[Quality of Life Committee on October 6, 2025.]
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RAMIREZ, I AM, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE POSITION ONE AND CHAIR OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE.I'M GONNA CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT, UH, AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS IS HERE, AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ IS HERE, AS WELL AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO.
WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARIANNE, MARY ANNE HUFFMAN'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE DEI FROM MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM'S OFFICE AND STAFF AS WELL ONLINE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TARSHA JACKSON'S OFFICE.
SO ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE SEVERAL HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS RELATED ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA GET INTO A TOTAL OF ABOUT FOUR IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC'S AND COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE WITH US PRESENTING OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, MIKE NICHOLS AND ONE OF HIS TOP ASSISTANT STAFF MEMBERS, MELODY BARR.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND LET YOU PROCEED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR PERMISSION IS TO BEGIN WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICES, UH, ORDINANCES THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING TO, TO, UH, COUNSEL OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
MELODY BARR WILL DO THAT PRESENTATION.
UH, AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN THE PRESENTATION ON FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT, SOME CONFUSION ON IT, AND WE HOPE TO DO SOME OF THAT CLARIFICATION.
WE PROBABLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO CLARIFICATION.
THERE IS A, UH, IN THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU RECEIVED A WEEK AGO, UM, THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, BUT I'M GONNA USE THAT.
AND I'M ALSO GONNA HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION THAT WAS SENT TO YOU THAT'S NOT BEEN PART OF THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
ALL RIGHT, DIRECTOR, UH, LET ME NOTE THAT OUR VICE CHAIR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, PECK HAS ARRIVED AND IS PRESENT FOR THE MEETING AS WELL.
SO I'LL BEGIN WITH MELODY BARR, IF YOU'LL GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCES, UH, STARTING WITH THE HOMELESS TRANSPORTATION PIECE.
GOOD AFTERNOON FOR ITEM TWO A.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSTON TO PROVIDE UP TO $250,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT OR CDBG FUNDS TO OPERATE THE PROJECT ACCESS HOMELESS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, SERVING A MINIMUM OF 2000 RIDER WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
PROJECT ACCESS IS HOUSTON'S ONLY REGULARLY SCHEDULED, NO CHARGE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING HOUSING SERVICES.
THE 40 PASSENGER ALL ABILITY BUS TRAVELS, A 23 AGENCY ROUTE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 52 WEEKS A YEAR.
THE PROJECT ACCESS BUS IS FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY HOMELESS PERSON, BUT EVERY WRITER MUST RECEIVE TICKETS.
AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT SEVERAL SITES, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSTON CLINICS, BOTH ON CAROLINE AND PRAIRIE.
THE BEACON LORD OF THE STREETS SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES AND STAR HOPE MEN'S DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
FUNDING FOR THIS AMENDMENT SUPPORTS THE OPERATIONS OF THE PROJECT ACCESS BUS, WHICH LEVERAGES SERVICE SUPPORT TO 21 AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, MEALS, SHELTER, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
FUNDING ALSO SUPPORTS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WHO SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR RIDER COLLECTS DATA ACTS AS A LIAISON WITH OTHER HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND SERVES AS THE FACE OF THE PROGRAM TO PROMOTE RIDERSHIP AND IMPROVE OUTREACH.
THE CASEWORKER IS AVAILABLE ON THE BUS SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK AND ONSITE AT PARTNER AGENCIES TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS AND RESOURCES.
THIS MODEL IS A PEER-BASED MODEL FOUND TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT FOR HARD TO REACH POPULATIONS.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TERM AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2026.
HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM VARIOUS AGREEMENTS SINCE 2003.
THEY HAVE ALSO SURPASSED THEIR PERFORMANCE GOAL.
THEY DID HAVE ONE FINDING IN THE LAST COMPLIANCE MONITORING REPORT DUE TO A LATE PAYMENT SUBMISSION, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED TODAY.
WE HAVE CARLY BROWN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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HERE WITH US TODAY.SHE'S JUST ARRIVED AS HAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, WHO'S PRESENT.
I, I'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO B OH, AND I APOLOGIZE, I FORGOT TO SAY NEXT SLIDE.
WE'RE GOOD FOR, SO FOR ITEMS TWO B AND TWO C, I'M GONNA BE PRESENTING THESE TOGETHER.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE A RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL, AN ORDINANCE THAT AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, T-D-H-C-A AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL ACCEPT AN AWARD OF HOMELESS HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDS FOR BOTH THE GENERAL SETASIDE AND THE YOUTH SETASIDE FUNDS.
THESE ORDINANCES WILL AUTHORIZE THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY FOR THE HHSP AWARD AND PROVIDE SIGNATURE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZE AMENDMENT CHANGES.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 HHSP AWARD AMOUNT CONSISTS OF A GENERAL ALLOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,266,780, AND AN ADDITIONAL SET ASIDE AMOUNT OF $405,040 TO ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT OF $1,671,820.
FOR T-D-H-C-A, THE GENERAL SET ASIDE FUNDS MUST BE USED BY THE CITY ON ACTIVITIES ELIMINATING OR PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS.
SPECIFIC ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT OR PROCUREMENT OF HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS, REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES TARGETED TO SERVING HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, PROVISIONS OF DIRECT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER HOMELESSNESS RELATED ACTIVITIES AS APPROVED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
NOW, THE YOUTH SET ASIDE FUNDING MUST BE USED ON ACTIVITIES ELIMINATING OR PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS.
AND YOUTH IS DEFINED BETWEEN 18 AND 24 YEARS OF AGE.
SPECIFIC ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, STREET OUTREACH, AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, PROVISIONS OF DIRECT SERVICE AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS OR OTHER HOMELESSNESS RELATED ACTIVITIES AS APPROVED BY T-D-H-C-A, THE STATE PROVIDES HHSP FUNDING TO THE NINE LARGEST CITIES IN TEXAS IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
THOSE CITIES CURRENTLY SERVE THROUGH THE HHSP FUND INCLUDE ARLINGTON, AUSTIN, CORPUS CHRISTI, DALLAS, EL PASO, FORT WORTH, HOUSTON PLANO, AND SAN ANTONIO, AND ORDINANCES ALLOCATING THE ACCEPTED HHSP FUNDS FOR USE BY LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL WITHIN THE COMING MONTHS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, I SEE, NO, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WHAT? I'D LIKE TO JUST, JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE GET TO FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UM, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS TWO A.
THIS IS TO EXTEND, UM, IN AGREEMENT THAT FUNDS A BUS.
