[Housing and Affordability Committee on May 27, 2025.]
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I'M OFFICIALLY CALLED THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 27TH AT TWO O'CLOCK.
I WANNA WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF AND PRESENTERS FROM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO THE MAY HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY MEETING.
IN CHAMBERS, OF COURSE, WE HAVE VICE CHAIR WILLIE DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE, AND STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S OFFICE IN DISTRICT B.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE A SUCCINCT AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL HEAR FROM, UH, STAFF REGARDING COMPLIANCE AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC SERVICES, OUR SINGLE FAMILY DIVISION, PUBLIC FACILITIES, MULTIFAMILY, AND WE'LL CLOSE WITH DIRECTORS COMMENTS.
UM, AS A COURTESY, UM, OUR DIRECTOR HAS, UM, A, AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MEETING.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK AS A COURTESY FOR THIS MONTH, IF WE CAN KEEP OUR MEETING TO AN HOUR 15, UM, SO HE CAN ADJUST FOR TRAVEL TIME.
UM, I WILL GRATEFUL TO, TO DO THAT, AND, BUT WE WILL CONT WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS IN ALL OF THAT.
BUT IF WE CAN JUST, UM, HELP US MANAGE OUR TIME TOGETHER.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WE'LL, UH, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, WE WILL BE BACK TO YOU ON JUNE 16TH WITH ANOTHER, UH, HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE'LL START OFF WITH, UH, COMPLIANCE AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION.
OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, KENESHA LONDON, HAS TWO ITEMS TO DISCUSS WITH YOU.
FIRST, UM, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO THE C-D-B-G-D-R 2016 SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND, UM, UH, THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
UM, UH, YEAH,
GLO IS NOW PROPOSING TO EXTEND THE DR 16 GRANT AGREEMENT FROM JULY 1ST, UM, EXCUSE ME, JULY 31ST, 2025 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, AND MAKE REVISIONS TO THE CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE.
THIS EXTENSION IS BEING DONE TO ALIGN THE PRO PROGRAM CLOSEOUT WITH THE COMPLETION OF ACTIVITIES BY G'S THIRD PARTY VENDOR, ACOM, THAT'S DOING THE UNIFORM RELOCATION ACT ACTIVITIES AND TO CLOSE OUT, UM, OF THE CITY'S HARVEY BUYOUT PROGRAM.
AND SO THE CITY'S HARVEY BUYOUT PROGRAM ALSO HAS THAT DECEMBER 31ST, UM, 2025, UM, END DATE.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGES, UM, TO THE FUNDING.
AND, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, THERE'S A MAP AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THOSE BUYOUT PROPERTIES.
I BELIEVE IT'S TWO IN DISTRICT J ONE AND K ONE AND B AND ONE IN D COURSE FOR REFERENCE.
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS AN ORDINANCE TO APPRO A FOURTH AMENDMENT TO A-C-D-B-G-D-R, UM, HARVEY, UH, SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WE FONDLY CALL D 17, UH, BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
THE GLO PROPOSES TO REVISE CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE AND AMEND THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT AS FOLLOWS.
FIRST, TO REDUCE THE OVERALL GRAND AWARD BY $12.5 MILLION, UM, FOR A NEW TOTAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED, UM, 613 MILLION TO REVISE THE PERFORMANCE STATEMENTS, TO REFLECT CHANGES IN FUNDING AND EXTEND PROGRAM COMPLETION DATES FOR THE HARVEY ECONOMIC, UH, REVITALIZATION PROGRAM, THE HARVEY MULTIFAMILY RENTAL PROGRAM, THE HARVEY SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM, AND THE HARVEY BUYOUT PROGRAM.
AND LASTLY, IT IS TO ADD A PERFORMANCE STATEMENT FOR, UM, OUR HBA 2.0, WHICH IS THE NEW DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST FAMILIES UP TO $125,000.
THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE CHANGES.
AND SO WHAT OCCURRED IS THAT WE MOVE MONEY FROM CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND ADDED, UM, THOSE FUNDS TO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT HAD A SHORTAGE.
UM, THERE IS $12.5 MILLION THAT IS GOING BACK TO THE, UM, TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, BUT OUR DEPARTMENT IS IN, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH GLO ABOUT POTENTIALLY RETURNING THOSE
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FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT.AND THAT END MY ENDS MY PRESENTATION.
WE FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING THOSE FUNDS RETURNED BACK TO HOUSTON.
AND THE REASON WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS SO QUICKLY IS SO WE COULD GET THE HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING, AND THAT REQUIRED A, UH, UM, FINISHING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.
MELODY BARR, IF YOU'LL COME, DISCUSS THE FIVE, UH, ORDINANCES THAT YOU HAVE COMING UP AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WE'LL BE DISCUSSING, UM, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER THREE A AND THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES INCORPORATED, PROVIDING UP TO $244,427 IN CDBG FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF AN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAM, SERVING 120 INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE TO MARCH 31ST, 2026.
TODAY WE HAVE THEIR CEO, NIKKI, ANU, SHE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THEN SHOULD I, CAN YOU WAIVE WHEN I SAY HER NAME, NIKKI, THERE YOU ARE.
AND THEN I'LL JUST, I GUESS, SHOULD I JUST KEEP GOING AND THEN GET QUESTIONS AT THE END? OKAY.
UM, THE SECOND ITEM IS ITEM THREE B.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR FIRST AMENDMENT TO A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH SARAH JOBS FOR PROGRESS, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $105,836 AND 20 CENTS IN HUD COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDS OR CPF FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOUSTON FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS.
CURRENTLY LOCATED AT FOUR MULTIPURPOSE CENTERS, MAGNOLIA PARK, MANCHESTER ACRES HOMES, SUNNYSIDE AND CASHMERE GARDENS.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL NOT EXTEND THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE ON JANUARY 18TH, 2026.
TODAY WE HAVE ROBERTO HOWARD, THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
ROBERTO FUEL WAVE ITEM THREE C.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, DISTRICT HCC, TO ADD ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS TO THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK, AS WELL AS ADD LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THAT WERE NOT ORIGINALLY INCLUDED.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL NOT, WILL NOT EXTEND THE TIME OR PERFORMANCE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE ON JANUARY 18TH, 2026.
MIGUEL RAMOS, WHO IS THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES HERE.
UM, AND JUST, AND FOR THIS ONE, WE, UM, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WE INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE SOUTH CAMPUS AT HCC, AND WE ARE ADDING NINE ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES AND OPENING UP THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE, UM, DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, UM, CERTIFICATIONS THAT WILL HELP INDIVIDUALS GET INTO SOLAR JOBS.
SO THIS IS A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT IS SPECIFIC TO SOLAR JOBS TRAINING.
UM, AND, UH, WE'VE TALKED TO, UM, TO THE CPF, UM, THE D-O-L-C-P-F GRANT GRANTS MONITOR, AND HE, UM, SUGGESTED THAT WE OPEN IT UP TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT IS DOING.
IF I MAY ADD HERE, UM, I WAS JUST WITH DR.
UM, BUT COLLEAGUES, I THINK WITH THE EXPANSION OF THESE LOCATIONS, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO PARTNER NOT JUST WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO ADULT EDUCATION, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, ADJUSTING THE SCOPE, EXPANDING THE SCOPE, MORE LOCATIONS, 'CAUSE THIS WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL WITH SOLAR JOBS INDUSTRY.
IT'S JUST, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
AND I THINK H C'S A TREMENDOUS PARTNER TO GET THAT WORK DONE WITH.
SO I'LL JUST NAME THE SITES 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL DISTRICT AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING.
SO ORIGINALLY WE WERE AT THE SOUTH CAMPUS, THE SOUTH COLLEGE.
IT'S NOW BEING EXPANDED TO THE WEST LOOP CAMPUS, WHICH IS THE SOUTHWEST COLLEGE.
