AFFORDABILITIES THAT RANGES FROM 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME UP TO 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE ARE BATTLING IN THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SOMETIMES IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME INCREASES IN OUR, UH, COMMITTED GRANTS.
AND THEN SOMETIMES IT'S, UH, PROPOSED CHANGE OF SCOPE, WHICH I'LL PRESENT LATER IN MY PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
I AM, I'M, I'M DIGGING THE GROOVE.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM, MADAM CHAIR.
UM, RAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, COULD WE QUICKLY GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AS IT RELATES TO THE, UM, DELAYS WITH OUR OWN PERMITTING DEPARTMENT? I THINK YOU SAID THAT ACTUALLY CREATED A SCENARIO WHERE THERE'S ADDITIONAL COSTS NOW BE, AND THERE'S OTHER DELAYS, AND I UNDERSTAND INFLATION, BUT THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, GETTING THROUGH PERMITTING, UM, CREATED ADDITIONAL DELAYS, POTENTIALLY.
AND BY, BY NO MEANS DO I WANNA PUT ANY BLAME ON OUR, YOU KNOW, GREAT PARTNERS OVER AT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ONLY, UM, YOU KNOW, ENFORCED THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR CITY ORDINANCES.
BUT WHEN, UH, BACK IN MARCH THERE WAS A CHANGE INTO A REQUIREMENT FOR LOTS LESS THAN 15,000 SQUARE FEET TO, UH, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE STANDARDS.
[00:30:01]
HAVE SOME MONEY FROM AVENUE CDC HERE TODAY, WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES REQUIRED, UM, REQUIRED SOME CHANGES IN SCOPES AND BACK AND FORTH WITH OUR, WITH OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT TO GET THE, THE CLEARANCES THAT ARE NEEDED.IT DID TAKE ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS, UH, TO SECURE THOSE APPROVALS.
WE DO HAVE THOSE APPROVALS NOW, WHICH WE ARE NOW MOVING FORWARD TO, UH, FINALIZE THE PRICING AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THAT BACK AND FORTH DID COST US SOME TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME, SOME MONEY.
AND IT, AGAIN, I DON'T FAULT, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, MADAM CHAIR.
I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, CONCERNING BECAUSE THESE ARE, UM, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
UH, BUT IT ALSO, I THINK, EXEMPLIFIES IF THE CITY ITSELF WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE CITY FUNDED, UM, ARE HAVING CHALLENGES WITH PERMITTING, AND THAT'S INCURRING, INCURRING ADDITIONAL COSTS ON TOP OF ALL OF THE EXTERNAL FACTORS, UM, THAT ARE IMPACTING COSTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK THAT IS A, AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, SO I, I JUST WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT, THAT WE AS A CITY NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN INTERNALLY, UM, BOTH ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, UM, TO GET THINGS GOING BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COST THAT CAN OCCUR.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR LINE OF INQUIRY AND, UH, I KNOW RAY HAS REALLY QUALIFIED THE, THE TIME THAT IT'S TAKEN AT THE PERMITTING CENTER, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BASED ON SOME REGULATIONS THAT HAVE COME UP.
WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE FACTS IN FRONT OF US, I'M, I'M AFRAID IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLICATED PRO PROBLEM TO HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO CODE COMPLIANCE.
AND A PROJECT THAT IS, THAT TENDS TO BE AS COMPLICATED IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE MULTIFAMILY CATEGORY.
SO, UH, RELATED TO SITE DRAINAGE, THE ACREAGE ON THE SITE, SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS AGAIN, THAT RAY SPOKE ABOUT.
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MITIGATING FACTORS HERE THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY IN THIS CASE HAVE COST, UH, UH, COST, UM, AVENUE CDC, AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS DEARLY.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, UM, WITHOUT CASTING BLAME IN ANY DIRECTION.
I THINK THAT DOES RAISE A QUESTION, THOUGH, RAY AND AND DIRECTOR WITH YOU HERE AS WELL.
UH, I'D, I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING BROADLY TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS AND COST ESCALATION.
IT IS FAMOUS, UH, BY NOW IN OUR COUNTRY, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR ECONOMY, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SOME OF THESE, WHICH I, I, I AT LEAST PUT IN THAT CATEGORY, UM, ARE GOING TO SUFFER FOR WHAT IS GOING ON CONDITIONALLY AND MORE BROADLY AT SCALE.
UH, SO I'M WONDERING WHAT WE ARE DOING TO TRACK THESE THINGS, UH, RAY AND DIRECTOR AND, AND DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER NOW, BUT PERHAPS A PARTIAL ONE OR SOMETHING.
UH, IF YOU COULD TOUCH ON THAT SO WE AS A COUNCIL CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHAT, UH, THESE ESCALATIONS AND DELAYS ARE CAUSING.
WHAT, WHEN WE CAN, WE CAN FOLLOW BACK UP WITH YOUR OFFICE ON HOW WE DO TRACK, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE TIME IS MONEY, BUT ONE, ONE AFFIRMATIVE STEP THAT WE HAVE MADE IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO PERMITTING, WE HAVE ACTUALLY, UH, ENTERED INTO AN LOA AGREEMENT WITH THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT TO WHERE WE GO AND HIRE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL WHO EXCLUSIVELY WORK ON OUR TRANSACTIONS.
UM, AND THAT IS THEN A WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY CUT IN FRONT OF LINE, BUT WE GET FIRST PRIORITY WITH THIS TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSACTIONS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, USING TAX FUNDED DOLLARS, UM, DO GET PRIORITY.
AND SO WE, WE ARE TAKING AFFIRMATIVE SEP THIS UNFORTUNATELY THOUGH, GOT CAUGHT WITHIN A QUESTION OF HOW TO ENFORCE ORDINANCES.
AND THERE'S, THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH THAT WE HAD TO WORK THROUGH, BUT I WILL SAY THERE HAS BEEN SOME AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, UH, EXPEDITE THAT MATTER.
AND WE'RE ALSO DOING THE SAME WITHIN OUR, UH, INTERNAL UNDERWRITING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUSHING TRANSACTIONS TO CLOSING AND GET THOSE COMMITMENTS IN PLACE.
AND OCCASIONALLY BY THE MATERIAL UP FRONT, ONE, ONE CAN I KNOW OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, EXISTING BID THAT WE BENEFITED FROM WHERE ESCALATIONS GOING ON DIFFERENT STORY, BUT THERE'S, THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO.
SO DIRECTOR, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THE ESCALATING COST OF, UH, OF PERMIT, UH, AND PERMITTING AND THE, UH, THE ORDINANCES THAT WE'VE PASSED THAT, THAT HAVE, THAT AFFECT, UH, THE COST OF BUILDING, UH, FOR EVERY $1,000 THAT WE RAISE THE COST OF A HOME, IT, IT, IT PROHIBITS OVER 4,000 PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO GET A LOAN ON THAT PROPERTY.
AND THIS WAS ALL, UH, DISCUSSED, UH, UH, VERY HEAVILY, UH, BY THE, UH, HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.