IT'S LIKE SORT OF A GREYHOUND BUS THAT RUNS A DESIGNATED ROUTE, CORRECT.
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT FOR TWO DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR.
IS THAT RIGHT? I BELIEVE IT'S JUST THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS THAT IT DOESN'T RUN.
AND GOES TO, UM, THE SAME SET OF, UH, PLACES.
AND THERE ARE HOW MANY STOPS DID YOU SAY? IT'S ABOUT 32 STOPS.
FROM 7:00 AM TO 5:00 PM UM, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO SERVE MINIMUM OF 2000 CORRECT.
NOW THAT IS 2000 INDIVIDUALS OR 2000 TRIPS, 2000 INDIVIDUALS.
THE LAST REPORT THAT I SAW, THERE WAS ABOUT 4,000 TRIPS, UM, MADE LAST YEAR WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
BUT IT'S 2000 INDIVIDUALS AND 1500 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVED BY THE CASE MANAGER.
AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID YOU HAD A CASE MANAGER ON BOARD TO TRY TO MATCH SERVICES WITH, UH, THE RIDER? CORRECT.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IN THE QUEUE.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON, UH, THE YOUTH SET ASIDE FUNDS.
I KNOW YOU BOTH, UH, TWO B AND TWO C TOGETHER, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ACTIVITIES, UM, WE, IN DISTRICT, I SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE TWO AGING OUT OF FOSTER, UM, HOUSING FACILITIES.
ARE, ARE THOSE DOLLARS ABLE TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE NEEDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE THERE, OR WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITIES? IT'S POSSIBLE.
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IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.TYPICALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE HAVE FUNDED COVENANT HOUSE WITH THIS, UM, AND WE DO HAVE OPEN, UM, SUBMISSIONS FOR YOU.
SO I THINK WE NEED, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR REI AND GET YOU THAT INFORMATION, WHICH IS OUR REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO SEE IF WE HAVE, UM, OPEN COMPETITION RIGHT NOW.
BUT YES, I MEAN THAT'S, I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO WE HAVE THE HAY CENTER THAT'S OFF OF VENICE.
AND THEN THE SUNRISE LAW SOUTH OF MCKINNEY THAT COULD DEFINITELY POSSIBLY UTILIZE SOME OF THESE, UH, RESOURCES, BUT IT COULD BE, UM, IS IT BEST TO EXPRESSLY, UM, YOU KNOW, CONNECT YOU WITH THEM OR? YES.
AND, UM, MELODY, FOLLOWING UP ON TWO A, THE, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION, UH, CAN YOU PROVIDE US DATA ON THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THE, UH, THE BUS MAKES? I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
I ONLY HAVE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ACTUALLY SERVED, SO I CAN FIND OUT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS.
AND DO YOU WANT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT THEY MAKE IN A YEAR OR DO YOU WANT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS LIKE RIDERSHIP? LIKE WHAT NUMBER DO YOU WANT? UH, BOTH IF YOU HAVE IT.
LOOKING AT, UM, TWO B, THIS IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM, AM I CORRECT ON THAT? I COULD, I COULD ALSO HAVE CARLY BROWN COME UP AND I THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.
ONE OF WHAT, WHAT CARLY OR HER STAFF ARE WALKING UP.
I WANT TO JUST SAY HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS, WHICH IS A, UH, 5 0 1 C3, NOT NOT RELATED TO HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS OF PARISH HEALTH.
TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER TO US THROUGH THE WHOLE HOMELESS ISSUES.
AND WE'RE VERY INDEBTED TO THEM WORKING CLOSELY DAY TO DAY WITH US BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE WALKING AROUND STILL WITH HOSPITAL BANS ON THEIR ARMS. SO.
THANK, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSTON.
UM, AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS FUNDED THIS PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND SO WE'RE REALLY, UM, GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND IT HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE HAVE NOTICED SOME CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVING ARE ACCESSING COMMUNITY SERVICES BASED ON POST PANDEMIC CHANGES IN SERVICE OFFERINGS, UM, CHANGES IN HOURS OF SERVICE OFFERINGS.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR PROGRAM, WE'VE TALKED TO THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE SERVING, WE'VE TALKED TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SAY, HOW CAN THIS ROUTE BEST SERVE YOU ALL IN THE COMMUNITY? BECAUSE WE'VE NOTICED THE SAME DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER OF REGISTERED WRITERS VERSUS NUMBER OF RIGHTS ON A GIVEN YEAR.
WE USUALLY, AS MELODY ALLUDED TO, OUR GOAL IS TO REGISTER AT LEAST 2000 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH 4,000 TOTAL RIDES.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK RIDERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING.
IT'S ALL DONE IN A PAPER TICKET SYSTEM.
AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY AS AN ORGANIZATION LOOKING AT THAT VERY CLOSELY SO THAT WE CAN, WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT, ACTUALLY MOVE TO A DIGITAL METHODOLOGY TO TRACK OUR DATA AND REALLY SEE NOT JUST NUMBER OF RIDES, UM, BUT HOW ARE INDIVIDUALS ACCESSING THESE SERVICES AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT BEYOND JUST TRANSPORTATION, BUT THEY BEING LINKED TO HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, FOOD RESOURCES.
AND THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM TO LEND ITSELF TO STABILITY.
AND, AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT TRANSITION FOR US? HOW ARE Y'ALL GONNA DO THAT? HOW WE WILL MOVE TO MORE ELECTRONIC FORMAT MM-HMM
WE'RE RESEARCHING THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE TO WEB-BASED REGISTRATION.
A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY BUILDING ON THE WORK AND THE MOMENTUM THAT'S BEEN, UM, BUILT THIS YEAR IN, UM, COMING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING.
SO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MOVE TO THAT WEB-BASED REGISTRATION FORMAT AND LOOKING AT, UM, LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE OF HOUSTON METRO AS WELL.
WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS AND MELODY BAR TO CONNECT US TO HOUSTON METRO AND THEIR LEADERSHIP THERE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS LOOKING AT LEVERAGING THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THAT THEY HAVE IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY IN, IN TRANSPORTATION, AND, UM, ADDING THAT COMPONENT TO OUR OPERATIONS, SAY 4,000 RIDES.
AND DID YOU MENTION 4,000 RIDES? YES.
AND, UM, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT 2000 RIDERS, DO WE, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT COMES OUT TO PER PER RIDE?
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THE AVERAGE, AVERAGE COST.WELL GOING BASED OFF OF OUR, OUR CONTRACT GOALS, AVERAGE COST PER RIDER IS ABOUT $113 A YEAR.