FELIX FRAGA CAMPUS, SOUTHEAST COLLEGE ALE BI BIANET CAMPUS, WHICH IS THE NORTHWEST BRAISE OAKS SOUTHWEST COLLEGE, STAFFORD CAMPUS, SOUTHWEST CENTRAL CAMPUS, WHICH IS A CENTRAL COLLEGE, NORTHEAST CAMPUS FOREST, A NORTH FOREST CAMPUS, AND NORTHLINE CAMPUS, THE NORTHEAST COLLEGE.
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OKAY.SO WE'RE NOW GOING TO ITEM 3D.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY, PROVIDING UP TO $40,000 IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.
THE COUNTY AND THE CI IN THE CITY COLLABORATIVELY WORKED ON AN INDEPENDENT, WITH AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY TO PERFORM A PROGRAM AUDIT REVIEW.
THIS WAS CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO A DESK REVIEW THAT THE UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, JUST AS A REMINDER, PROVIDED OVER $300 MILLION IN RENTAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO OVER 77,000 HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
I KEEP GETTING CORRECTED 'CAUSE I KEEP SAYING OVER 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS, AND ACTUALLY IT WAS OVER $80,000, BUT ONLY 77,000 FAMILIES RECEIVED TREASURY ASSISTANCE FROM EAP.
UM, WHEN THIS COMES TO COUNCIL, THE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT MAY CHANGE.
UM, SO WE WERE TOLD EARLIER THAT IT MIGHT JUST BE AROUND $28,000, UM, BUT WE DID HAVE IT INITIALLY WRITTEN FOR UP TO $40,000.
ITEM THREE E THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON, SRO, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $139,327 IN HOPWA FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SERVING A MINIMUM OF 33 VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
AND TODAY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ORIAN PENSION, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CORPORATE FACILITIES DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS SUSANNA MORRELL, WHO IS THE MANAGER OF HOUSTON, SRO THINK.
UM, I WILL ALSO STATE THAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM ARE BOTH EXTENSIONS TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.
THIS WAS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE AGREEMENT ALIVE WHILE WE WERE FINISHING UP THE LATEST NOFA FOR HOPWA AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO, UM, SECURELY STAY IN THEIR HOUSING.
SO THE LAST ITEM IS ITEM THREE F, VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE FOR A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON HEALTH INCORPORATED, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 IN HOPWA FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SERVING A MINIMUM OF 50 VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV.
AGAIN, THIS AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
AND IN ADDITION TO ORIENT PENSION, WE WILL, WE HAVE PATRICE BRADFORD, THE COMMUNITY DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON HEALTH, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE.
AS YOU SEE, SEE I SPEAK TOO SOON.
MONTH IN, MONTH OUT, SHE COMES BACK AND FIGURES OUT HOW TO SPEND EVERY DOLLAR.
COUNCILMAN ER, ARE YOU IN? NO, I CAN COME UP.
UM, IN, IN LIGHT OF ERNST AND YOUNG, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID, UM, MORE THAN 90% OF OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS, UM, ARE OUT PUT BASED, NOT OUTCOME BASED.
OUTCOME BASED, OF COURSE, WOULD, WOULD HELP US ENSURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WISELY.
HOW, HOW DO YOU ALL INTERPRET THEIR, UH, THEIR, THEIR FINDINGS AND, AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO, UH, THE WORK Y'ALL DO GOING FORWARD? ALL RIGHT.
UM, CAN WE START ABOUT PUBLIC, ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC SERVICES? AND I'LL ADD OKAY.
SO I THINK THAT, UM, THAT'S A GREAT STUDY.
I THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS A COOKIE CUTTER AS WELL.
AND SO WE DO A LOT OF, UM, OUTPUTS AND WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE SERVING.
BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUTCOMES AND WE THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO MEASURE THAT.
SO EVERY, UM, EXCEPT WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PIECE, UM, BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE.
EVERY THING THAT THESE PROJECTS TOUCH IS A HEARTBEAT AND THEIR PEOPLE.
SO THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUTCOMES, I'M THINKING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE STAYED IN THESE HOUSEHOLDS? SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT HOUSTON, SROI WAS LOOKING AT IT TODAY, AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF TURNOVER THIS YEAR.
WHY IS THERE TURNOVER? RIGHT? THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WE TYPICALLY HAVE, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, WE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15 INDIVIDUALS THAT DIE RELATED TO HIV, UM, WITHIN OUR PROGRAM.
BUT WE SERVE OVER 1500 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR.
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IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER AND THAT THEY'RE NOT, THERE SHOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH TURNOVER WITH HOUSTON, SRO THERE WERE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT MOVED ON FROM THAT SRO UNIT TO AN ACTUAL APARTMENT THAT HAD A ONE BEDROOM OR TWO BEDROOM.SO THAT TELLS US THAT THERE IS SOME INCOME BEING GENERATED, THAT THERE IS, UM, THAT THERE'S OTHER STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING RELATED TO SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND SO WE LOOK AT THOSE PIECES AS OUTCOME, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER GOAL IS.
IS THE GOAL TO HAVE PEOPLE, IS TO MEASURE THE OUTCOMES OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO, UM, A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT, OR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STAYING THERE, OR HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CASE HAVE LOWERED THEIR VIRAL LOADS SO THAT WE CAN GET TO ZERO ON HIV SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM SPREADING.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ON HOW TO MEASURE THAT.
UM, AND, AND I AM, I'M HEARING YOU AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROPERLY MEASURE THOSE OUTCOMES.
UM, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AND WE, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL THAT NOT TO PUT EVERYBODY IN THE SAME SITUATION.
'CAUSE EVERY PROJECT IS SO DIFFERENT.
AND, AND, AND I GUESS THEY WOULD BE DIFFERENT, UH, FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSING, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AS OPPOSED TO PUBLIC SERVICE CONTRACTS.
WELL, THEY'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVICES.
BUT, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE STRICTLY HOUSING, CORRECT.
SO, UH, NON HOUSING SERVICES, IF YOU WILL.
SO, UM, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND MM-HMM
AND YES, I'M, I'M ALL FOR, UH, DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD.
WANNA ADD ANYTHING? THANK YOU.
UM, CEDRIC HUSSAIN WILL COME AND VISIT ABOUT A SINGLE FAMILY.
HE HAS TWO IMPORTANT ORDINANCES, AND THIS IS A, THESE REALLY ARE BOTH EXTREMELY, UH, I IMPORTANT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS COMING FORWARD.
UH, I'M PRESENTING ITEM FOUR A AND FOUR B ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, HCDD RECOMMENDS A ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE USE OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE HARVEY HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2.0, ALSO KNOWN AS HBAP 2.0.
THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE DEFERRED PAYMENT LOAN NOTE, SECOND LIEN DEED OF TRUST, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND FORGIVABLE LOAN AGREEMENT.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS, THIS PROGRAM HAS TO HAVE A TIEBACK TO HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND THAT EVENT, UH, WAS ON AUGUST 25TH, 2017.
THERE ARE $18 MILLION THAT'S SET ASIDE FOR IT WITH A HUN WITH UP TO 125,000 IN HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE WITH AMIS UP TO 120%.
IT WILL CATER TO, UH, FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS WHO HAVE NOT OWNED A HOME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, OR HAD A HOME LOSS DUE TO HURRICANE HARVEY.
UH, SOME OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE 120% A MI FAMILY OF ONE, THAT HAS CHANGED UP TO $84,950 AND A FAMILY OF 4 120 $1, UH, $21,000 AND $300, UM, THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL START JUNE 30TH.
UM, AND THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, IF ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN GO TO HOUSTON TX.GOV/HOUSING AND CLICK ON THE LINK FOR DISASTER RECOVERY ITEM FOUR B.
UM, A CDD RECOMMENDS A ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2021 WINTER STORM, SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR GUIDELINES.
THIS SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL ONE, INCREASE THE MAXIMUM BU REIMBURSE REIMBURSABLE ASSISTANCE FROM $6,000 TO $10,000.
IT WILL STREAMLINE AND CLARIFY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE 2021 WINTER STORM SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
THREE, ADD COMPOSITE PRICING AS A METHOD OF PROCUREMENT.