AND, AND I, I THINK, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL,
[00:35:01]
UH, UH, THAT WHEN WE PASS THINGS THAT, THAT REALLY DON'T APPLY TO EVERYONE, UH, JUST LIKE, UH, MAKING ALL HOMES SOLAR ACCESSIBLE, HAVING TO PAY, PAY FOR THAT, WHETHER OR NOT, UH, UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOLAR POWER OR NOT.IT, IT IS JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
WE DON'T, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR HOUSES AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND JUST, I'M CURIOUS, UM, I KNOW YOU'VE MENTIONED SOME STEPS THAT Y'ALL TAKEN TO BE PROACTIVE, BUT WHAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS DELAY HAS HAPPENED, UM, HAS THERE BEEN LIKE A TEACHABLE MOMENT OF SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS GAP? WE'VE BEEN ABSOLUTELY, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OUR ENTIRE PORTFOLIO THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, THAT'D BE IMPACTED WITH THIS, WITH THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT HAPPENED BACK IN MARCH AND IN, UH, INFORMING OUR, UH, PARTNERS AND BORROWERS OF OUR FUNDS THAT NEED, THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF, OF THESE, OF THESE, YOU KNOW, DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN CHANGES.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO ARE, YOU KNOW, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH, YOU KNOW, CHRIS BUTLER AND HIS TEAM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANY OR, UH, VARIANCES THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE FOR TRANSACTIONS LIKE THESE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEM AS WELL.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE WITH THIS ITEM.
WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE TO ITEM FIVE, AFFORDABLE HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
OLIVIA BUSH, DIVISION MANAGER WILL PRESENT ON THAT.
SO UNDER THE, UM, DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF DIRECTOR BYNUM, THE LARGE TRUCK DIVISION IS GOING TO PRESENT TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO REPRESENT 281 HOMES.
THAT'S 15% OF THE TURNER HOUSING INITIATIVE THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE AFFORDABLE HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED, UM, 30, UM, MILLION DOLLARS, AND WE HAD A DEVELOPER COMPETITION.
THESE TWO PROJECTS WERE ACTUALLY THE TOP TWO RANKED PROJECTS FROM THAT COMPETITION.
SO THE FIRST IS FROM AGAPE HOME, CDC.
THAT'S, UM, THIS FIRST PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL, UM, CREATE, UM, 80 LMI LM, UM, HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LMI HOME BUYERS.
IT'LL BE 80 TOTAL UNITS, 50 SEVENS OF, OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE EARMARKED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN, UM, DISTRICT D IN THE OST SOUTH UNION NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THIS DEVELOPER IS VERY, VERY SHOVEL READY.
WE ARE PROJECTING TO ACTUALLY HAVE HOMES ON THE GROUND BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS DEVELOPER IS VERY, UM, COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THE PRINCIPLES OF, UM, AGAPE HOME CDC LIVE WITHIN THE SOUTH UNION OST COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND HAS BEEN, UM, COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THE FEEDBACK OR THE, UM, INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM THAT COMMUNITY IS INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE HOMES.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY DO HAVE A PIPELINE OF A WAIT LIST OF PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYERS FROM THE SOUTH UNION COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE HOMES ARE BUILT, THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE SOLD TO THE RESIDENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION, UM, TO TALK ABOUT OUR NEXT PROJECT, BUT WE DO HAVE A QUESTION, A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ.
AND JUST WHEN YOU GET ON, THEY STARTED PLAYING SOME MUSIC.
SO YOU GOT SOME JAM MUSIC HAPPENING OUTSIDE THAT YOU DON'T EVEN, I PROMISE YOU, I PROMISE YOU THAT'S, THAT'S CITY PROVIDED.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOMES TO THAT AREA, THAT TIME, THAT AREA HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT BLIGHTED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM, UH, THESE HOMES, UH, THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 2 88 NOT VERY FAR.
THEN YOU HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, MCG PARK AND ALL THE AMENITIES BECAUSE YOU DO KNOW THAT THAT'S IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND SO CERTAINLY I DO APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION AND TO KNOW THAT THESE PROPERTIES WILL, WILL BE, UH, AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SOME OF THEM IS JUST PHENOMENAL FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, MY MUSIC, I HAVE A THEME SONG, BUT IT'S NOT, WELL, WE'LL MAKE A REQUEST 'CAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE BAND OUTSIDE PLAYING MUSIC.
SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE A, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A REQUEST FOR YOU.
BUT I THINK WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT, UM, MY LIFE IS PERFECTLY QUIET HERE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, WE GOT YOU AND I'M NOT PARTY.
WE GOT YOU NOW, WE GOT YOU COVERED.
[00:40:01]
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.UM, SO WHAT I THINK WHAT'S, WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR COME BACK, UM, DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION HAS HIT OUR CITY LIKE ANY OTHER, ANYONE ELSE.
AND SO, UM, THE IDEA THAT THERE'S A PATHWAY FOR THEM TO RETURN HOME IN A SENSE IS, IS REALLY PROMISING AND, AND GOOD.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM IN THE QUEUE.
AND I DID WANNA MENTION THAT, UM, KIRK CRAIG, UM, WITH AGAPE HOMES IS IN ATTENDANCE.
AND SO IF AT ANY POINT YOU WANTED TO, UM,
UM, THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT IS FROM RZ ENTERPRISE, DOING BUSINESS AS ORACLE CITY HOMES.
THE DEVELOPER, UM, BERNICE FRANCIS AND RICK CLARK ARE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
UM, THIS WILL ACTUALLY REPRESENT 201 HOMES IN THE, UM, DISTRICT B AND ACRES HOMES.
COMPLETE COMMUNITY 133 OF THOSE HOMES WILL BE, UM, EARMARKED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS ALSO A VERY SHOVEL-READY PROJECT.
UM, UM, I WANNA ALSO SAY THAT BASED ON A DISCUSSION THAT THE LARGE TRACK TEAM HAD WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WE FELT THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO, TO, UM, SOLICIT THEIR FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS DEVELOPER IS ALSO INFORMED OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WANTS US.
WE KNOW THAT ACRES HOMES IS A VERY BELOVED COMMUNITY FOR HOUSTON, AND WE WANT TO DEFINITELY RESPECT THE HISTORY OF THAT, UM, HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE IMMEDIATELY GAVE THAT FEEDBACK TO THE DEVELOPER AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY AMENABLE AND COOPERATIVE, UM, TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S THREE SEPARATE SITES.
THE SITE ON BLAND AND THE SITE ON BALBOA AND MANSFIELD WILL DEFINITELY INCORPORATED MORE TRADITIONAL VERSUS THE ULTRAMODERN THREE LEVEL TOWNHOME DESIGN, MORE TRADITIONAL DESIGN TO KEEP UP WITH THE AESTHETICS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN ADDITION, THIS VERY COMMUNITY FOCUSED DEVELOPER IS ALSO COMMITTED TO DO, UM, AN ACTUAL, ALONG WITH A ACRES HOME, UM, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRADESMEN WITHIN THE ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE FUTURE, UM, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS WITHIN ACRES HOMES, THOSE CURRENT TRADESMEN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
THE DEVELOPERS ALSO COMMITTED TO HIRE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD THOSE HOMES.
LASTLY, THE DEVELOPERS ALSO COMMITTED TO, UM, INVEST IN WEISNER PARK TO CREATE A, UM, POSSIBLY A HORSE RESTING STATION FOR THAT PARK.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF TRAIL RIDERS AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS RESPECTED.
SO THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT, UM, THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, I DID MEET WITH YOU AND YOU GUYS PROVIDED ME THE INITIAL PLANS.
AND SOME OF MY CONCERNS WAS THE STRUC, THE, THE CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND THAT IT'S LIKE PRETTY MUCH IT DIDN'T FIT THE HOUSES THAT WAS ALREADY IN ACRES HOMES.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COME IN THAT IT DOESN'T LIKE THE CHARACTER IS STILL LIKE, KEEP THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTACT.
AND SO I KNOW WE HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT COME DOWN THE LINE, SO I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PARK.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT THE UPGRADES TO THE PARK.
AND SO THAT'LL BE, UM, SOME GOOD INFORMATION FOR ME TO HAVE SO THAT I CAN SHARE WITH SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I'M RECEIVING PHONE CALLS ABOUT REGARDING THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ANOTHER MULTIFAMILY ONE, ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY, UH, PRESENTED BY RAY MILLER.