UM, SEE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM, I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE OTHER COMMENT ABOUT, UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND POSITIVE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THIS PROGRAM AT HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS AND METRO.
AS YOU KNOW, METRO, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR ISSUES THAT THEY, UH, THEIR RIDERS HAVE, OFTEN IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ISSUES OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, RIDING THE, UM, THEIR BUSES AND TRAINS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
AND WE REALLY THINK THIS COLLABORATION, IT WILL MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON METRO AND ON OUR PROGRAMMING ONCE WE GET THIS COORDINATED BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES.
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS LINKING ENTITIES IN THE CITY.
AND IT'S ALWAYS A SURPRISE TO ME WHEN YOU DO IT, IT SEEMS LIKE, WHY DID WE DO THAT YEARS AGO? BUT THE REALITY IS THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD, GREAT COLLABORATION FOR METRO AND FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND, AND I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT LINKAGE.
HOW, HOW DO YOU ALL GET THE WORD OUT TO THE POPULATION THAT YOU, UH, WANT TO SERVE THIS, THAT THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE? EXCUSE ME.
UM, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER THAT THIS PROGRAM FINDS.
UM, THEY RIDE THE BUS, THEY VISIT OUR PARTNER AGENCIES.
WE HAVE, UH, FIVE OR SIX COMMUNITY PARTNERS CURRENTLY WHO SERVE AS TICKETING SITES.
SO WE WORK WITH THEM TO REGISTER INDIVIDUALS, GET THE WORD OUT, AND REALLY TRY TO INCORPORATE THAT AS PART OF THEIR REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, THE, UH, INTERIM CEO OF METRO SAID HE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP US PUBLICIZE THAT ON BUS STOPS AND OTHER AREAS TOO.
SO, AGAIN, REALLY IMPORTANT COLLABORATION.
CATHERINE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICES ITEMS? UM, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON TWO B AND C.
UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.
ARE, ARE THEY NEW OR HAVE WE DONE SOMETHING? NO, VERY SIMILAR IN THE PAST.
WE PROBABLY HAD THEM FOR ABOUT 10 TO 12 YEARS.
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY A ONE-TIME GRANT AND ABOUT, I GUESS ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, AND I COULD BE WRONG, IT COULD BE 10 ABOUT, BUT I'M GONNA GO 12.
ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO,
AND SO THE FIRST YEAR WAS HHSP FUNDS, THE SECOND YEAR, WHICH IT COMES FROM THE GENERAL ALLOCATION.
THE SECOND YEAR WAS, UM, UM, HTFI THINK OR HTC FUNDS.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT STATE FUND.
AND THEN THE THIRD YEAR THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE ACTUAL GENERAL FUND.
SO IT IS NOW A STANDING PART OF THEIR GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION.
SO WHY DON'T WE MOVE TO, UM, THE LAST ITEM, WHICH IS GONNA BE, UH, NUMBER THREE, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND DIRECTOR YOU WANNA THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO START, UH, PAGES 13 THROUGH 22 ARE IN A FORMAT THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE FOR ANY PUBLIC FACILITY.
AND ONCE I SAW THAT, I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE GREATER EXPLANATION.
SO I HAVE A FOLLOW UP PRESENTATION WITH MORE DETAIL THAT I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH WITH YOUR PERMISSION.
UM, AND I'LL JUST GO QUICKLY THROUGH THE NORMAL, THE, THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU HAVE SEEN.
ANYTIME YOU SEE A PUBLIC FACILITY, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO PURCHASE FOUR 19 HOPE PARTNERS, LSC FOR THE LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UH, THE CITY WILL FINANCE THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND PROJECTS FUND, WHICH IS FUND 1850.
THIS FUND DOES REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT AND THE PLAN IS TO REIMBURSE, REIMBURSE, MAKE THE REIMBURSEMENT OVER 10 YEARS THROUGH VARIOUS TURS FUNDS AS THEY ARE IDENTIFIED.
UM, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT, AND I'LL GO THROUGH MORE DETAIL.
THE PROPERTY WILL BE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY TO UTILIZED TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SERVICES AND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS PERSONS.
UM, AS THE PROGRAM DETERMINES THE INDIVIDUAL'S PATH FORWARD, UH, SUCH AS DRUG REHABILITATION, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, OR JOB
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TRAINING ARE GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS AGAIN, A TYPICAL, UH, SLIDE THAT YOU MAY SEE THROUGH, UH, PUBLIC FACILITIES WITH AN UNDERWRITER INTERNALLY.
UH, UH, PRO THE PROJECT NAME IS THE ADDRESS, THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.
UH, IS THERE, DO WE HAVE TO MEET A NATIONAL OBJECTIVE, WHICH WE DO NOT, UH, THE OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS AND WHO THE CONTACT PEOPLE ARE FOR THOSE OWNERS.
UH, THE PROPERTY, IT CONSISTS OF TWO BUILDINGS.
ONE IS 38,751 SQUARE FEET WITH A FULL SERVICE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, MEDICAL OFFICES GATHERING AREA.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE EXACT RIGHT ROOM NUMBER.
UH, THE APPRAISAL SAYS 75, SO WE'LL GO WITH THAT AT THIS TIME.
THEY HAVE BUILT IN BATHROOMS, WHICH IS A SINK SHOWER, UH, TOILET.
AND THE ROOMS COULD HOUSE UP TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS EACH.
CURRENTLY THEY'RE THREE BEDS IN EACH ROOM.
THE SECOND BUILDING IS ABOUT 15,000.
500 SQUARE FEET IS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED FOR SCHOOL ROOMS WITH MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS, BATHROOM AREAS, ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS, AND LIBRARIES.
UH, WE EXPECT TO USE THIS FACILITY FOR SERVICES, UM, PARTICULARLY, UH, SUBSTANCE ISSUES AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES.
UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THE REMAINING LAND IS PARKING PAVE COMMON AREAS AND WALKWAY AND LANDSCAPING.
UM, PURCHASE PRICE IS $16 MILLION AND THE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING BEING 1850.
WE'LL SPEND ABOUT $50,000 ON, UM, ON ADDITIONAL ITEMS SUCH AS CLOSING AND ENVIRONMENTALS THAT ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
CURRENTLY, THE ENVIRONMENTALS ARE ONGOING.
WE'VE HAD A FIRST PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL.
WE HAVE A PHASE TWO GOING ON NOW.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THAT WILL BE CLO THAT WILL BE DONE, UM, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY IN CASE SOMETHING COMES UP.