AND FOUR, ADD A TEMPLATE FOR HOME BUYER CLOSING DOCUMENTS, UH, AS ATTACHMENTS TO THE GUIDELINES, INCLUDING A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT, ALL EXHIBITS AND HOME BUYER CERTIFICATIONS.
QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, BUT I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON, UH, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
I WAS ON INSTAGRAM THIS WEEKEND, AND THERE WAS THIS REAL ESTATE INFLUENCER.
SOMEONE WAS ALREADY TALKING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY WERE LIKE, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING.
I MEAN, AND I WAS IN THE COMMENTS AND PEOPLE WERE EXCITED.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, DOES THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HIRE INFLUENCERS? I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL WAS DOING, BUT I MEAN, THE WORD IS ON THE STREET.
AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO, UH, THE
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INTENTION OF THE MARKETING TEAM AND MAKING SURE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS.THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, PROGRAM.
I RECALL WHEN I PURCHASED MY FIRST HOME, AND I WISH I HAD THIS LEVEL OF, OF INVESTMENT.
AND, AND THEN ALSO, UH, WITH THE WINTER STORM, YURI, INCREASING THAT TO $10,000 A GAME CHANGER AND IS A GREAT USE OF THE FUND.
AND OUR COLLEAGUES, I BELIEVE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY SHARED THE GUIDELINES TO ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, BUT IF YOU NEED THIS AT THE TOP OF YOUR INBOX TO GET THIS OUT, PLEASE DO SO BECAUSE THIS IS, UM, VERY IMPORTANT VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR PRESENTATION.
AND TO OUR DIRECTOR, UH, MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR THAT THE, ON, UH, FOUR A LEGAL DOCUMENTS, YES, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BUY, UH, THE BUYBACK WILL REFER TO A HARVEY.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO IT'S NOT A BUYBACK.
I MEAN, THE, I'M, I'M NOT, I DIDN'T MEAN BUYBACK BUY DOWN, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO, AND IT'S TIERED INTO DIFFERENT STRUCTURES, UH, UH, DIFFERENT AMOUNTS THAT ARE, UH, PUT OUT.
SO UP TO $50,000 WILL BE A FIVE YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD.
UP TO 75,000 WILL BE A EIGHT YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD.
AND ANYTHING GREATER THAN $75,001 WILL BE A 10 YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS, RYAN BIBS, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE BACK ON, ON A SUBJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
UM, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT.
WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET IT PAST THE GOAL LINE.
UH, THIS IS THE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
YOU HAVE ONE ITEM, WHICH IS THE MCGREGOR GROCERY LLC.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR, CO-CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CHIEF OF CHIEF OF STAFF.
UH, THIS AFTERNOON, WE WANT TO DISCUSS THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A MODIFICATION TO THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCGREGOR LLC FOR THE SUM OF $6.8 MILLION.
NOW, THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON THIS MODIFICATION.
THIS MODIFICATION WILL AMEND THE TERMS OF THE LOAN, SUCH THAT ALL PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPLE WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE EARLIEST OF ONE OF THE THREE TRIGGERED EVENTS, MATURITY DATE OF JANUARY 29TH, 2039, OR UPON THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY, OR AN ASSIGNMENT OF THE GROUND LEASE.
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT ANTICIPATED THAT MCGREGOR, WHICH IS OWNED BY HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, HHFC, WOULD RECEIVE A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
AND THESE SAVINGS WOULD GO TOWARDS A MONTHLY PAYMENT TO THE CITY.
THE PROPERTY WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE THE TAX EXEMPTION FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND COULD NOT MAKE THIS PAYMENT OF THEIR MONTH ON THEIR, ON THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENT.
THE PROPOSED LOAN MODIFICATION WILL BE AN INTEREST OF 1% PER YEAR, UH, AND CONVERT THE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT AMOUNT OBLIGATION TO, TO A BALLOON PAYMENT.
THE LOAN MODIFICATION DOES NOT DISRUPT THE GROUND LEASE BETWEEN HEB AND AND MCGREGOR.
THIS MODIFICATION ONLY IMPACTS THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCGREGOR LLC.
THE SITE WILL CONTINUE TO PAY FULL PROPERTY TAXES AND FULL MANAGEMENT FEES.
THIS SITE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LMI AREA NEIGHBORHOOD.
HERE WE JUST HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD FACTS ABOUT THE, UH, PROPERTY.
HEB HAS 80 STORES, UH, IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THE STORES HEB STORES ARE DESIGNATED, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY IN MIND AS THEY BUILD THEIR, THEIR, THEIR DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORES.
THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS IN MIND AS THEY BUILD THEM, UH, AND THIS PARTICULAR STORE IS PROVIDING JOBS FOR THE MCGREGOR AREA.
WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE RICHARD MUD AND REDDICK EDWARDS WITH US TODAY.
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN IS WATCHING ONLINE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, STAFF FROM VICE MAYOR, UH, PRO TIM PECK'S OFFICE AND STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND GENTLEMEN.
UH, GLAD TO SEE THIS ONE BACK AND, UM, IN A FORM THAT WILL SAVE THE CITY $6.88 MILLION.
AND, UH, JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, AMY CONNOLLY FOR TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS.
AND, UM, AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHICH WE ALL TRY TO DO, OBVIOUSLY, BUT JUST GLAD TO SEE THIS ONE BACK.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT HEB AND THAT KIND OF THING.
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM REALLY IS TO BE, IS A FAIRNESS TOWARD THE HOUSTON HOUSING
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FINANCE CORPORATION.DID THIS AS A FAVOR TO THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME, VICE CHAIR DAVIS.
LET ME ALSO, UH, RESPOND TO THIS MATTER.
I'M GLAD THAT THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF, UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.
I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS CONCERNING THIS MATTER, AND, UM, BUT I DID WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THE FACT THAT THE HEB IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS ESSENTIALNESS TO SUPPLY JOBS AND OTHER ENTITIES.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER THAT, UH, OF COURSE, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I SAY OUR MEANING, PARTICULARLY MOST BLACK AMERICANS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THOSE TYPE OF FOOD STORES.
THE ONE THAT WAS LOCATED ON SCOTT STREET, UH, WAS DUE TO A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS AS, AS MANY DR.
LAWS AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO RESPOND FOR GETTING IT THERE.
AND SO IT TAKES CARE OF SEVERAL AREAS.
SO I'M JUST GLAD THAT IT WAS WORKED OUT FOR THE CONCERNS.
I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE MY COUNCILMAN CONCERN, BUT I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT WILL PUT A SHADOW OVER THE FACT THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEED THIS TO BE PROVIDED.
AND IT IS A BUSTING AND, UH, STORY.
IF YOU EVER GO THERE, I DO, YOU CAN BARELY GET IN IT.
AND AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU TO, UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.
HE STAYED ON US AND MADE SURE THAT THIS WAS A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.
AND LAST, UH, RYAN, IF YOU'LL STAY WITH US AND TALK ABOUT THE TWO MULTIFAMILY OPPORTUNITIES AND ORDINANCES.
UH, NEXT ITEM HERE IS, UH, WE'LL DISCUSS IS ANDOVER VILLAGE.
WE ARE REQUESTING AN ORDINANCE FOR A LOAN CONSISTING OF $4 MILLION, UH, FOR THE ANDOVER VILLAGE PROJECT FOR FAMILIES LOCATED AT 69 0 1 BELFORT AVENUE.
UH, THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION.
THE PROPERTY WILL BE COMPRISED OF 105 UNITS, UH, SITUATED ON SEVEN ACRES.
UH, THE PROPERTY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A STANDALONE PRE-K FACILITY OPERATED BY THE TEJANO CENTER FOR CONCERNS.
UH, THE PRE-K SLOTS NOT FILLED BY THE RESIDENTS, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
AND ALSO, THIS PROPERTY WILL HAVE A, A GENERATOR ALSO, WHICH IS GREAT.
UH, ONE BACK, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD, UH, WILL BE FOR 20 YEARS.
UH, AFTER CONSTRUCTION PERIOD IS, IS OVER, THE DEVELOPER AGREES TO PAY A 1% INTEREST ANNUALLY.