SO FOR ITEM SIX, UH, GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION REGARDING, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKET, UH, WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING FOR ITEM SIX TODAY IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING AGREEMENT.
UH, BACK IN JULY, 2021, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, ORDINANCE, UH, TO INVEST $14.9 MILLION OF C-D-B-G-D-R 17 FUNDS, UH, TO BE INVESTED IN TX TXZ AND HLLC, UH, A SINGLE ASSET ENTITY OWNER FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING A 300, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 325 UNIT, AFFORDABLE H HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UH, LOCATED AT, UH, 12 1 2 1 GREENS POINT DRIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THE AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS A CHANGE IN SCOPE.
IF YOU LOOK, UH, AT THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS NO CHANGE IN THE AFFORDABILITY, NO CHANGE IN OUR INVESTMENT AMOUNT TO THE TRANSACTION ITSELF, UH, AND TO A TRANSACTION THAT'S GONNA MEET ALL THE CITY, UH, CONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE AND STANDARDS.
THE ONE, WHAT WE ARE CHANGING AND WE'RE REQUESTING IS, UH,
[00:45:01]
AN AMENDMENT TO THE SCOPE TO REMOVE A PARKING, A PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE.IT WAS GONNA BE A NINE LEVEL PARKING GARAGE THAT, THAT WAS GONNA BE LOCATED ON SITE.
AND THAT TO BE AMENDED TO, UH, CER TWO SURFACE PARKING, UH, UH, LOTS THAT ARE GONNA BE ADJACENT TO THE BUILDINGS, UH, THAT WILL INCLUDE, UH, 526 PARKING SPACES, UH, THAT ARE GONNA BE ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPOSAL AND THE, THE RESULTS AND, AND THE REASON WE ARE REQUESTING THIS, THIS IS GONNA BE A, A, AN OVERALL SAVINGS OF $1.3 MILLION TOWARDS THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION, UH, COST OF THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
AND AGAIN, WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS A SCOPE CHANGE IS TO ALLOW TO KEEP THE BUDGET AS IT IS NOT TO REQUIRE INVESTMENT OF ADDITIONAL CDBG FUNDS, UH, BUT THEN TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT INTO THE, THE SITES PARKING THAT YOU SEE HERE.
AGAIN, THIS DOES COMPLY TO ALL THE CITY STANDARDS AND ORDINANCES AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
AND IT ALSO ADHERES TO THE, UH, UH, ACDS, UH, MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING STANDARDS AS WELL.
JUST, I THINK YOU GOT IT AT THE END THERE, RAY.
MY QUESTION WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE WE GONE THROUGH THE PERMITTING, OBVIOUSLY THE PARKING CHANGE WOULD HAVE VARIOUS RIPPLE EFFECTS ON THE PERMIT AND, UH, THE SITE, UH, STRATEGY.
SO LOOKING AT THIS SLIDE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN, UM, THOSE ARE THE TWO ADJACENT SURFACE LOTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE ONE THAT, UH, RADIATE OUT FROM THE SITE AND, UH, HAD WE GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF KNOWING WHERE THE NINE LEVEL PARKING GARAGE WAS GOING TO GO? YES.
AND WE DO HAVE, UH, THE DEVELOPER LEADS EVEN IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, COULD PROBABLY ANSWER A LOT OF MORE, A LOT MORE OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
BUT THE SECOND BUILDING THAT YOU SEE ON THERE, ON THERE TOWARDS THE RIGHT WAS GONNA BE LOCATED A BIT MORE NORTH TO THE SITE WITH THE, UH, PARKING GARAGE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO BUILDINGS.
AND, UM, TO ME, I GUESS WITH NOT BUILDING A PARKING STRUCTURE CERTAINLY HAS ITS ADVANTAGES.
UM, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT MY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT P IS APPRAISED OF THE DESIGN AND, UH, THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD DO HIMSELF.
GOOD, GOOD SERVICE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
UM, I'M DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I NEED TO MARINATE SURE.
BUT WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS.
I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION I WANT TO ADD AND I'M WILLING TO DO THE FOLLOW UP AS WELL.
AND, AND THIS IS MORE POINTED TO THE, THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE THIS IS GREEN'S POINT AND THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF FLOODING, IS THE, WAS THE DESIGN WITH THE INTENTION IN CASE THERE WAS A FLOOD THAT CARS WOULD BE ABOVE GROUND WHERE THEY WOULDN'T LOSE THEIR CARS.
UM, AND THEN NOW WITH THE REMOVAL OF THAT AND AN, YOU KNOW, I, I WANT MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE, THE INTENTION OF THEIR DESIGN.
I'M GONNA INVITE THE MR. LEE EVEN TO, TO PRESENT ON THAT.
I WILL SAY THOUGH, UM, THE SITE, THIS PRETTY MUCH ADJACENT TO THE GREENSPOINT MALL AND I'LL SAY IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST ELEVATED SITES, WHAT WAS GOING TO BE A FIVE ACRE SITE THAT HAD TWO LARGE BUILDINGS AND A LARGE PARKING GARAGE AND NOT A TON OF GREEN SPACE.
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IS NOW GOING TO BE A SITE THAT HAS AN OPEN AREA PARK WITH A WALKING TRAIL AROUND IT AND A LOT OF, UH, TWO DOG PARKS AND A LOT OF GREEN SPACE.
AND WE DID ALL THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE FARTHEST PARKING SPOT IN THE SURFACE PARKING TO EACH BUILDING.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE CLOSER THAN SAY THE FARTHEST PARKING SPOT UP ON THE NINTH FLOOR IF SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO GO DOWN AND TAKE AN ELEVATOR AND THEN WALK ALL THE WAY OVER.
UM, SO ARE THERE ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A PARKING GARAGE? SURE.
YOU HAVE COVER WHEN IT RAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SOME MIGHT SAY IT'S MORE SECURE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS A PARKING GARAGE AND WE HAVE SECURITY ISSUES WITH PEOPLE HIDING IN THE GARAGE AND STEALING STUFF AND WE CAN'T HAVE CAMERAS IN EVERY SINGLE ANGLE.
SO THERE'S POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES ABOUT ALL OF IT.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE HAD TO GET AN INITIAL FIVE ACRES TO MAKE THE PARK THE SURFACE PARKING
[00:50:01]
LOT WORK.AND I DONATED THE LAND FOR FREE TO THE PROJECT.
SO, UH, THAT'S SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF LAND THAT I DONATED TO HELP MAKE THIS PROJECT WORK.
I'M SORRY, I HAD TO GIVE MYSELF A SHAME WITH SELFISH PLUG ON THAT, BUT IT, I THINK IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
AND SO, UH, I'M IN IT, I WANNA MAKE THE PROJECT WORK, I WANT TO KEEP IT IN BUDGET.
I DID NOT WANT TO ASK FOR ANY MORE MONEY.
I COMMITT THAT TO RAY AND HIS TEAM.
AND SO WE CAME UP WITH WHAT I THINK IS A DESIGN THAT SOLVES OUR BUDGET PROBLEM, BUT ACTUALLY WILL TURN OUT TO BE A MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL DESIGN.
AND, AND, AND ADDITIONALLY I LEFT THIS OUT, NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE A A CER A PARK AREA WITH WALKING TRAILS, WE'RE ALSO GONNA DESIGNATE PARKING SPACES TO BE CORDONED OFF ON THE WEEKENDS SO THAT WE CAN DO LIKE A LITTLE FARMER'S MARKET FOR PEOPLE.