UM, BUILDING ONE IS, IS THE HERE.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST IN IN MORE DETAIL.
INTERIOR FINISHES CONSIST OF COMBINATION OF STAINED CONCRETE, WOOD, VINYL, CERAMIC FLOORING, CONCRETE BLOCK.
IT'S A REALLY SOLID BUILDING AS AN ELEVATOR AND STAIRS CONNECTING ON BUILDING TWO.
UM, THE PROPERTY RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $3 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS IN 2019 AND 2023 RESPECTIVELY.
RENOVATIONS INCLUDED SUBSTANTIAL SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, EXTERIOR DRAINAGE UPGRADES, AS WELL AS HVAC IN BUILDING ONE AND ADDING A NEW HVAC CHILLER IN 2023.
THE PROPERTY WAS MOST RECENTLY USED BY A NONPROFIT TO HOUSE MIGRANT CHILDREN.
THE NONPROFITS TERMINATED THEIR LEASE IN AUGUST 31ST, 2025 WHEN THEIR OPERATIONS WERE FUNDING WAS TERMINATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, THE ABANDONED CONTENTS WILL BE ITEMIZED AND POSSIBLY INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PURCHASE OF SALE AGREEMENT.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE BEEN THERE OR GO THERE, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 30 OR 40 AUTOMOBILES THAT ARE ALSO SITTING ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY DO WILL CONTINUE TO BELONG TO THE NONPROFIT.
UH, AS YOU, YOU CAN SEE IT IS, UM, IT'S, IT'S IN A COMMERCIAL AREA.
THERE'S AN OFFICE BUILDING ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS AWAY.
THERE IS A, UH, CONDOMINIUM OR RENTAL PROJECT, UM, MORE LIKE 250 YARDS AWAY.
AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A APPROPRIATE FACILITY AND PLACE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE MORE, ONE MORE APPROPRIATE IN THE CITY.
UH, OF COURSE, ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN THAT AREA MAY HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO DO IS RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS BEGINNING TODAY.
UH, MY PARTNER CHIEF SATTERWHITE IS HERE WHO WILL COME UP AND SIT WITH ME AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE ALLAY THOSE CONCERNS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NOW, AND I, ELI IF WE CAN DO IT, CAN WE GO TO MY PRESENTATION THAT IS FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
THIS PRESENTATION IS A ITERATIVE PROCESS BECAUSE EVERY TIME I DO IT, IT REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING.
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AND AGAIN, ONCE YOU, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME, UM, I THINK I GET IT.AND THEN PEOPLE ASK ME QUESTIONS.
SO YOU'LL SEE THIS, THIS CONTINUE.
UM, CHIEF SENATOR WHITE, YOU WANNA COME SIT WITH ME AS WE GO THROUGH THIS? MELANIE, THANK YOU.
LET ME INTERRUPT FOR JUST A SECOND.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS, UH, DIRECT, UH, CHAIR OF OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE HERE PRESENT AS WELL.
AND LET ME ASK YOU, DIRECTOR, UM, HAS THIS BEEN SHARED WITH US PREVIOUSLY OR ARE WE SEEING THIS TODAY? UM, I THINK CHAIR, I APOLOGIZE.
WE WILL DO THAT THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, AGAIN, I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE MY PARTNER CHIEF LARRY
AND I THINK ONCE YOU SEE THIS PRESENTATION, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT HIS ROLE IS.
UM, WITH THIS, TODAY ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I HOPE YOU'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS TOO AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, KENO PACE, WHO REPRESENTS THE HARRIS CENTRIS HERE? SHE AND THE CEO, WAYNE YOUNG COULD NOT BE MORE SUPPORTIVE AND BE A SOLUTION ORIENTED PARTNERS.
UM, YOU MET HEALTHCARE FROM THE HOMELESS.
THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, SEEING THIS FACILITY, GIVING US GREAT FEEDBACK AND ADDED AND, UH, HELP AND I'LL TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UH, THE VISION IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND I'LL SAY ASPIRATIONALLY, HARRIS COUNTY SEEKS TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST FRONT DOOR UNDER THE N STREET HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN, EQUIPPED WITH 150 TO 225 BEDS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE NOW SLEEPING IN PUBLIC SPACES.
UM, I VERY MUCH OWE IT THIS MORNING.
I SPENT TIME WITH MY COUNTERPART AT HARRIS COUNTY, I BELIEVE LONG RUN, THEY WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS FACILITY.
KELLY YOUNG, WHO'S WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND OF COURSE IS OUR PARTNER IN THIS.
AND WE'LL GIVE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE ROLE THAT THE COALITION WILL PLAY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SUPER HUB WILL BE WHERE SAFETY MEETS CONNECTION TO LASTING HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
THAT'S A QUICK PHRASE TO SAY IT, BUT AGAIN, WE REALLY WANT FOLKS WHO ARE SLEEPING ON THE STREET TO BE SAFE.
WE WANT THEM CONNECTED AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM WITH A LASTING HOUSING SOLUTION.
OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT SUCCESSFUL.
CENTRALLY LOCATED, FUNCTIONING AS A, UH, DIVERSION ALTERNATIVE, UM, A PLACE OF REFUGE WITH NO OTHER PLACES FOR PEOPLE WITH NO OTHER PLACES TO GO.
WE'RE OFFERING CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THIS SUPER HUB AND A SHELTER.
UH, LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE, WE HAD A SPECTACULAR MEETING WITH THE SHELTER PROVIDERS IN HOUSTON, THE MAJOR SHELTER PROVIDERS, UH, THE CEO OF STAR OF HOPE, SALVATION ARMY, UH, OPEN DOOR MISSION, HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, UH, HARMONY HOUSE, ALONG WITH THE CEO OF THE BEACON.
AND WE MET WITH MY TEAM AND CHIEF SATTERWHITE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS WHY IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS.
'CAUSE WE LEARN SO MUCH EVERY AFTER WE TALK TO THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SHELTER.
SO WHEN WE SEE A SHELTER, WHAT WE THINK OF AS PRIMARILY A PLACE TO SLEEP IS LIMITED SERVICES BEYOND IMMEDIATE SHELTER.
IT OFTEN COMES WITH PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WE SUPPORT.
UM, OPEN DOOR MISSION IS COMMITTED TO SOBRIETY, SO IT HAS A PROGRAM, UM, REQUIREMENT.
AND IT'S NOT DESIGNED AS A TRIAGE POINT FOR EVERYBODY ON SYSTEM ENTRY.