THIS IS A LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY FROM A MAT STANDPOINT.
AND, UH, RENDERING THERE OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
HERE'S, UH, THE SLIDE A CHART FOR THE, UH, SOURCES AND USES.
THAT'S, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THIS PROJECT.
AND ALSO IT, UH, DESCRIBES THE, THE UNIT MIX.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT, UH, THAT THIS, THIS PROPERTY IS GONNA HAVE 30% A MI, 50%, AND 60% AS WELL.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A TYPO HERE.
UH, THE TOTAL UNITS IS, IS ACTUALLY 1 0 5.
BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GET THAT, THAT INFORMATION OVER TO YOU.
COUNCIL, UM, CHAIR UPDATED, AND, UH, JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE DEVELOPER BEING IN THE AUDIENCE.
DONNA RICKENBACKER WITH, UH, DWR DEVELOPMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, DIRECTOR.
UH, APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STILL HAVING A GAP, UM, MAINLY BECAUSE OF, UH, INCREASING COST OF, UH, SUPPLY CHAIN, BUT ALSO THE LOCATION THAT IT'S AT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT KIND OF BUILDING MATERIAL THAT THEY NEED SOUND ABSORBING BECAUSE IT'S NEAR THE AIRPORT.
UM, STILL WANNA SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN CLOSE THIS GAP.
SO, UM, ALL EARS AND ANTICIPATING HOW, YOU KNOW, UM, HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO SIT DOWN, DOWN WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM SOON.
WE ACTUALLY SPENT SOME TIME THIS MORNING DISCUSSING THE GAP OF WHAT WE HAVE COMING FORWARD, UH, AS WELL AS WHAT THE COUNTY HAS COMING FORWARD.
AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOME CONNECTION THERE TOO.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WELL WITH THE, WE WORK WELL WITH THE COUNTY HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
[00:30:01]
JUST NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO HELP THAT OUT, TOO.THIS IS A, IT'S A GREAT, UH, PROJECT.
WE HAVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN A PART OF THE, UH, TOWN WHERE WE NEED IT AS WELL, THAT HOBBY AREA.
SO, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN FEEL.
UH, SO WE NEED, WE, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER ON THAT AND WORK WITH MR. RICKEN BARKER, AS WELL AS OTHER ENTITIES TO SEE WHERE WE CAN FIND THAT EXTRA DOLLARS.
I WILL SAY IT'S NOT A, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING IN MANY PROJECTS TODAY FOR THOSE REASONS.
THE HIGHER COST OF, UH, PRODUCT FOR GOODS, AND OF COURSE, THE HIGHER COST OF INSURANCE.
UM, THESE ARE REAL ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE.
UM, I HOPE THAT WE WILL TACKLE 'EM MORE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL ALSO, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND DIRECTOR, IF I, I JUST WANNA JOIN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
THIS IS A, IS GONNA BE A GREAT PROJECT.
I MEAN, AND, AND, AND LET ME JUST SHOUT OUT THE HANNO CENTER.
I KNOW THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS IN THE 9% ROUND THAT THEY HAD APPLIED TO, LIKE IN NINE, IN 2019.
BUT THEIR PERSEVERANCE AND THEIR PRODUCT, THEY'RE ONE OF THE, UH, EARLIER NONPROFITS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN CHANGING THAT NON PERCENT WITH THAT EARLY EDUCATION.
UM, SO THERE, I MEAN, GREAT WORK, GREAT COMMUNITY BRAND.
AND SO THE COLLABORATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
UM, AND I, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THAT SOUND ABSORPTION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN LIKE DISRUPTED BECAUSE OF NOISE POLLUTION, ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL WITH REDEVELOPMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE INVEST TO MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE GONNA LIVE NEXT TO AN AIRPORT, IT SHOULDN'T DISRUPT YOUR LIFE.
UM, SO YEAH, I SUPPORT ALL OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE NEAR, UH, THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES, THAT THEY HAVE THE FUNDING TO GET THAT ACROSS THE LINE.
BUT SHOUT OUT TO THE TEJANO CENTER.
NEXT ITEM IS THE, UH, NEW FACE SENIOR VILLAGE APARTMENTS.
WE ARE REQUESTING AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING $4 MILLION IN HOME FUNDS FOR THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NEW FAITH CHURCH.
THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION COST FOR THE NEW FAITH SENIOR VILLAGE APARTMENTS.
THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WEST FU WAY, STREET AND MONTEREY DRIVE.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL CONSIST OF 120 UNITS SERVING SENIOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE 55 AND OLDER.
UH, THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON FOUR 5.8, WILL BE LOCATED ON 5.8 ACRES IN COUNCIL DISTRICT D.
THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH A GENERATOR, AND THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD WILL BE FOR 20 YEARS.
THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO HAVE A 1% ANNUAL INTEREST.
HERE'S A CHART OF THE SOURCES AND USES, UH, AGAIN, POINTING OUT, UH, A REALLY GOOD UNIT MIX, UH, DIVING DEEPER INTO THAT, UH, UH, AFFORDABILITY FOR 30%, I MEAN FOR 30, YEAH.
30% A MI, 50% A MI, AND 60% A MI.
NEXT TWO SLIDES WILL BE A RENDERINGS OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT WAS A MAP OF THE PROPERTY.
AND I THINK THAT DOES IT FOR OUR PRESENTATION.
AS FOR THIS PROPERTY AS WELL, UH, UH, DEVELOPER IS, UH, DONNA RICKENBACKER WITH DWR DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE, UH, JOE FROM THE MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO REITERATE JUST HOW EXCITED THE COMMUNITY IS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ARRIVAL OF THIS NEW SENIOR COMPLEX IN DISTRICT A.
THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS NOT JUST NEW HOUSING, BUT A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR SENIOR'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'RE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO THE NEW FAITH CHURCH WHOSE COMMITMENT AND COLLABORATION HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS VISION A REALITY.
UH, THIS MONTH HAS BEEN A, UH, MEANINGFUL MONTH TO ME, AND IT HELPED ME.
I WAS GONNA READ MY, THAT IT'S A VERY, NO, THAT'S OKAY.
HOW ABOUT I, I DO A COUPLE MINUTES OR LESS.
OUR CFO IS GONNA TALK ABOUT D 17 VERY QUICKLY.
WE, WE, WE ARE, WE ON A ROLL? WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE ON THIS ROLE.
WELL, IN CONTINUATION WITH WHAT DEPUTY DIRECTOR LONDON SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE, UM, AND
[00:35:01]
A COMPARISON SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR CURRENT AMENDMENT THREE BUDGET COMPARED TO WHAT PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT FOUR IS LINE BY LINE, SO THAT YOU CAN ALSO SEE, UM, IN ADDITION TO WHERE THE CONTRACTED END DATE IS, I DO WANNA POINT OUT ONE SMALL ERROR.UM, THE ADMIN WILL ACTUALLY GO OUT UNTIL THE END OF THE GRANT.
SO INSTEAD OF DECEMBER 25, IT WILL ACTUALLY GO OUT TO FEBRUARY 27.
SO WE'LL MAKE THAT CHANGE AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S REFLECTED, UM, GOING FORWARD.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE AS AMENDMENT, ONCE AMENDMENT FOUR IS APPROVED, YOU'LL SEE HOME BUYERS 2.0 BEGAN TO HAVE ITS OWN FORMAL LINE.
SO WE CAN TRACK THAT SEPARATELY.
AS WE MENTIONED, WHEN WE FIRST, UM, INTRODUCED THIS PROGRAM ALONG WITH ITS BUDGET AND OUR DRAW SUBMISSIONS.
ONCE THAT PROGRAM DOES GO LIVE, AND WE, UM, BEGIN SUBMITTING DRAWS THERE, AND AS THE DIRECTOR AND EVERYONE MENTIONED, UM, THE 12.5, WE HOPE TO GET BACK.
BUT YOU CAN SEE AGAIN WHERE ALL OF THE, UM, THE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM, FROM THE RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS. AND THEN THE EXTENSION FOR, UH, MULTIFAMILY, WE HAVE JUST SUBMITTED A REQUEST, UM, BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION TO GO THROUGH, UH, FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR, FEBRUARY OF 26TH.