UH, AND SO I, I THINK IT'S GONNA TURN OUT REALLY NICE.
WELL, I'M GONNA DEFER TO MY, MY COLLEAGUE, THE DISTRICT MEMBER IN THAT AREA.
SO ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU HAVE OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE.
AND THANK YOU LEE FOR, YOU KNOW, ME AND YOU, ME, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING A LOT ABOUT, UM, THIS PROJECT AND I WOULD LOVE TO COMMUNICATE A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I DO HAVE A PERSON ABOUT THE, YOU SAID THE DEVELOPER IS PROPOSING THAT THE RESULTING SAVINGS OF 1.3 MILLION BE REALLOCATED TO THE CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM.
WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO, UH, WE'RE REQUIRED, THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS TAX CREDITS AND SO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY OF CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN ON THE PROJECT.
AND SO RATHER THAN TAKING THE MONEY THAT WE'RE HAVING FROM THE SAVINGS AND REDISTRIBUTING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM FOR THE OVERALL PROJECT.
AND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS, AS WE, UH, FORESEE, UM, AS CERTAIN UNEXPECTED THINGS THAT WERE UNFORESEEN POP UP ON THE PROJECT, LIKE MATERIAL COST INCREASES, LABOR INCREASES, WE THEN USE THAT CONTINGENCY TO ALLOCATE TO THAT LINE ITEM TO COVER THAT COST.
SO THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING IN ANY, IT IT'S GOING SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS THE PROJECT.
WE JUST PUT IT IN THE CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM FOR THE PROJECT.
I, I WILL TELL YOU, AS RAY WAS SAYING EARLIER, WE'RE SEEING ISSUES ACROSS THE BOARD ON LABOR AND MATERIAL.
WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH, UH, STEEL COSTS GOING UP, SUBCONTRACTORS COMING BACK TO US, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNDER CONTRACT AND SAYING, WE HAD THIS ON OUR FIRE SPRINKLERS, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE UNDER CONTRACT, THEY SAID, WE HAVE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT OR YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE US WHAT'S CALLED AN ESCALATOR AND ALLOW THE PRICE OF THE STEEL TO GO UP THEM TO PASS THAT COST ONTO US.
AND SO THE NUMBER OF UNITS WILL REMAIN HOW MANY UNITS IS THIS? 3 3 25.
AND THE YES, BECAUSE THIS PROJECT, I MEAN, WE DIDN'T, THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT WAS LIKE REALLY WAS JUST A PROJECT THAT WAS DONE.
SO I'M TRYING TO THINK, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR 9% THE COMMUNITY TO LIKE REALLY ENGAGE IN THIS PART OF THE PROJECT? I MEAN, I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S GOING TO A ALIGN ITEM AND IT'S GONNA GO BACK INTO THE PROJECT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S THE COMMUNITY HAVE A SAY IN THIS PORTION OF IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A SAY AT.
I JUST SUPPORTED BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY MOVING WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE.
YES, I, I DID WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND HIS TEAM ON THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A TRANSITION, SO I DID WANT TO TELL YOU, IT'S NOT LIKE I JUST POPPED UP, BUT THINGS HAPPEN.
UM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ENGAGE AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, WE DO HAVE ABOUT 18,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE PROJECT.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE USED AS SOME KIND OF A COMMUNITY TYPE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THERE'S NO PROGRAMMING FOR THAT SPACE YET, SO I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM TO COME UP WITH A GOOD USE FOR IT.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO FIGURE THAT OUT, SO I'M AN OPEN BOOK, AS I TOLD YOU, I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ANY WAY.
I THINK THIS IS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME GIVEN THE FACT THE, AND FOR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WASN'T PART OF THE FIRST CONVERSATION.
CAN YOU CLARIFY, THIS IS, YOU SAID YOU HAD TAX CREDITS.
IS THIS A FOUR OR 9%? 4% DEAL.
WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE TCA'S GUIDELINES, THE CITIES.
BUT I DO WANNA BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE AN EXTRA 1.3 MILLION THAT'S THERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS THERE.
NO, THAT'S, IT'S JUST GOING INTO CONTINGENCY AND THEN AS WE HAVE PROBLEMS, WE'RE PULLING IT OUT AND PUTTING IT INTO THOSE AREAS.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE? THANK YOU.
UH, BEFORE I BRING ON TAMIKA JONES, I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UM, MELODY BARB BACK UP.
UH, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WERE NOTED IN THE NEW YORK'S TIMES LAST WEEK, UH, FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT, UH, HAS DONE IN WORKING WITH OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND WITH MARK EICHENBAUM AND, AND MOVING, UH, PEOPLE FROM STREETS INTO HOME.
SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MELODY AND
[00:55:01]
HER TEAM FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT THEY DID ON OUR SIDE IN PARTNERING WITH, UH, ALL OF THE OTHER PARTNERS.UM, I DID WANNA TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE.
I, UH, I DID PRESCRIBE IT AND, UM, AND I, UH, GAVE INSTRUCTION THAT I WILL SAY 90% OF THE BOYS BEHIND ME FOLLOWED.
AND SO THEY DID READ IT OR THEY LISTENED TO IT.
UM, TODAY I JUST WANNA MENTION WE HAVE A TROOP 3 5 5 OUTTA SPRING, TEXAS HERE IN ATTENDANCE.
THIS IS A BOY SCOUT TROOP THAT IS WORKING ON THEIR CITIZENSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY MERIT BADGE, WHICH IS AN EAGLE REQUIRED MERIT BADGE.
AND SO THEY'RE HERE WATCHING AND THEY'RE HOPING TO AT LEAST ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS AFTER THIS COMMITTEE.
BUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT, AND, AND I HAD ASKED DR.
B IF HE WAS GONNA MENTION IT, WAS THAT, UM, THE PRAISE THAT WAS GIVEN LAST WEEK WAS, WAS AMAZING.
I THINK THAT THE ARTICLE WAS AN AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 2011.
IT IS VERY HARD WORK AND IT IS GREAT TO SEE IT IN WRITING IN BLACK AND WHITE IN A NATIONAL, UM, OUTLET.
BUT I WANTED TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED DO THAT BECAUSE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE COALITION AND THEY'RE A HUGE PART.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MARK EICHENBAUM AND HIS OFFICE AND HIS PREDECESSOR, AND THEY WERE A HUGE PART AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR DEPARTMENT.
BUT SOMETIMES THEY THINK THAT WE FORGET ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS THAT, THAT PUT A HAND IN THIS.
AND THOSE OTHERS ARE OUR CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PROJECTS AND CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THAT AND VET THEM OUT AND ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS.
AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, AND PERHAPS IT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO FUND, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MULTI-JURISDICTION BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON, FORT BEND, PASADENA, MONTGOMERY, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO SERVE AND TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS.
YES, WE HAVE HOUSED, UM, OVER 25,000 INDIVIDUALS SINCE 2011.
BUT IF YOU DO LOOK OUTSIDE AND ON THE WAY OVER HERE, WE SAW HOMELESS ON THE STREET, HOMELESSNESS SHOULD BE RARE, BRIEF AND NON-REOCCURRING.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH MENTIONED.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN HOUSING AND NEED SERVICES AND THE FRUSTRATION BEHIND IT? SO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ABOUT 15 MONTHS.
WE STARTED IN MARCH OF 2021 AND IN 15 MONTHS WE HAVE SERVED 72,535 HOUSEHOLDS.
THAT IS A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROGRAM BETWEEN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
THO THE, THE 72,500 INDIVIDUALS, OR I'M SORRY, UNITS ARE NOT THE INDIVIDUAL COUNT, THOSE ARE NOT HEARTBEATS.
SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT NUMBER, MULTIPLY IT BY 2.5 OR THREE, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN TERMS OF HEARTBEAT.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS? THAT'S $291,475,651 AS OF THIS PAST MONDAY.
SO $291.4 MILLION IN 15 MONTHS ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY.
AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THIS BODY.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY TEAM.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT BAKER RIPLEY ALLIANCE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE 21,000 PARTICIPATING, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
THOSE LANDLORDS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED INTO AN EVICTION INTERVENTION PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE NOW SERVING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAVE A CAUSE NUMBER, OUR IN EVICTION.
THIS CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF FAMILIES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, AND TO THANK AND SAY THANK, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM.
UH, NEXT UP IS TAMIKA JONES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CFO TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE.
WELL, AFTER SUCH A AMAZING REPORT FOR MELODY, UM, I HAVE, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW I FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
MAYBE I JUST SAY, EVERYONE READ THE NUMBERS AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT AS WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO OUR JUNE 30TH, UH, BENCHMARK WITH OUR DR 17 GRANT, I DID WANT TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.
UM, AND THIS REALLY WILL HELP SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP AND INTERACTIONS WILL BE WITH THE GLO OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO, THE TWO HIGH POINTS THAT I WILL MENTION IS THAT OUR BUYOUT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR SINGLE FAMILY NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, BOTH HAVE EXITED THEIR BENCHMARKS, WHICH IS
[01:00:01]
ABSOLUTELY GREAT NEWS.UM, SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN DELAYED, HAVE BEEN, UM, REALLY DELAYED WITH SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF THE G'S MONITORING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.
UM, WE ARE NOW SEEING HOPEFULLY THE END OF THE LIGHT, RIGHT? WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE CLEARING SOME OF THOSE FINDINGS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, ALL OF THE ISSUES AND ALL OF THE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, UM, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE REALLY IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO MEET OUR BENCHMARKS.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT, IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE APPROVAL TO SPEND THE MONEY, WE CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY, THEREFORE, WE CAN'T GET REIMBURSEMENT.
SO IF WE ARE GRADED ONLY ON REIMBURSEMENT AND THE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE BEEN REIMBURSED, IF WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM SPENDING THE MONEY, THEN THEREFORE WE'RE PROHIBITED FROM GETTING REIMBURSEMENT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR BECAUSE NOT ALL THE FACTS ARE SOMETIMES STRAIGHT.
SO I JUST WANT THE COMMITTEE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE STAND.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE PRETTY CLOSE.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS GOTTEN A SLOW START, BUT WE HAVE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A STEADY FLOW WITH APPLICATIONS AND ALSO REIMBURSEMENTS THERE, HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, OUR WHOLE PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, IS IN CLOSEOUT PHASE.
AND SO THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT ARE NEEDED TO REALLY MEET THE BENCHMARK ARE LIMITED.
BEING THAT WE ARE IN CLOSEOUT PHASE WITH THE G'S TAKEOVER OF THAT PROGRAM, OUR HOME BUYERS PROGRAM, WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN, UM, A, A DELAY.
AND THE DELAY IS CAUSED BY THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOMES.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SOCIETY.
AND, AND TRYING TO FIND AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH A $30,000 DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US.
UH, WE HAVE PUT IN A REQUEST TO INCREASE THAT ASSISTANCE AMOUNT TO THE GLO AND ARE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF, UM, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE APPROVED AND HOPEFULLY IF, IF APPROVED, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, AT LEAST BE ABLE TO ASSIST MORE PEOPLE WITH A GREATER AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, AND ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO MEET OUR BENCHMARKS.
MULTIFAMILY HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, UM, AGAIN, OF GETTING SO CLOSE, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE GLO PLANNING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, JUST WITH THE NATURE OF THOSE PROJECTS, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SPEND THE MONEY WHEN THE PROJECTS ARE, ARE NOT YET COMPLETED.
AND THEN PUBLIC SERVICES AND SMALL RENTAL ALSO IMPACTED BY THE DELAYS WITH THE GLO, UM, THEREBY IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO, TO MEET THEIR BENCHMARKS.
I BELIEVE YOU HEARD FROM THE SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM TODAY.
SO YOU CAN SEE NOW SINCE THOSE, UM, DEALS AND TRANSACTIONS ARE MOVING TO THE CLOSING PHASE, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO SPEND THE MONEY AND THEN GET REIMBURSED.
I DO WANNA PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE, UH, WITH JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO DATE.
UM, THIS IS OUR HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE TRENDING JUST A LITTLE LOWER THAN WE DID IN LAST YEAR OR IN LAST FISCAL YEAR.
AGAIN, DUE TO THE AFFORDABILITY AND THE PRICE OF THE HOMES, IT IS DIFFICULT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE $30,000 THAT I MENTIONED.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SEE THE TOTALS BETWEEN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS FISCAL YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE, NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SEE WE ARE NOW STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE TRANSACTIONS MOVE INTO THE CLOSING STAGE.
UM, SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET THROUGH THOSE.
AND THEN NEXT SLIDE JUST GIVES YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF WHERE WE ARE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE, THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE COMPLETED.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH, WITH MELODY, UM, AFTER SUCH AN AMAZING REPORT.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF, UH, PERSONS OR HEARTBEATS AS MELODY DESCRIBED.
UH, PERSONS SERVED WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICES PROGRAM, AND THIS IS AS OF APRIL OF 2022.
AND THEN MY LAST SLIDE, WHICH IS ALSO, UM, ASTOUNDING TO LOOK AT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOTAL DOLLARS THAT THIS DEPARTMENT WAS SPENDING IN FISCAL YEAR 17, WE WERE SPENDING ABOUT $99 MILLION A YEAR.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, UH, FISCAL YEAR TO DATE, AND THIS IS AS A MAY, WE'VE SPENT OVER $335 MILLION.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE GLO, DESPITE THE COSTS THAT ARE INCREASING, WE'VE STILL MANAGED TO, TO ASSIST A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THE 99 MILLION? CAN YOU RESTATE THAT? THAT IS THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES THAT THIS DEPARTMENT WAS, UM, HAD SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 17.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, HOW MUCH MONEY WERE WE SPENDING? $99 MILLION.
LAST YEAR WE SPENT ALMOST 450 MILLION.
AND THEN THIS YEAR TO DATE, AGAIN, WITH ALL THE DELAYS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OUR GLO TRANSACTIONS AND COVID AND COVID AND COVID, UM, THE IMPACTS THAT AND THE TEXAS FREEZE.
WE'VE STILL MANAGED TO SPEND OVER 335 MILLION AS OF MAY, THE END OF MAY.
SO WE ALSO HAVE AN EXTRA MONTH TO GET INTO.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
[01:05:01]
ROBINSON.THE ONE OTHER SORT OF FINANCIAL, UH, MINUTIAE THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT WITH THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSISTANCE, OUR $30,000 IS, THAT'S STAYED THE SAME.
THAT IS STAYED, THAT HAS STAYED THE SAME.
WE HAVE PUT IN A REQUEST, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO I GUESS MY, MY QUESTION IS TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE HAVING, GETTING THE LOANS AND QUALIFYING, HOW HAS THE FED'S, UH, RECENT ACTIVITY AFFECTED THINGS WITH THE RAISING OF INTEREST RATES? IS THAT, HOW DOES THAT BEAR ON THIS? OR HOW WOULD YOU BREAK THAT DOWN? THAT, THAT DOES BEAR ON IT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT AN INTEREST RATE INCREASE, SO OUR US PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IS BASED ON KENISHA, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DEBT TO INCOME RATIO.
AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT INTEREST RATES INCREASING, AND OUR ASSISTANCE AMOUNT REMAINING STEADY AT 50,000 AND INCREASE IN INTEREST RATE IS GOING TO INCREASE THE DEBT TO INCOME RATIO.
AND SO IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AND, AND PUT IN A REQUEST TO INCREASE THAT ASSISTANCE AMOUNT TO 50,000, UM, THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE THINKING OF AND HOPING THAT, UM, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
SO THAT WAS A BIT OF A, UH, NAIVE QUESTION ON MY PART, JUST TO TEASE THAT OUT, BECAUSE AGAIN, DIRECTOR, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER THING, MITIGATING THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATING CHALLENGES FOR THOSE WHO WOULD GET INTO HOMES.
SO AGAIN, WE NEED TO TRACK THESE THINGS.
SO IF WE NEED TO BE AGILE AND ADJUST TO THE MARKET OR THE AVAILABILITY, IF, IF THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THAT, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD ACT ACCORDINGLY.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD, UH, THERE'S JUST A SHORTAGE OF INVENTORY, AND IF YOU RIDE AROUND THIS CITY, BUILDERS ARE BUILDING AS FAST AS THEY CAN GET IT BUILT, BUT, UH, THEY'RE ONLY BUILDING FOR HOMES, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, THOSE HOMES ARE ALREADY SOLD, SO THEY'RE NOT BUILDING AND CREATING INVENTORY.
SO THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF INVENTORY SITTING OUT THERE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE QUALIFIED IN OUR PROGRAM AND FINDING, UH, UH, UH, A PRODUCT THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO HAVE AND LIVE IN, UH, WHERE OUR DOWN PAYMENT HAS BEEN, UH, IMPACTFUL, WHICH DESPITE ALL THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE CELEBRATED WITH MELODY AND HER REPORT AND, UH, THE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES LAST WEEK, THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE, IS THAT THERE REMAINS A CHALLENGE OF THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS.
WE NEED UNITS, WE NEED PARTNERS.
AND YOU RAISE A REALLY GOOD POINT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO SLIDE 73.
I HAVE A QUESTION AROUND THAT.
IT'S THE NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT SLIDE.
I'M A EXTREME FAN OF THIS PROGRAM, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE, UM, OUR MAYOR HAS A, UM, ROBUST INITIATIVE FOR 3000 HOMES BY THE END OF 2020.
ROBUST UNDERSCORE, ITALICIZED, ASTERISK NEXT TO THAT HOME THREE, RIGHT.
UH, EXCITING TIMES FOR ALL OF US, AND IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR A FUTURE HOMEOWNER, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS COLOR IN THE LINES WITH THE NUMBERS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT FISCAL 21 AND THEN FISCAL 22.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS STRENGTHENED AND HAS SOME TEETH, UM, AND THAT THERE'S SOME COMPLIANCE THERE.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY OF HOME OWNERSHIP BY 2023 TO 3000 FAMILIES? I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER RAY, OLIVIA,
WELL, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN, AND YOU HEARD OLIVIA'S PRESENTATION EARLIER.
WELL, THAT WAS GONNA BE 200 PLUS HOMES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE COMING TO CITY COUNCIL IN THE, IN THE VERY NEAR TERM, UH, THAT WILL, UH, WILL ADD TO THAT NUMBER AND ALSO, UH, GET US A WHOLE LOT CLOSER TO THAT 3000.
IF YOU RECALL ROBIN'S LANDING, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST LARGE PROJECTS THAT WE DID.
SO THAT WAS 460, UH, EIGHT HOMES.
SO WE'RE GETTING, THERE IS JUST THIS, UH, A, A VERY SLOW PROCESS AND WHAT THE CITY, THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WITH THE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES.
UH, WHEN, UH, PERHAPS WHEN WE DID ROBIN'S LANDING, I THINK THE INTEREST RATE WAS WELL UNDER 3%.
NOW IT'S, UH, NEARLY, NEARLY 6%.
SO THAT MAKES A MAJOR DIFFERENCE, A MAJOR IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT MORTGAGE.
SO, UM, AS A DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE, UM, BEEN AGILE AND WE'VE HAD TO PIVOT FROM SINGLE LOT DEVELOPMENT TO LARGE TRACK DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, AS THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED, UM, THE ROBINS LANDING PROJECT IS UNDERWAY.
UM, WE DO, AS MENTIONED BY RAY MILLER, WE HAVE A, UH, LOA WITH PERMITTING.
WE HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT'S GONNA MAKE SURE THESE PROJECTS DON'T SIT PERMANENT ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY.
[01:10:01]
SO, UM, THAT ROBINS LANDING PROJECT, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED EXCAVATING THE MOVING THE GROUND.SO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THE PHASE ONE A OF HOUSES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AGAIN, THE TWO PROJECTS PRESENTED TODAY FOR THE LARGE CHECK TEAM, UM, THE ACRES HOMES PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT IN OST SOUTH UNION.
THAT PROJECT, WE HOPE TO HAVE HOUSES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE ACRES HOMES PROJECT, UM, THE FIRST, UH, SITE OFF OF TIDWELL HAS ALREADY CLEARED PERMITTING, AND SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GETTING HOUSES, UM, ON THE GROUND AS WELL.
AND WE'RE PUSHING ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS, YOU KNOW, AS WHAT WAS MENTIONED TODAY, IN LIGHT OF COSTS TO, UM, STAY PRODUCTIVE AND, AND GET THEM THROUGH PERMITTING AND GET HOUSES ON THE GROUND SOON AS POSSIBLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, RIGHT THERE.
I, I'M TRYING TO HIT THE RIGHT BUTTONS.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING DAY.
UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, WHEN, WHEN WE GIVE, UH, THESE, UH, THESE HOUSING CREDIT, THESE TAX CREDITS AND FOR TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DO WE EVER FOLLOW UP TO, TO SEE TO IT THAT THESE, UH, UH, BUILDERS WHO HAVE CONSTRUCTED THESE APARTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY ADVERTISING AND THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, IS THERE A MECHANISM THAT, THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GIVING THESE, UH, APARTMENTS TO THOSE WHO NEED IT? UH, YES.
WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE A, UH, MONITORING COMPONENT THAT IDENTIFIES THAT, THAT IN THE PROGRAM WOULD HAVE ALREADY PRE-IDENTIFIED THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR AS AFFORDABLE.
AND THEN, UH, PART OF THE MONITORING TEAM WILL GO OUT ON, ON AN, UH, PERIODIC BASIS AND MAKE, ENSURE AND LOOK AT THEIR FILES.
THEY DO A DEEP DIVE TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THEY ARE RUNNING TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND, AND LIVING UP TO THE, UH, SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT IN WHICH, UH, WE, WE, UH, ENTERED INTO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING, UH, GETTING THOSE UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
AND THE ONE THING I'LL ADD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THAT EVERY DEVELOPER THAT WE WORK WITH, EVEN WHEN THEY APPLY FOR FUNDING, THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO US AN AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING PLAN.
HOW WILL THEY, WHEN THE TRANSACTION'S FINISHED, HOW WILL, UH, THE OWNER AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH MAILERS, REACH OUTS, UH, WEBSITE, IT HITS, UH, THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE, YOU KNOW, OF TAKING OUR FUNDS, ONE OF THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS TO FIRMLY MARKET, UM, TO THOSE WHO ARE LEAST LIKELY TO APPLY.
SO THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE AT, YOU KNOW, 30, 30% A MI OR, UM, IF THERE'S A CERTAIN, UH, UH, RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP THAT IS UNDERREPRESENTED WITHIN AN AREA, THEY'D HAVE TO ALSO TAKE AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING APPROACHES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE REACHING THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
LET ME ASK YOU, ARE WE, UH, IF A PERSON, UH, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S A NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE TO, TO MEET.