AGAIN, THESE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS. THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM IN OUR SYSTEM.
UM, WE WANT THEM WELL FUNDED BY PHILANTHROPY.
AND WHEN WE CAN BY GOVERNMENT.
IT'S MORE THAN A PLACE TO SLEEP.
IT OPERATES AS A TRIAGE POINT.
IT TRIES TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT INTERVENTION.
IT MUST HAVE HEALTHCARE AND PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT.
AND AS I SAID, HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS.
HARRIS HEALTH HARRIS CENTER, THE SOBERING CENTER ARE, HAVE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER AT THIS FACILITY.
[00:30:01]
SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS ARE GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REASON WHY, AGAIN, I DON'T EVER WANT TO FORGET THIS.IT HAS TO HAVE PATHWAYS TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND HERE'S WHERE IT GETS HARD FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S GONNA BE LOW BARRIER, NO PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT PETS AND PARTNERS.
AND THE REASON THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH IT, IS IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE IN THE CITY THAT WILL BE LIKE THIS.
NEXT SLIDE IS WHO THE SUPER HUB WOULD SERVE AND HOW THE INFLOW WOULD BE.
THOSE WHO ARE NEWLY HOMELESS, THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES AND OR SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.
UH, PEOPLE WITH COMPLICATING FACTORS, DISABILITIES, PETS, PARTNERS, WALKUPS RIGHT NOW, YOU CANNOT WALK UP TO ANY CENTER IN THE, IN THE CITY AND WALK IN AND SAY, I NEED A BED.
OUTREACH TEAMS CAN DROP THESE OFF AND LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS CAN USE, CAN USE THEIR FACILITY FOR DROP OFF.
THERE WILL BE SERVICES, WILL BE A TRIAGE FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION.
EVERY PERSON EXPERIENCES HOMELESSNESS IS DIFFERENT.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, THIS, UM, IT IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL AND ALL THE PROPAGANDA IN THE WORLD CAN GO THROUGH.
IT IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS UP, FITS ALL A FRONT DOOR.
IT IS A FRONT DOOR TO THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
IT SERVES BASIC NEEDS, SLEEP, MEALS, SAFETY, AND THAT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.
THE QUALITY OF MEALS WE SERVE THERE IS GONNA BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
IT'S GONNA BE TAILORED FOR THE MOST ACUTE NEEDS, THOSE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST DIFFICULT NEEDS.
WHEN WE MET WITH THE FOLKS WHO DO GREAT SHELTER WORK HERE, THEY'RE JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY CAN'T HELP AND THEY CAN'T EVEN BRING TO THEM.
UM, AND IT'S, AND IT'S DIFFICULT.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS THERE ON SITE WHO CAN HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS GET TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
THE OUTFLOW, RAPID RESO RESOLUTION DIVERSION.
BUT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, WE HAVE FUNDS IN THE, UH, HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND HOUSING FOR DIVERSION.
AND LET ME CLARIFY WHAT I CALL DIVERSION IS THOSE QUICK THINGS THAT CAN HELP SOMEBODY GET TO THEIR HOMETOWN, CAN GET A PAIR OF BOOTS FOR WORK, UM, CAN GET A MOTEL, UM, EXCUSE ME, CAN GET A PLACE TO STAY SHORT TERM, CAN GET TO A JOB, CAN GET PROVIDED A WAY TO GET TO A, TO THEIR FAMILY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHO CAN USE THIS DIVERSION AND STAY OUT OF THE LONG-TERM SYSTEM.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONNECTED TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
EVERYBODY WE SEE, WE WANNA SEE WHAT THEIR OUTGROW IS.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE DIVERSION, IF THEY DON'T, ONCE THEY GO INTO PSYCHIATRIC SUBSTANCE ISSUES, WE WANT THEM TO BE CONNECTED TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONNECTION TO HARRIS CENTER FACILITIES.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES, WHO NEED EMERGENCY CARE TO GO TO THE DUN CENTER, TO GO TO HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, WE NEED THAT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN GO TO HARRIS CENTER, 61 60 SOUTH LOOP FACILITY WHO NEED 30, 60, 90 DAYS, WE WANT THAT.
IT'S, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THESE PARTNERS WHO ARE ABLE TO TRIAGE THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THEY'LL BE THERE, THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THESE FOLKS, TRYING TO GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE YOU'RE NOT PICKING UP A PHONE AND SAYING, DO YOU HAVE ROOM? THEIR PEOPLE WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THEIR LOCATIONS AND THEN TRANSITION TO OTHER SHELTERS ONCE STABILIZED AGAIN, WE HAVE TERRIFIC SHELTER HERE.
WE HAVE A TERRIFIC WOMEN'S SHELTERS AT HAWK AND AT SALVATION ARMY WITH A GREAT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAM AT OPEN DOOR MISSION AND AT SALVATION ARMY, ONCE THESE PEOPLE GET STABILIZED, THEY'RE GONNA BE A BETTER FIT FOR THESE OTHER CENTERS.
SO THEY'RE NOT COMING INTO A BED, OUT OF A BED, INTO A BED, OUT OF A BED, AND THEN HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
THE SUPER HUBS CONNECT PEOPLE FROM STREET TO SAFETY AND SERVICES AND ULTIMATELY THE HOUSING.
LET'S TAKE A LITTLE DEEPER DIVE.
AND THIS WAS VERY, THIS PAGE IS NEW AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
THIS SUMMER, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND OUR, AND ITS PARTNERS CONDUCTED A HOUSING SURGE, DOWNTOWN AND MIDTOWN, UH, ENGAGING 305 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OVER 200.
IT SAYS 1 63, BUT TODAY WE GOT 2 0 3, THANK YOU.
ACCEPTED HEALTH CONNECTED TO A HOUSING SOLUTION OR A PATHWAY OFF THE STREETS.
YET 40% LEFT THE AREA OR REFUSED SERVICES.
I'M A BELIEVING, I'M A BELIEVER THAT HOUSING WORKS.
IT'S THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ANSWER,
[00:35:02]
BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THEY NEED SOME OTHER INTERVENTION BEFORE HOUSING.AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS TO DO.
HOW DO WE GET THOSE FOLKS THAT OTHER INTERVENTION? SO WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ACCEPTED SERVICES? MANY WERE NEWLY HOMELESS WITH AN OBVIOUS PATHWAY BACK TO HOUSING.
AND I SAW THAT DURING THE FREEZES WHERE WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE JUST FOR FIVE OR SIX DAYS BETWEEN JOBS, BETWEEN EXPERIENCES, THEY WERE GONNA BE OKAY.