AND THEN JUST AS OF LAST FRIDAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
YOU'LL SEE JUST WHERE OUR DRAW SUBMITTALS ARE.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE AMENDMENT THREE BUDGETS SINCE, UH, AMENDMENT FOUR IS STILL IN ITS PROPOSED STATUS.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE WHERE OUR DRAWS ARE AND WHAT THE GLO HAS IN THEIR QUEUE, JUST OVER $4 MILLION THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING.
AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PERSONNEL DRAWS THAT ARE, THEY ARE REVIEWING THAT ARE CONSIDERED A $0 DRAW, UM, JUST DUE TO THEIR SYSTEM LIMITATIONS.
UM, THEY HAVE ABOUT $10 MILLION OF DRAWS THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING IN THEIR QUEUE.
AND THAT'S IT FOR MY PRESENTATION.
UM, AS, AS I SAID, OVER THE LAST MONTH, I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE THE, UM, UH, EVENTFUL MONTH.
AND IT REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING.
YOU GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, DEREK, YOU'RE GONNA COME SIT, SIT WITH ME.
AND AS WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, UH, WHETHER IT'S SINGLE FAMILY OR MULTIFAMILY, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND, AND THE SERVICES THEY GIVE, IT IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT.
IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GET DONE IMMEDIATELY.
SO IN THE LAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN TO THREE WONDERFUL OPENINGS.
UH, CONNECT HIGHSTAR, UM, WAS A $11 MILLION, ALMOST $12 MILLION, UH, INVESTMENT FROM C-D-B-G-D-R 17.
UH, COVENANT HOUSE WAS 6.6 MILLION FOR A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY FOR YOUTH, UH, 18 TO 23 USING CDVG FUNDING.
AND ROSEMARY PLACE WAS A NEW $45 MILLION AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS EXITING HOMELESSNESS THAT WE INVESTED $18 MILLION FROM DR.
UM, I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT DERRICK SELLERS HAS DONE, UH, FOR THE MANY YEARS HE'S OVERSEEING THESE PROJECTS.
BUT AGAIN, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MULTI-YEAR.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, I HOPE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS YOU'LL LOOK AND SEE AND SAY, OH, I WORKED ON THAT PROJECT.
YES, I WISH WE COULD DO THINGS MORE QUICKLY.
BUT THE FACT, WHEN THEY GET DONE AND THEY'VE DONE SO WELL, LIKE THE CONNECT HIGH STAR, LIKE COVENANT HOUSE HOUSTON, WHICH WAS A $55 MILLION PROJECT LIKE ROSEMARY PLACE, IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING THAT I WISH EACH OF YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT ON THE RESIDENTS FACES AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR YEARS TO COME.
DEREK, YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING ON THAT? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, UH, IT'S CORRECT.
THESE ITEMS WE PRESENTED TODAY ON THIS AGENDA, AND EVERY TIME WE SIT IN HERE IN HOUSING COMMITTEE, THE THINGS YOU VOTE ON THAT WE BRING FORWARD TO YOU, YOU'RE MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE'RE SEEING THAT INVESTMENT PAY OFF.
UM, THESE ARE AMAZING, AMAZING PLACES.
SOME OF THEM VERY UNIQUE IN AND OF THEMSELF, LIKE CONNECT HIGHSTAR THAT HAS A MAKER'S HUB IN IT FOR PEOPLE WITH SEWING SKILLS.
IT'S A PLACE FOR THEM TO START SMALL BUSINESSES AND REALLY LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT IT COMES ONTO.
BUT Y'ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THAT, IN THOSE TYPES OF, UH, BRINGING THOSE FACILITIES FORWARD AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH ANDOVER AND THE NEW FAITH PROJECT THAT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE, MAYBE Y'ALL ARE AROUND FOR THOSE RIBBON CUTTINGS.
MAYBE IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT IT DOESN'T GET THERE WITHOUT Y'ALL SUPPORT.
[00:40:01]
Y'ALL IN THAT, IN THAT ROLE.I CERTAINLY FELT I WAS STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF OTHERS LAST MONTH AS YOU LOOKED AT THOSE PROJECTS.
NOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, JUST TO ADD IT, IS, UM, I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT ON OUR DISASTER FUNDING, GOING BACK TO 2008, HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON HOUSING.
AND 80% OF THE AWARDED FUNDING IN NEARLY $800 MILLION WAS INVESTED IN HOUSING RELATED PROGRAMS, WHICH IS REALLY VERY IMPRESSIVE.
REAL QUICKLY, THE NEXT SLIDE JUST GOING THROUGH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT IS VERY COM COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF ITEMS ABOUT THE, OF, UM, A MEETING ON, UH, THE ESG RUSH FUNDING PRE-AWARD SERVICES.
WE HAD A THREE SESSIONS ON 360 ROAD TO HOME OWNERSHIP.
UH, GREAT MEETING WITH GREAT HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, EXPLAINING TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHAT WE DO, AND OF COURSE, THE INFORMATIONAL TOURS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. UM, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YES, WE HAVE, UH, WE DO THINGS ON THE INTERNET, BUT WE, OUR DEPARTMENT STILL BELIEVES IN GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, TOUCHING HANDS, TOUCHING PEOPLE, TALKING TO PEOPLE.
WE THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
REAL QUICKLY, THE NEXT WE GO THROUGH JUST A FEW ITEMS AND I'LL STOP.
UH, AS YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THE RUSHMORE APARTMENTS AND THANK YOU TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN HUFFMAN WHO HELPED US GET THAT THROUGH.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST IN THE EARLY STAGES, BUT IT IS, IT IS MOVING FORWARD AND THE GROUND'S BEEN BROKEN.
UH, NEW HOPE HOUSING AVENUE C AGAIN, ABOUT A THIRD FINISHED GREAT PROJECT FOR NEW HOPE.
UM, WE HAD THE SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM ON OST.
THEY'RE SOMETIME MORE EXPENSIVE.
PORT BERNARD PROJECTS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
IT'S WORTHWHILE GOING TO SEE AT 3,500 OLD SPANISH TRAIL IN DISTRICT D.
UH, ANOTHER ONE COMPLETED IS THE SMALL RENTAL PROGRAM ON 1404 TALBOT STREET.
AGAIN, BY THE SAME AREA, SAME, UH, ENTITY.
AND AGAIN, GREAT PROJECTS WELL DONE.
GENSLER ARCHITECTS SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF IT.
UH, ANOTHER PROJECT ALMOST COMPLETED, OST LOFTS ON DOLLAR FIELD AND DISTRICT.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE A GRAND OPENING ON JUNE 25TH, JUNE OF 2025, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THE SUMMIT AT RENAISSANCE, A PROJECT THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING COME TO COMPLETION IS ALMOST 90% COMPLETED.
THAT'S 325 UNITS AND A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY THE CITY, AND LOOKING FOR THAT OPENING IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
UH, THE HAY CENTER, I THINK MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO.
IT IS A PROJECT, JOINT PROJECT WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UM, AND IT IS ALMOST FINISHED.
IT IS A, UH, A FACILITY HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS.
AGAIN, FULLY COMPLETED ON 5 6 1 5 RICHMOND IN DISTRICT J.
UM, REAL QUICKLY BY THE NUMBERS, AND THIS IS SINCE 2020, WE'VE COMPLETED 39 DEVELOPMENTS IN MULTIFAMILY WITH 4,417 UNITS.
3000 8 0 6 WERE AFFORDABLE UNDER DEVELOPER UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
10 MORE DEVELOPMENTS, 1400 UNITS OF WHICH 1300 ARE AFFORDABLE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A REAL FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UH, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, 748 HOME REPAIRS, 237 HOME BUYER CHOICE PROGRAM, 170 AFFORDABLE HOUSE HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, 150, CONSTRUCTED NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT, 85 CONSTRUCTED, UH, HB UH, 4 88 HOMES PURCHASED.
HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE 263 PURCHASED.