I I, I'M SURE, AND IF THAT NUMBER'S NOT MET, CAN THEY RENT THOSE APARTMENTS TO OTHERS? NO.
THAT ARE NOT THE, THE, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? NO, THAT THERE, THERE, SO IF, UH, WE HAVE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, A MI REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED WITHIN OUR LOAN AGREEMENT, UM, IT IS, IT IS NOT OPTIONAL.
IF, IF THEY CANNOT FIND THOSE HOUSEHOLDS, UM, TO RENT, TO WHICH, UM, THEY'LL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAKE A CASE TO HUD AND MAYBE EVEN THE GLO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS AN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUP OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THEM, THAT MIGHT BE A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE, WE HAVE YET TO SEE THAT OP, YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPEN YET.
SO I, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND DIRECTOR BY THAT, THAT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT MAKES ME FEEL, UH, MUCH MORE SECURE IN DOING ALL THIS.
SO IF WE CAN CONTINUE, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UH, VERY INTERACTIVE WITH OUR, WITH OUR CUSTOMER BASE.
SO, UH, AGAIN, EVERY WEDNESDAY WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS.
THAT'S EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM ONE TO FOUR.
AND, UH, YOU SEE ALL THE INFORMATION THERE.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT ENTERED, UH, CONDUCTED SPRING VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
UH, SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF THOSE, UH, NEXT SLIDE THAT, UH, A CDD RECEIVED ABOUT 45 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS ANNUALLY TO ASSIST FAMILIES THROUGH PUBLIC IN INVOLVEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AFFORDABLE HOMES, PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TO ENABLE THE PRO, THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AS TO WHAT PROJECTS GET FUNDED FOR UPCOMING PROGRAM YEAR.
[01:15:01]
THAT WE HAD A NUMBER CONTINUE.THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE THE STELLAR LINK PROJECT, WHICH IS, UH, ON MAY 5TH, 2022.
IT'S A 10 10 ACRE MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT WILL BE LOCATED AT SOUTHWEST CORNER OF STELLA LINK AND, UH, SOUTH BRAESWOOD BOULEVARD.
THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATE BRINGING TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT KIND OF ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO GET TO THAT 3000 NUMBER.
THIS IS A PRODUCT, UH, PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE 310, UH, UM, UNITS, UH, ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
THERE WAS SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, UH, TALK AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY SURROUNDING THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND THIS ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE ON OUR BUYOUT WORKSHOP THAT WAS CONDUCTED ON MAY 2ND.
UH, THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, UH, CONDUCTED THIS WORKSHOP TO, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, AND YOU'LL SEE SPRING VILLAGE APARTMENTS, ATON WAY APARTMENTS, BISCAYNE AT CITY VIEW, AND MONTICELLO.
ALL OF THOSE, THOSE PROJECTS WERE IN DISTRICT K, DISTRICT B, AND DISTRICT J.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE WE DID A GRAND OPENING ON MAY 6TH, UH, HARMONY HOUSE, UH, THAT, UH, ALSO HAD A SERIOUS IMPACT IN, IN DEALING WITH OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE.
SO YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF SLIDES CONTINUE.
OOH, WHO'S THAT IN THE MIDDLE? MM.
AND THEN YOU'LL CONTINUE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN WE ALSO, ON THAT SAME DAY, WE DID A GROUNDBREAKING, UH, AT, UH, AVENUE CDC.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF, UH, SLIDES RELATED TO AVENUE CDCS GRAND OPENING, AND THEN AN UPDATE ON, UH, UH, NEW HOPE HOUSING SAVOY.
WE HAVE, UH, THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS 23% COMPLETE AS OF MAY OF 22.
YOU'LL SEE, UH, SLIDES SHOWING THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON THERE, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON HERITAGE SENIOR RESIDENTS, WHICH IS ON MOY, UH, 1102 MOY.
THAT PROJECT IS 40% COMPLETE AS OF, UH, 2022 THAT WILL HAVE 135 UNITS.
THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE, UH, A RENDERING, UH, NOT A RENDERING.
YOU'LL SEE, UH, ACTUAL PHOTO OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
UH, GALE WIND'S APARTMENT REHAB.
UH, IRVINGTON, UH, THAT IS, WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLETE AS OF MAY OF 2022.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU WILL NOW SEE WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, UH, LOOKS LIKE ON, ON, UH, UH, ON IRVINGTON.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AND, UM, HOME BUYER'S CHOICE PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, YOU'LL SEE, UH, KEY EXCHANGES.
UH, UH, THIS IS ON, UH, HEDRICH, UH, STREET ON INDEPENDENCE HEIGHT, DISTRICT H AND THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE HAPPY HOMEOWNER, UH, IN THAT PRO, UH, UH, RECEIVING HIS KEY FOR THAT PRODUCT.
UH, AS I CLOSE, UH, JUST WANT TO, UH, LET THIS BODY KNOW THAT WE ARE CONTINU TO MAKING, MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AS OUR RELATIONSHIPS CON, UH, CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GLO, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS.
UH, WE HAVE GOTTEN PRO, UH, PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON HOLD HAVE NOW BEEN RELEASED.
UH, THE MULTIFAMILY IS, WILL BE MOVING, UH, RAPIDLY TO GET THOSE PROJECTS MOVED, UH, FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
SO YOU'LL BE SEEING THOSE ACTIVITIES COMING, UH, TO THIS BODY RE RELATIVELY SOON.
WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK.
AND I WANT TO, AGAIN, APPLAUD THE STAFF OF, UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR ALWAYS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THE, THEY DO THE BEST WORK, THEY DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING.
UH, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING ALL OF THAT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF.
UM, TODAY WE DO HAVE THREE IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MR. KIRK.
[01:20:06]
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.UH, I'M REPRESENTING AGAPE HOME, CDC THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT IN THE, THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DONE WORKING WITH US.
AND JUST TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP ABOUT SELLING THE HOMES AND WHO GETS THE HOMES.
UH, I MOVED INTO THE OST SOUTH UNION COMMUNITY 17 YEARS AGO AND, UH, HAVE CONTINUED LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY, LISTENING TO THE NEIGHBORS THERE AND WHAT THEY WANT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WENT INTO THAT HOME DEVELOPMENT.
AND, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WE MAKE REVISIONS TO DESIGNS.
IT'S ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES AT AGAPE.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE, THE AFFORDABILITY, THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT WE, UH, ON THE BUILDING SIDE AND ON THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SIDE ARE HAVING ALL THE TIME.
SO ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT, UH, THAT WE ARE TAKING AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT IS THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THOSE PROFITS FROM THESE HOMES.
AND SO FROM THE, FROM THE TOTAL SALE PRICE OF A MARKET UNIT, AGAPE IS ABLE TO OFFER ITS OWN SUBSIDIES, ITS OWN, UH, HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTONS WHERE IT BRINGS THAT TOTAL, UH, ASSISTANCE DOWN ANOTHER 50,000 ON TOP OF WHAT THE CITY IS ALREADY PROVIDING.
AND SO, I CAN JUST ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN THAT'S WITHIN OUR POWER ON THE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN, UH, RECOMMENDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HOMES ARE AFFORDABLE, THAT THEY TRULY DO GET SOLD.