AND THEN WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WEREN'T GONNA BE OKAY.
WHAT DO DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE SERVICES? MANY REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE THAN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM ALONE CAN PROVIDE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE MORE CARE THAN JUST VERY IMPORTANTLY, HOUSING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU STUDY, UH, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES, THERE ARE PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE ONE YEAR PROGRAMS ON SUBSTANCE USE.
UM, OPEN DOOR MISSION, WHICH IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, IS A TWO YEAR PROGRAM.
I MEAN, THESE A LONG TERM PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THAT HIGH, HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE AND HOW DO WE GET THEM THERE? AND THESE ARE OFTEN INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH AND OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
THEY ARE OUR HARDEST TO SERVE.
SO AS YOU GET QUESTIONS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH YOU WILL, THEY CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
THEY CAN'T HAVE THE HARDEST TO SERVE NOT LIVING ON THE STREET AND US NOT HAVE A FACILITY LIKE THIS.
UH, WHY CAN'T THEY GO TO EXISTING SHELTERS? UM, FIRST IS AN INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY FOR WALK-UPS.
MANY REQUIRE REFERRALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTREACH DROP-OFFS.
OUR NAVIGATION CENTER REQUIRES A, UH, A REFERRAL.
AND ONLY MO MORE RECENTLY HAS MOVED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP OFFS.
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A UM, CHILDCARE CENTER NEXT DOOR CANNOT HAVE WALKUPS LIMITED BED FOR SINGLE ADULT MALES.
AGAIN, MANY OF OUR FACILITIES, RIGHTFULLY SO, PRIORITIZE FAMILIES OR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
I HAVE SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND SAY, WHY DIDN'T THE CITY DO MORE FOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN? WE'VE DONE A HUGE AMOUNT.
16 MILLION WENT TO HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
AGAIN, OUR PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS REALLY FOCUS ON THAT, SO RIGHTLY SO.
WHERE WE'RE LEFT WITH IS THIS PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS, MANY OF THEM, UH, ADULT MALES.
MANY REQUIRE PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TO ACCESS.
WE HAVE RESTRICTED INTAKE HOURS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF RUNNING THIS FACILITY, YOU, YOU MAY GO, OH MY GOSH, THAT'S A LOT.
BUT IF WE WANT A 24 HOUR FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN 24 HOURS A DAY, IT'S GONNA HAVE THAT COST.
WE NEED THOSE PROFESSIONALS THERE 24 HOURS A DAY.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THAT MEETING WITH OUR SHELTER PROVIDERS.
THINK TALKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE PROFESSIONALS TO WORK THAT NIGHT SHIFT? AND WE, WE WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.
BUT I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS IS DOLLARS.
UM, THE EXISTING SHELTERS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SEVERE SUBSTANCE ISSUES.
UM, MOST SHELTERS JUST LACK THE RESOURCES FOR SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE.
AGAIN, THIS FACILITY WITH THE HELP OF THE HARRIS CENTER, HARRIS HEALTH, HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS, HARRIS HEALTH PSYCHIATRIC WILL HAVE THAT AREA.
I KNOW THIS SEEMS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT, WELL, THIS IS JUST ONE HUB.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE CITY? AND AS, AS WE GET THE COUNTY'S BUY-IN, WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTY? AND OUR IDEA HAS ALWAYS BEEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO HAVE FOUR ADDITIONAL HUBS, BUT THEY WON'T BE SUPER HUBS.
AND THE BIG DISTINCTION WILL BE THEY'LL HAVE SOME SERVICES, THEY'LL HAVE A LOT OF CONNECTIONS, BUT THEY WILL NOT HAVE BEDS.
AND BECAUSE THAT, WHEN YOU SEE THIS, THIS IS A HIGH COST AREA.
AGAIN, WHAT WHAT MAKES THIS HUB SUPER IS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE OVERNIGHT EMERGENCY BEDS A CRITICAL GAP IN OUR SYSTEM.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEM.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT MEETS SO MANY DIFFERENT HUMAN NEEDS.
THE NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH YOU FUNDED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, TERRIFIC FACILITY, 80 TO A HUNDRED BEDS PROVIDES SHORT TERM STABILIZATION.
RAPID HOUSING CONNECTION IS TO NOT, IS NOT DESIGNED AS A 24 HOUR SHELTER.
IT HAS LIMITED CAPACITY FOR COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL NEEDS.
AND IT DOES NOT ALLOW WALK-INS IN ONLY A FEW LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP-OFFS.
AGAIN, IT'S ACROSS, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, ACROSS THE STREET FROM A
[00:40:01]
CHILDCARE CENTER.I DO WANNA STOP HERE AND SAY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FUND THIS FACILITY.
UH, LAST YEAR YOU FUNDED IT THROUGH GENERAL FUNDS.
WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR MAKING SURE WE GET THOSE FUNDS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACILITY WITHOUT A BIG COST.
UM, THE COST FOR THIS FACILITY IS ABOUT $35,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUPER HUB, IT'S MOVING UP TO $50,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A LOWER COST, NOT AS GOOD AS GIVING PEOPLE HOUSING, WHICH WE HAD DURING COVID.
WE COULD PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSING WITH RAPID SERVICE, UH, WRAPAROUND SERVICES AT $25,000 A YEAR.
BUT WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THIS 'CAUSE WE DON'T, AREN'T HOUSING READY ACROSS OUR SYSTEM.
THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, WHICH IS ALSO FUNDED THROUGH GENERAL FUNDS, PROVIDES SHORT TERM OVERNIGHT SHELTERS.
UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, IT IS ESSENTIALLY TWO BIG ROOMS. ONE FOR MEN, ONE FOR WOMEN WITH, UH, AREAS ON THE FLOOR FOR BEDS AND LIKE MATTRESS MATTRESSES OF SOME SORT.
IT IS REALLY FOR SHORT TERM, NOBODY'S GONNA GONNA STAY THERE VERY LONG.
UM, THE FOOD IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, VENDING MACHINE FOOD.
IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT TO KEEP PEOPLE THERE LONG TERM.
IT IS TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE TRIAGE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INEBRIATED.
AND THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO FUND.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE INEBRIATED, THEY DON'T NEED TO GO DOWN TO JAIL TO BE BOOKED.
THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE LIKE THIS, OR THEY'RE SLEEPING ON THE STREET DOWNTOWN AND DON'T WANT TO GO VERY FAR AND DON'T WANNA MAKE A PERMANENT CHANGE.