AND OUR WONDERFUL SHOW PROGRAM HAVE 26 HOMES CONSTRUCTED.
UH, WHAT'S AHEAD, UM, WE DISCUSSED EARLIER THE WINTER STORM URI, SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, UH, OVER $40 MILLION IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT HOMEOWNERS IMPACTED BY THE WINTER STORM THROUGH REPAIR, REHABILITATION, REIMBURSEMENT.
AND OF COURSE, WE DISCUSSED THE HOME BUYER, HARVEY HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LAUNCHING LATE THIS MONTH, WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY $18 MILLION TO HELP ESTONIANS ACHIEVE HOME OWNERSHIP WHO WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN EARLY JUNE, ONE ON JUNE 10TH, AND ONE ON JUNE 12TH.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE VIRTUAL MEETINGS BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD
[00:45:01]
THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH TO US.ONE'S AT 11 O'CLOCK, ONE'S LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.
THIS WILL BE TO DISCUSS THE DISASTER RECOVERY 2024 DRAFT ACTION PLAN.
THAT PLAN IS PUBLIC AS OF FRIDAY, AND YOU CAN GET THAT ON OUR WEB PAGES.
UM, AGAIN, PLEASE LOOK AT THAT.
IT GOES THROUGH SOME DETAIL OF WHAT THE PLAN, ACTION ACTION PLAN IS AS DRAFTED, AND LOOK FORWARD TO COMMENTS AND THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THOSE OF YOU AND THOSE OF YOU, YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
JUST, UM, SCHEDULING QUESTION.
YOU, YOU REFERENCED EARLIER, UH, YOU'LL BE BACK HERE IN JUNE FOR THE HOUSING, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING THAT SAME DAY.
WE HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AFTERNOON.
UM, ARE WE STILL ON TRACK TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON THE HOMELESSNESS PLAN? YES.
YOU WILL HEAR THAT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE WE'RE, UH, WE'RE, OH, I WISH WE WERE.
AGAIN, LIKE I'VE SAID ALL ALONG, I WISH WE WERE FURTHER ALONG, BUT YOU'RE DUE AN UPDATE AND I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY THE UPDATE AND HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, SO, WE'LL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A DOUBLE DOSE.
A DOUBLE DOSE, UH, DIRECTOR, WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE COME DOWN HERE DRESSED AND PREPARED.
I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD, YOU KNOW, ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT, YOU KNOW, ON THE TIME, ON THE TIME FACTOR.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
AT THIS TIME, UH, I CERTAINLY WANT TO, UM, EXTEND TO ALL OF US THAT WE KNOW THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT OUR NEXT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 16TH, 2025.
AT 10:00 AM UH, THE DISTRICT F OFFICE WILL BE SENDING OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR ALL OF THE PRESENTATION TO OUR DIRECTOR AND THE STAFF.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
OH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? OKAY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SIGNED UP, SO, OKAY.
WE HAD A COUPLE, COUPLE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SIGNED UP.
CAN YOU BRING HER UP PLEASE? AND THEN MARLON, I GOT YOU.
LET US GET YOU TO THE MIC SO WE CAN GET YOU ON RECORD.
IT'S ANGELA MACKLIN AND I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, SUNNYSIDE AREA.
THIS IS PROBABLY MY 10TH TIME COMING.
AND THEY DID RE REVIEW, UM, REVITALIZE, BUT THEY MISSED US.
THEY TORE SOME HOUSES DOWN AND THEY MISSED US.
UH, MA'AM, CAN YOU GIMME YOUR LAST NAME? I DIDN'T.
FIRST NAME SPELLED EV AS IN VICTOR, A-N-G-E-L-I-A.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, SPENDING YOUR TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW YOU WERE HERE.
FORGIVE US FOR THAT OVERSIGHT.
UM, SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, THEY AND US, CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION SO WE KNOW WHAT PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF? OR YOU JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S REVITALIZED? WELL, IT HAS BEEN REVITALIZED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO US BECAUSE THE CITY CAME OUT.
JUST ACT LIKE YOU'RE IN THE LIVING ROOM AND YOU TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE CITY DIDN'T DO.
I LIVE AT 49 0 1 BRINKLEY STREET.
ZIP CODE IS 7 7 0 3 3 IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA.
EVERYONE ELSE'S HOUSE IS TORN DOWN.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME, SINGLE FAMILY HOME, AND TORN DOWN FOR A REHAB.
[00:50:01]
HAVE YOU FILED AN APPLICATION WITH THE CITY? WE DID.WHEN THEY CAME, BUT IT IS BEEN YEARS.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A, UM, A WAIT LIST FOR HOME REPAIR, BUT YOU CAME AT THE RIGHT MEETING, UM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, UH, THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TO ASSIST.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR TITLE ON THAT HOME? I DO.
SO, UM, MS. LAWSON, MAY I DIRECT HER TO YOU SO WE CAN FACILITATE MS. ROXANNE LAWSON WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT? SHE'S RIGHT.
SHE'S TO YOUR LEFT BEHIND YOU.
UM, AND THEY'LL TRACK DOWN YOUR APPLICATION OF STATUS OF THAT.
AND THEN ALSO THEIR STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S OFFICE, HER CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN JAMES, AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO WALK HAND IN HAND WITH YOU FOR THAT PROCESS.
MR. JAMES, IS THAT A CAN I, UM, I KEEP COMING, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE APPLICATION IS.
WELL, WE, 'CAUSE THE CITY CAME OUT AND SAT WITH US.
BUT THEY'LL FIND A STATUS OF THAT.
AND GUESS WHAT? IF, IF THEY, IF THEY CAN'T LOCATE IT, WE CAN ALWAYS START ANEW.
AND WHAT WAS HEARD EARLIER, IF, IF, AND IF I CAN JUST FLAG IT FOR YOU, THERE WERE SOME, UH, THERE'S SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE, FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE INTENTION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE DAMAGED BY STORM, IF YOUR HOME IS, ARE NOT, NOT SURE, UM, THAT THOSE DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY TO, UM, RESIDENTS JUST LIKE YOU.
UM, SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN HAVE A HOME THAT IS RECONSTRUCTED.
UM, AND SO YOU HAVE THE CHIEF OF STAFF FROM DISTRICT D HERE, AND THEN ALSO THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND THE HOUSING DIRECTOR.
UM, THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE HERE, YOU'LL HAVE AN UPDATE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I KNOW THAT IT'S SOME OTHER HOUSES THAT HAS, YOU KNOW YEP.
OURS WAS STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL STANDING STILL 70.
SO WE'RE GONNA WORK IT THROUGH.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA WORK IT THROUGH.
SO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, THEY'LL SECURE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO THEY CAN FOLLOW UP.
UM, AND THEN, MS. LAWSON, JUST AS A COURTESY, IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT I'M UPDATED TO MAKE WE AND MR. JAMES HOWEVER I CAN SUPPORT.
DO YOU NEED SOME ASSISTANCE? WE CAN GET YOU.
AND HE'S OVER THE, THE HOUSING PROGRAM.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOME CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC.
AND ALDEEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A 75,000 SQUARE FOOT, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL OPERATED BY ALDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S NOW THE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER, AND WE'VE REACHED SORT OF AN IMPASSE IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.
UM, THE CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS ABOUT A $12.2 MILLION PROJECT, UM, IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE ON JUNE THE 30TH.
WE'VE DISPERSED ABOUT $5.3 MILLION FOR THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH, UM, ENDED IN JUNE OF 23.
UH, BUT WE'VE BEEN SORT OF STUCK TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASE TWO.
IT'S A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT, UH, INCLUDES PHASE ONE, WHICH, UM, WAS ABOUT 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF, UH, CONVERSION OF CLASSROOM SPACE TO COWORKING SPACE, ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE, UH, A COMMUNITY EVENT CENTER.
UH, PHASE TWO IS, UH, COMPRISED OF, UH, LONE STAR COLLEGE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE, BATTERY TRAINING FACILITY ABOUT 19,000 SQUARE FEET, SOME ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SPACE.
WE'RE ABOUT 40% COMPLETE WITH THAT PROJECT.