AND WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH BANKS AND, AND REALLY, UM, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE HOME BUYER, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY? WHAT CAN YOU DO IN TERMS OF RATES? WHAT CAN YOU DO IN TERMS OF APPROVALS? AND THEN TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, TRYING TO BE SHREWD AND SAYING, WELL, THIS BANK OVER HERE, THEY'RE DOING THIS, WOULD YOU DO THAT? AND SO, UH, I'M SURE ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS IN THIS ARE, ARE TRYING THOSE THINGS, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AGAPE DEVELOPMENT, AGAPE HOME, CDC IS DOING IN ORDER TO, TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS.
I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, EXPIRED, LET ME JUST SHARE THAT.
I, JUST TO HEAR THAT Y'ALL ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IS REALLY REMARKABLE.
AND, UM, THERE'S SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT'S HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT.
AND JUST TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT MEETING WHERE PE YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR DAUGHTER, THEIR SON, THEIR GRANDCHILD COMING BACK, BECAUSE AS THEY AGE AND CHOOSE TO AGE IN PLACE, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, CARETAKER POSSIBLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, AND SO IT IS, IT IS GOOD TO HEAR THAT Y'ALL HAVE INTENTION AROUND THAT.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU IN THE QUEUE.
Y'ALL ARE, ARE Y'ALL HAVE, YOU KNOW, NO OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS EVER GET THEME MUSIC, SO CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, INVITING US HERE.
I SAY US BECAUSE I HAD A ROOM FULL OF SUPPORTERS FROM THE COVENANT HOUSE.
I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THEM.
I'M REALLY SPEAKING FOR THEM AND 40 YEARS OF REALLY OF LOVE WITH THE, THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, MY NAME'S MIKE HOLLAND.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE MERIT COMPANIES AND HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE BOARD CHAIR FOR COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS.
UH, AND AGAIN, I'M REPRESENTING ALL OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE'VE SERVED AND STAFF OVER THE YEARS, LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERS AND, AND, UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR, FOR ALL OF THEM, FOR SURE.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE, THE CITY'S BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE OF, UH, NOT ONLY COVENANT HOUSE, BUT HOMELESS AND CERTAINLY WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY ON THEIR, UH, RECENT REALLY, UH, MORE NOTABLE SUCCESS, UM, THAT WAS, UH, HIGHLIGHTED IN THE TIMES.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY A SUBSET OF THAT.
WE BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE FRONT END OF THAT.
WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO HELP REDUCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
IF WE WIN, THEN THERE'S LESS PROBLEM TO SOLVE ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF A $6.7 MILLION GRANT TOWARDS OUR $47 MILLION CAPITAL GOAL.
UM, IT'S AN AMBITIOUS PRODUCT PROJECT FOR US, BUT ONE THAT, THAT, UM, WE REALLY DIDN'T, UH, GET TO CHOOSE.
OUR FACILITIES ARE LITERALLY FALLING AROUND US.
UH, WE FOUND THAT FROM HARVEY.
SO, UM, WE, WE, WE ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, I WANNA ESPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE STAFF, UH, THE STAFF OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ANDY ICKEN, UH, UH, ANNA RAMIREZ, WHO WAS HERE, YOU KNOW, TALKING EAR EARLIER, UH, SHEA, UH, BRIAN CRIMMINS.
THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE HELPING US ALL ALONG THE WAY, WHETHER WE APPLY FOR MONEY OR, OR, OR MAKE OUR STORY KNOWN.
SO WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
[01:25:01]
WHERE WE WERE WITHOUT THAT, WITHOUT THAT HELP, UH, IN A PROJECT LIKE OURS FACES LOTS OF OBSTACLES.UM, NOT IRONICALLY, YOU HEARD ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE OBSTACLES, UH, ESCALATION, UH, PERMITS, THAT SORT OF THING.
WE BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA GET THE JOB DONE, AND WE BELIEVE IN OUR PLAN.
UM, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US IS A PERMIT TO GET TO A TEMPORARY SITE SO THAT WE CAN START DEMOLITION WHERE WE ARE.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT THAN BEING ABLE TO MAKE DEADLINES AND BE CREDIBLE.
YOU CAN'T BUY ANYTHING FOR ANY PRICE IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO BUY AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE GOTTA GET INTO THE THIRD WARD TO A TEMPORARY PLACE, GET DEMOLITION GOING, AND THEN BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND BUY CONSTRUCTION.
YOU CAN TAKE PRICES, BUT UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO CONTRACT, YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY PIN DOWN THE PRICE.
AND I, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE GET HER TIME.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID, UH, REGARDING, UH, HAVING THIS AFFORDABLE SPACE, UH, NEAR ELDERLY PARENTS, UH, WHO NEED ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS ONE OF THE, THE MAIN THINGS THAT I LOOK AT WHEN I LOOK AT PROJECTS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UH, WITH THE AGING POPULATION, THEY DO NEED THEIR, THEIR, UH, CHILDREN OR CAREGIVERS TO LIVE CLOSE.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE YOU KIND OF HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SAID THAT REGARDING MY IMPETUS FOR, UH, HELPING THESE PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE MS. LESLIE BYRNE.
HELLO EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE EARLIER QUESTIONS.
I'M LESLIE BORN AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COVENANT HOUSE.
AND I WANNA ALSO THANK EVERYBODY.
I THINK MIKE MENTIONED ALL THE NAMES, BUT WE'RE SO VERY GRATEFUL.
UM, I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL OF YOU.
MAYOR TURNER'S OFFICE, HIS TEAM, ANNA BEHIND ME AND HER STAFF.
SO WE'RE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THEN TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT THE YOUTH DESERVE TO LIVE IN.
UM, I THINK WHEN ANNA AND HER TEAM CAME, THEY REALIZED THAT I REALLY WASN'T EXAGGERATING.
AND ONE OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER IS LITERALLY NOT HABITABLE AT THIS POINT.
SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL WE CAN'T GET WAIT TO GET OVER TO THE THIRD WARD BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE GET TO GREAT BREAK GROUND VERY QUICKLY.
UM, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE YOUTH THAT WE SERVE, AND I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, UH, MORE ABOUT THAT.
I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER KOOSH TALKED ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
THEY COME FROM THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, UM, THEIR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, YOUNG TEENAGERS, UH, SURVIVORS OF LABOR IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO MANY, WHEN WE GET THE YOUTH, WE GET MORE THAN THAT.
AND WITH THOSE STORIES, UM, SOME OF THEM ARE HORRIFIC, THEY'RE HARD TO DIGEST, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THEM ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.
SO I TALKED ABOUT OUR MEDICAL CLINIC, BUT THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR MEDICAL CLINIC IS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WITH THIS, THIS POPULATION.
UM, WHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, THEY'RE RUNNING ALL AWAY ALSO FROM, UM, ABUSIVE FAMILIES, ABUSIVE STEPPARENTS.
WE JUST HAD A YOUTH THAT SPOKE AT ONE OF OUR FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND HE TALKED ABOUT HIS STEPFATHER, WHO HE RAN AWAY BECAUSE OF THE STEPFATHER.
HIS FAVORITE FORM OF PUNISHMENT WAS ALWAYS HITTING HIM IN THE MOUTH BECAUSE HE WORE BRACES.
AND THE STEPFATHER THOUGHT THAT WAS FUN.
SO HOW DO YOU PROCESS THAT IN FRONT OF A YOUTH THAT'S TELLING YOU THAT STORY, DIGEST IT, AND THEN BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THEM.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL SUPPORT.
NO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS ON THE HOUSING STAFF DIRECTOR AND YOUR TEAM FOR JOINING US TODAY.
IT IS 1131 AND I TURN IT TO MY VICE CHAIR TO CLOSE THIS OUT.
THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE HAD AN EXCELLENT AGENDA, DIRECTOR, YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT WE SHARE IN.
UM, WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH YOUR GROUP AND, UH, MADAM CHAIR.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE ARE ADJOURNED.