THIS IS A PLACE FOR THEM, 61 60 SOUTH LOOP, OWNED BY THE HARRIS CENTER.
UM, IT FUNCTIONS AS A FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
IT WELCOMES LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP OFFS AND IT MAKE, PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE AT REENTRY IN INDIVIDUALS.
PEOPLE LEAVING BOTH HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND THE TDCJ WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH CARE CAN BE, CAN BE BROUGHT THERE.
THEY CAN GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
IT IS NOT A JAIL THEY CAN LEAVE TOO, BUT GENERALLY THEY HAVE A TERRIFIC PROGRAMMING AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN MOVE FORWARD.
UM, OVER THE NEXT MONTH, YOU'LL BE INVITED TO A GRAND OPENING OF 28 APARTMENTS THAT WAS FUNDED PARTIALLY BY THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND THE STATE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING, UH, 61 60 AND HAVEN'T WANNA MOVE TO THAT NEXT STEP OF SUPPORTIVE LIVING.
UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL COME TO THAT GRAND OPENING.
UM, THE SUPER HUB, UH, AGAIN, FUNCTIONS AT THE TRIAGE POINT FOR THE HARDEST TO SERVE.
PROVIDES 24 HOUR SHELTERING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IT'S A CENTER FOR WALK-INS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP-OFFS AND OUTREACH.
AND IT'S A CENTRALIZED PATHWAY TO OTHERS WHO HAVE SHELTER.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE BEFORE WE TIE IT TO THE RAMP UP PLAN.
CHIEF, YOU'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ABOUT WALK-INS, RIGHT? I KNOW THESE COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF CONVERSATION WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO A LOT OF THE, UM, THE BUSINESS OWNERS ALREADY WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASK AND, AND IT, AND WE'LL ACCEPT WALK-INS, UM, BY DESIGN.
IT'S TAKING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DROP OFFS.
WE NONPROFITS NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT OTHER NONPROFITS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OF DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS SPACE AND ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE STREETS AND TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM AND OFFER THEM A BETTER PLACE.
AND SO IDEALLY IT'S DESIGNED TOWARDS THAT.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE WALK-INS TOO.
UH, AND THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE AREA AS, AS, AS IS REASONABLE FOR EVERYBODY, EVERY GROUP THAT, OR EVERY PLACE THIS MIGHT OCCUR, WHICH MY, OUR ASSURANCES IS THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE IDEA IS, IS NOT TO BE JUST IN THE AREA, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON SITE, YOU'RE ON SITE.
AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT ON SITE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY IN ROUTE TO MEDICAL SERVICES OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE ON YOUR PATH TOWARDS GETTING OFF THE STREETS PERMANENTLY AND PURSUING A BETTER LIFE.
SO I, I THINK THAT'S, THAT IS OUR, IS OUR ASSURANCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT, UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A FACILITY THAT'S, THAT'S HELPING PEOPLE AND, AND NOT BRINGING THE AREA DOWN.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THAT AREA ALREADY, AS SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY WITNESSED AND REALLY REDUCED A LOT OF THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, PRESENCE OF, OF PEOPLE, OF STREET SUFFERING FROM STREET HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, THE, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THAT SUCCESS AND INCREASE OPPONENT.
IT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO GET ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS OFF TO A BETTER LIFE WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE THEIRS, THEY CAN PURSUE A BETTER LIFE, AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS
[00:45:01]
LESS IMPACTED.SO IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
SO YES, THAT IS THE OPERATIONAL DESIGN AND PLAN.
UM, NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN TALKING ABOUT MONEY.
MY FAVORITE SUBJECT, AS Y'ALL KNOW, IS TALKING ABOUT HOW, HOW DO YOU FUND THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT A CLARIFICATION.
THIS HUB IS ALIGNED WITH THE HOMELESS RAMP UP PLAN THAT WE ANNOUNCED WITH YEAR.
UM, THE HUBS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE RAMP UP PLAN.
THIS SUPER HUB WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE SAW, UH, THIS MANY BEDS READY TO GO.
THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND WE JUMPED ON IT.
AND THE MORE I'VE LOOKED AT IT, THE MORE IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO KEEP SAYING THE SUPER HUB SUCCESS IS TIED TO A WELL-FUNDED HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM WITH CLEAR HOUSING STRATEGIES.
SO AS YOU REMEMBER THAT SYSTEM, WE TALKED ABOUT A $70 MILLION A YEAR PLAN.
THAT WAS REALLY THE HOUSING PLAN.
UM, THAT WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL PLAN.
IT CAME FROM A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CITY MONEY, HOPEFULLY.
AND I STILL HAVE ASPIRATIONS FOR COUNTY MONEY, AND I HAVE ASPIRATIONS FOR, UM, PHILANTHROPIC MONEY FROM FOUR MAJOR CORPORATION FOR MAJOR PHILANTHROPY FOUNDATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY GIVEN $6 MILLION TO THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THAT TOTAL OF $60 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS FROM THEM.
UM, CURRENTLY THE CITY IS ALREADY COMMITTED.
THIS IS 33 MILLION MELODIES THAT THE RIGHT NUMBER FOR NOW, $33 MILLION TO THAT HOUSING PLAN, WHICH MEANS IT'S BEEN GIVEN TO WRAP REHOUSING.
IT'S BEEN GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO DO OUTREACH.
IT'S FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CITY MONEY.
RECENTLY, THE COUNTY COMMITTED $8 MILLION TO THAT PLAN.
UM, AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE MUCH MORE.
UM, THIS WILL TAKE, THIS WILL TAKE COURAGE FROM ALL OF YOU, FROM THE ADMINISTRATIONS IN BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
BECAUSE IF WE OPEN THIS FACILITY AND DON'T HAVE A GREAT HOUSING PLAN ATTACHED TO IT, IT IS PROBLEMATIC.
WE'RE OPTIMISTIC WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET OUR APPROXIMATELY $70 MILLION A YEAR WE GET FOR THE PLAN.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT AND ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, LONG TERM.
UM, I'M A BELIEVER THAT SOMEHOW WE SHOULD MAKE THIS A LOCAL PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE ON A LOCAL LEVEL FOR HOMELESSNESS AND WE SOLVE IT ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
AGAIN, THE RAPID REH RAPID, THE RAMP UP FUNDING EXPANDS RAPID REHOUSING CAPACITY AND MOVES INDIVIDUALS OUTTA SHELTER INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THIS PROGRAM.
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER PROGRAM, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE ADDITION OF THE FOUR 19 HUB AND THE HOUSING PROGRAM.