UM, BUT IT'S TAKEN US NEARLY EIGHT MONTHS TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT FOR PHASE TWO.
UH, WE SUBMITTED IT BACK IN JULY OF 2024.
IT WAS JUST RELEASED ON, UM, APRIL OF, UH, THIS YEAR, APRIL OF 22ND TO BE EXACT.
WE'VE, UM, WORKED WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IN GOOD FAITH, BUT I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE, THE TIME, THE CRITICAL TIME CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER.
UM, SO I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
WE'VE ASKED ABOUT THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR PHASE TWO, AND IN A RECENT PHONE CALL JUST
[00:55:01]
LAST WEEK, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE SOME OUTSTANDING, UH, CONTRACTOR INVOICES THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS BASICALLY SAID, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THOSE ARE RESOLVED, WHICH WAS NEWS TO ME.WE, WE HAVE, UM, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NEARLY, UH, $800,000 OR MORE OF CONTRACTORS THAT ARE OLD.
AND I, I COULDN'T DOCUMENT THAT.
SO I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THAT INFORMATION AND IT WASN'T FORTHCOMING.
I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS CONFIDENTIAL.
IT COULDN'T BE SHARED WITH ME.
UM, TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, WE DO HAVE SOME CONTRACTORS THAT WE'VE, UH, TALKED WITH ABOUT OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS, UH, AND WE'VE AGREED TO PAY THOSE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS.
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ABOUT $250,000 THAT'S OWED TO US FROM PRIVATE SECTOR DONATIONS.
IT DOESN'T EVEN INVOLVE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, CDBG FUNDS OR CPF FUNDS.
THESE ARE FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
UM, CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS THAT WERE MADE BY PRIVATE SECTOR INDIVIDUALS, WE PROVIDED OVER SEVEN MONTHS AGO, UM, DOCUMENTATION, INVOICES, CONTRACTS RELATIVE TO THAT $250,000 PAYMENT.
GRANTED, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TRANSITION.
THE OFFICE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, NO LONGER EXISTS.
UH, WE MET WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING OVER, UH, THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES FOR, UH, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT IN THE PAST FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY, HOW GREATER HOUSTON, UH, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WE COULD SUBMIT MERELY, UH, AN EMAIL REQUESTING PAYMENT WITH THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
AND IT WOULD BE IN OUR COFFERS WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS OVER SEVEN MONTHS WITH THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
AND SINCE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED, IT'S BEEN AT LEAST A MONTH THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THESE FUNDS.
AND SO I'M, I'M REALLY CONCERNED WE, WE NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH A THIRD AMENDMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, THAT HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AGAIN FROM THE, UH, WELL, I'VE NOT GOTTEN IT DIRECTLY FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL ARRANGEMENTS OR PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, UH, TO THESE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS.
UH, THE PROJECT IS A TRUE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL IMPACT THE NORTHWEST HOUSTON AREA, ACRES, HOMES, COMMUNITY, UH, CREATING JOBS, HUNDREDS OF JOBS PROVIDING, UM, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT, AND WE'RE SO CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO FINISH THIS PARTNERSHIP AND SEE THE GOOD THAT IT'S GONNA DO FOR, UH, THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU HAVE PRIVATE SECTOR DONORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED CENTER POINT ENERGY, HEB, AT AND T RELIANT BANK OF AMERICA, WESTLAKE CHEMICAL AND OTHERS.
SO IT'D BE A TRAGEDY TO SEE THIS PROJECT DIE WHEN THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED $2 MILLION FROM THE CPF FUND.
THANKS TO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, ANOTHER 500,000, UH, IN CPF FUNDS FROM THE YEAR 2024, UH, 1.5 MILLION IN, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE CDBG FUNDS.
UM, WE HAVE INVESTED OF OUR OWN RESOURCES, HBDI AS A SMALL NONPROFIT, A MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR OWN MONEY APPROXIMATELY IN THIS PROJECT.
AND SO WE'RE CONCERNED WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT DIE ON THE VINE.
UH, AND SO I'M HERE TO APPEAL TO YOU ALL TO SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.
UM, I HAVE A SERIES OF, UH, SERIES OF QUESTIONS, AND I KNOW WE'RE ON A, A TIGHT, UH, TIMELINE, UH, IN TERMS OF OTHER MEETINGS THAT SURE.
BUT I, I'M, I'M, WHAT I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW IS LIKE, WHEN WAS THE THIRD A AMENDMENT SCHEDULED TO COME TO COUNCIL? 'CAUSE THAT THIRD AMENDMENT WASN'T BRIEFED THAT COMMITTEE YET.
UM, AND THEN I, I WILL JUST SAY THIS, IN MY OPINION, DAWN IS, DOES NOT HAVE CAPACITY TO RUN POINT ON THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, UM, THAT WOULD COME THROUGH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO IF THE DEPARTMENT CAN PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE WITH A TIMELINE OF, OF THIS AND WHO'S, WHO'S ISSUING OUT THE PRIVATE DOLLARS FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
UM, AND THEN WITH CITY LEGAL ALSO, IF YOU CAN, IF I'M SURE SOMEONE FROM CITY LEGAL IS WATCHING MM-HMM
UM, UM, FROM MY RECOLLECTION, YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE, UM, THE EASTERN MAKERSPACE ON THE EASTERN YES.
SO THE, THE INTENTION WAS THIS WAS GONNA
[01:00:01]
MODEL ON THE NORTH SIDE, SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.SO ON THE EAST END MAKER HUB, THAT WAS HUGE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME THING.
UM, AND THIS WAS, THIS ITEM WAS PASSED EITHER THE LAST, THE VERY LAST MEETING OF FORMER MAYOR SYLVESTER.
IT WAS LIKE THE LAST MEETING IN 2023, OR IT WAS LIKE THE TWO WEEK, THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
SO, UM, WITH THE FUNDING, 'CAUSE I REMEMBER, UH, THE FEDERAL EARMARKS COMING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO, UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH SARAH JOBS AND THE OTHER ONES, ALL OF THOSE CAME BEFORE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE, UM, UH, WITH THIS, AND, AND VICE CHAIR, IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR EYES ON THIS AS WELL.
AND I, UM, HAVE YOU MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AS THIS IS SITUATED IN DISTRICT B? I HAVE.
AND SO IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S LOOPED IN ON THIS AS WELL, BECAUSE IT WAS A, I I RECALL WHEN LONE STAR CAME TO COUNCIL MM-HMM
UM, FOR PART OF THIS AGREEMENT.
THERE WAS A, A RIBBON CUTTING.
THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOMETHING, YES.
THERE WAS A RIBBON CUTTING ON, UM, JUNE OF 2023.
I RECALL, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WERE PRESIDENT ALDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE MAYOR COUNT, UH, FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
UH, AND THEN THERE WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY A, A, UH, GROUNDBREAKING FOR PHASE TWO.
BUT SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN, UM, THAT HAVE CAUSED THE PROJECT TO, UM, SLOW TO A, A CRAWL.
AND, UM, AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT THOSE THINGS CAN BE OVERCOME.
OUR CONCERN IS THAT, UM, IF THE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON JUNE 30TH, AND IT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF COUNCIL, WE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION BACK IN FEBRUARY.
UH, WE SIGNED OFF ON THE REVISED, UM, THIRD AMENDMENT AGREEMENT, THE RENOVATION OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, UM, BACK IN MARCH.
AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN SUBMITTED.
UM, AND LET ME JUST, IF I MIGHT ADD JUST VERY BRIEFLY, HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC.
WAS CREATED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON BACK IN 1986 BY YOUR PREDECESSORS, ANTHONY HALL, ERNEST MCGOWAN, BEN REYES, UH, RODNEY ELLIS JUDSON ROBINSON, JR.
UH, AND OUR EXPRESS PURPOSE WAS TO SERVE AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ADMINISTERED SECTION 1 0 8 LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAMS. WE ADMINISTERED DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM, $35 MILLION SMALL BUSINESS, UH, ECONOMIC RELIEF PROGRAM.
WE DID THE SAME FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS HAD A FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OVER THE YEARS, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP IN IMPACTING THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HELPED TO VITALIZE.
AND I KNOW THE DIRECTOR HAS TO GO, AND I KNOW HE WANTS TO HEAR THE REST OF THE COMMENTS.
VICE CHAIR, IF I CAN CLOSE WITH YOU.
UM, DID, WAS THIS ALSO PART OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY? YES, IT WAS.
WAS THAT IT WAS INITIATED WHAT IT WAS? YEAH, IT WAS OUT COMPLETE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS INITIATED UNDER THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
BUT THESE FARMS WERE, THESE FARMS WERE DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY TO, TO THE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER OR THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO, MAD CHAIR, YOU ARE ASKING THE COMMITTEE, UH, THE HOUSING COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE US YEAH.
I'M REQUESTING THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A, UM, THE COMMITTEE WITH THE TIMELINE OF THIS, BECAUSE IF THERE'S AN EXTENSION AND YOU'RE ON THE CLOCK FOR 30, IF THE CONTRACT LAPSED, THEN YOU'RE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT AND YOU HAVE PRIVATE DOLLARS ALREADY DESIGNATED.
I'M CONCERNED IF DON IS THE FISCAL AGENT, THEY DON'T HAVE CAPACITY FOR THIS.
SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INITIATIVES AND PROBABLY THE SPIRIT OF THE WORK OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES MAY LIVE WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THE TYPE, BUT THE, THE, I'M JUST, I, I'M JUST AT A PAUSE.
IF CITY LEGAL'S TAKING THE POSITION THAT THERE'S OUTSTANDING CONTRACTS WHEN THE CITY IS HISTORICALLY KNOWN FOR PAYING BILLS LATE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO, UM, HOW ARE WE GONNA HOLD UP OTHER PEOPLE WHEN WE HOLD RIGHT.
WHEN OUR HOUSE IS NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER YET? YEAH.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF WHAT THOSE, WHO THOSE CONTRACTORS ARE, WHAT THAT IS.
GET YOURSELF AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, CURE WHATEVER DELINQUENCY.
SO IF, UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CAN PROVIDE, UM, A TIMELINE TO THE, UH, VICE CHAIR AND I MM-HMM
AND POSSIBLY EVEN A BRIEFING ON THIS.
'CAUSE WE'RE ON THE CLOCK FOR JUNE 30TH.
UM, AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE ALDEN SUPERINTENDENT THAT, UM, THEY WEREN'T DOING A BOND
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TO REHAB.IT WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, YES.
AND SO THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT WITH ALDEN ISD FOR THAT LOCATION.
UM, THAT WAS A PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
SO, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A LEASE AGREEMENT.
GIMME YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ALL DEAN.
NO, I, YEAH, I RECALL, BUT I, I THINK IT'S, IM IMPORTANT JUST FOR CONTINUITY OF INFORMATION, UM, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TRANSITION, UM, SOME COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS HAVE SHIFT.
I WANNA GIVE, UM, THE DEPARTMENT, UM, WHAT'S THE WORD? A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER ALL OF THIS INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE, UM, UH, COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, AND I WANT TO JUST IMPLORE MY VICE CHAIR TO SUPPORT ME WITH KIND OF RUNNING POINT ON THIS PROJECT, UM, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR COLLEAGUES ARE FULLY AWARE SURE.
AND HOPEFULLY GET THIS ITEM TO COMMITTEE AT LEAST TO BRIEF.
ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
YOU WANNA SIGN UP? WHAT'S HER NAME? MS. HAY.
HELLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, OUR FRIENDS THAT ALL ADORE HOUSING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE HARDWORKING FAMILIES RESERVE ACROSS THE CITY.
AS YOU KNOW, THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP REMAINS OUT OF REACH, BUT FAR TOO MANY HOUSTONIANS, NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK THE DETERMINATION OR WORK ETHIC, BUT BECAUSE THE RISING COST OF HOUSING AND THE INCREASED BARRIERS TO ENTRY, UH, IN AS A TERMS LIKE MORTGAGES, PARTIC, BUT, UH, PARTICULARLY THE BURDEN OF BEING ABLE TO, UH, HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, ESPECIALLY THIS NEW, UH, HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE 2.0.
THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT JUST FINANCIAL RESOURCES, BUT THEY ARE THE VERY KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE FRONT DOOR TO STABILITY, EQUITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES WHO'VE LONG BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET.
AT HOUSTON HABITAT, WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.
THEY'RE WORKING FULL TIME, THEY'RE RAISING THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIBRANCY AND THE STRENGTHS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHAT THEY NEED AS A PARTNER AND WHAT THEY NEED IS A CHANCE.
THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAKES THAT CHANCE POSSIBLE.
IT BRIDGES THE FINAL GAP BETWEEN WHAT A FAMILY HAS AND WHAT THEY ARE NEED TO ACHIEVE AN AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE ON A QUALITY, ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME.
IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO STOP RENTING AND START BUILDING WEALTH FOR THEIR NEXT GENERATION.
WE DEEPLY VALUE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S ROLE IN THIS PARTNERSHIP.
YOUR SUPPORT ENSURES THAT HOME OWNERSHIP ISN'T JUST A DISTANT HOPE, BUT A REAL AND ATTAINABLE GOAL FOR HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS.
IT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES AND IT HELPS US FIGHT DISPLACEMENT.
IT GIVES FAMILY A TRUE SENSE OF PRIDE, SECURITY, AND BELONGING.
AND ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND ALL THE FAMILIES WE SERVE, WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THIS WORK AND IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE HOUSTON ONE HOME AND ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.
ANYONE ELSE REPUBLIC, SIR? SURE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY FRIEND? I KNOW I GOTTA RUN.
UM, AND I WORK AS THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR IN THE HOUSTON OFFICE OF TEXAS.
SO I'M JUST HERE TODAY, UM, TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
UM, INTRODUCE OR REINTRODUCE TEXAS HOUSERS, UM, AND LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IN COLLABORATION, UH, WITH HCD.
UM, ALL THAT NEW MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT TRULY AFFORDABLE RATES IS GREAT TO SEE.
UM, SAME WITH, YOU KNOW, THE HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. YEAH.
SO JUST WANTED TO COMMEND THE PROGRESS AND ALSO SAY THAT WE'VE REACHED OUT TO, I THINK ALL OF YOUR OFFICES, UM, LETTING Y'ALL KNOW THAT AN ISSUE THAT IS REALLY ON OUR MINDS IS EVICTIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THAT HAS BEEN, UH, MY WORK SINCE I STARTED AT TEXAS HOUSERS, BOTH IN THE DATA SIDE, ANALYZING THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE EVICTIONS, PRODUCING SOME NICE PRETTY REPORTS.
I HOPE YOU OR A STAFFER GETS A CHANCE TO LOOK AT.
UM, AND ALSO WORKING WITH FAMILIES ON THE GROUND WHO HAVE
[01:10:01]
EXPERIENCED AN EVICTION.SO I, I SEE ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MYSELF AND THE OTHER STAFF AT TEXAS HOUSERS AS A RESOURCE AND JUST BRING THAT ISSUE TO Y'ALL'S CONTINUED DETENTION.
UM, EVICTION RATES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTINUE TO BE HIGHER THAN THE PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
UM, BY ABOUT 20, 20 SOMETHING PERCENT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR Y'ALL.
UM, AS WE CONTEMPLATE HOW TO USE THESE FUNDS, UM, IN THE CITY BUDGET, UM, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, JOINING US AND FOR SHARING ON PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I BELIEVE DURING DIRECTOR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DURING, UH, THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, UM, DIRECTOR NICHOLS TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE COUNTY COLLABORATION.
AND I BELIEVE A PART OF THAT AGREEMENT WOULD INCLUDE SOME EVICTION PROTECTIONS.
SO THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE, CREATE SOME TYPE OF STOP GAP, SO THERE'S ALIGNMENT THERE.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE DETAILS COME DOWN THE LINE.
WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PUSH SOME, PUSH THE METAL TO THE PEDAL, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REACHING OUT.