UM, THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO OPERATE THIS FACILITY AND, UH, IF OUR LAWYERS WILL HEAR, THEY'LL TELL YOU WHY.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDER OR PROVIDERS, PLURAL, UNDER A LEASE OR OPERATING AGREEMENTS FROM THE CITY WHO WILL BE THE OPERATOR.
UH, DESIRED EXPERTISE IS PROVEN SUCCESS IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ENTITIES IN HOUSTON THAT HAVE THIS EXPERTISE.
AND IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, IF I DON'T, WON'T BE HELD TO MISSING ONE.
UH, LIKE THE HARRIS CENTER WHO'S REPRESENTED HERE, LIKE THE BEACON, LIKE SALVATION ARMY, STAR OF HOPE, UM, UH, OPEN DOOR MISSION, A NUMBER OF GREAT ENTITIES WHO CAN DO THIS JOB OR A GROUP OF THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO PUT TOGETHER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT COST ALWAYS MAKES ME NERVOUS TO TALK ABOUT COSTS.
THE BUDGETS WE'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN BETWEEN 10 AND $14 MILLION A YEAR.
UM, I'M SAYING IT IS PROBABLY AT A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH, WHICH IS PROBABLY RIGHT.
UM, WHAT IS THAT? WHY IS THAT HIGH? 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK? SIGNIFICANT PSYCHIATRIC, UH, UM, UH, SUPPORT.
NOT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONALS, SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
UM, SO WE, WE, THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO NEED THE MOST.
I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER.
AS THE MONTHS GO ON, WE WILL GET A BETTER NUMBER AS WE BEGIN FOCUSING ON WHO THAT OPERATOR IS AND WHAT KIND OF NEEDS THEY NEED.
AS I SAID, DO NOT FORGET, THERE'S STILL A THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION WE NEED TO MAKE TO KEEP THE NAVIGATION CENTER OPEN.
AND WE NEED TO DO ALL THIS WITHOUT HURTING THE FUNDRAISERS
[00:50:01]
FOR OUR TRADITIONAL SHELTERS.SO IT'S A, IT'S A BIG ASK ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
UM, AGAIN, THE 14 MILLION DOES NOT INCLUDE PERMANENT HOUSING COSTS.
THAT'S RENTAL SUBSIDIES, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, LONG-TERM HEALTHCARE SUPPORT, THAT'S OUTSIDE.
UH, NEXT PAGE I THINK YOU'VE SEEN IS JUST THE BUILDING SPECIFICATIONS.
UM, I WELCOME THE, THE, UH, FOLKS IN THIS ROOM TO COME BY, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND I CAN ARRANGE IT WITH THE OWNERS.
I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE READINESS OF THIS FACILITY.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE BACKGROUND OF THE SITE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UH, THE PROPERTY HISTORICALLY WAS USED AS AN INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSE SPACE SINCE 1890S.
IN 1977, IT WAS PURCHASED BY STAR OF HOPE AND OPERATED AS A, AS A MEN'S SHELTER AT THAT TIME.
UM, THE STAR OF HOPE OPERATED SHELTER AND FACILITY TO SERVE HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN THERE FROM 2004 TO 2017, UNTIL THEY BUILT THEIR BEAUTIFUL FACILITY OUT ON REED ROAD.
UH, AT THAT TIME IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CURRENT OWNERS.
UH, THEY THEN LEASED IT TO A NON-PROFIT, UM, EXCUSE ME, BETWEEN THIS TIME AND THIS DIDN'T GET IN HERE.
BETWEEN THAT TIME IT WAS LEASED, I THINK, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR TO FEMA FOLLOWING HARVEY.
AND MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE WORKED THERE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE UNHOUSED DURING HARVEY.
AND AFTER THAT, A NONPROFIT FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEASED THIS PROPERTY AND OPERATED SHELTER FOR MIGRANT CHILDREN FROM 2018 UNTIL AUGUST OF 2025.
THERE ARE VERY MINIMAL INTERIOR RENOVATIONS NEEDED.
VERY FEW, ALMOST NO EXTERNAL RENOVATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SUPER HUB PURCHASE PRICES.
I SAID $16,000 AND 25 TO 50,000 IN CLOSING COSTS.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON GENERAL SERVICES DIVISION AND THE SELLER CONDUCTED APPRAISALS.
THE PURCHASE PRICE IS ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN THE TWO APPRAISALS.
UH, I'LL STOP HERE AND SAY I GIVE, GIVE ME, UH, NEGATIVE ON, UH, THE FIRST APPRAISAL.
I TOLD THE, UH, UH, THE FOLKS WHO HAD IN THE APPRAISER.
THERE WAS NOBODY INTERESTED EXCEPT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE GOT A LOW APPRAISAL.
AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS, I FOUND THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS INTERESTED IN THIS FACILITY AGAIN TO BUY.
AND SO WE DID HAVE A SECOND BIDDER THAT CHANGES THOSE APPRAISALS.
UM, THE DUE DILIGENCE FEASIBILITY IS 120 DAYS, SO IT'S SOMETIME BEFORE NEW YEAR'S.
THE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL IS COMPLETED AND THE PHASE TWO IS UNDERWAY.
UH, THE SELLER WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE SALE BY THE END OF DECEMBER FOR THEIR TAX PURPOSES PURPOSES.
WE'LL BE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 15TH.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN THE MAYOR PLAYS WILL DETERMINE THAT DATE, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD DAY.
UH, AGAIN, FUND 1850 WILL BE USED FOR BUYING THIS FACILITY.
IT'S A TEMPORARY LOAN OF 16 MILLION.
UM, THE APPRAISAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COST AND THE DOWN PAYMENT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HCD.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL, WILL REPAY FUND 1850 USING TURS INCREMENT FUNDING OR OTHER LOCAL FUNDING SOURCES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
UH, WE ARE HOPING THAT WE, THERE WILL BE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO USE, UM, TARA'S MONEY TO REPAY THAT.
THE NEXT SLIDE, OPERATIONS FUNDING, AGAIN, TOTAL BETWEEN 10 AND 14 MILLION.
YEAR ONE AND TWO WILL BE DISASTER.
AS YOU REMEMBER, YOU APPROVED FUNDING UNDER DISASTER 24 FOR A TOTAL OF 31 MILLION, 40, EXCUSE ME, $41 MILLION OF WHICH 37 MILLION CAN BE USED FOR OPERATIONS LIKE THIS.
UM, WE CANNOT USE ANY FEDERAL MONEY FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, SPECIAL NEEDS, UM, PET NEEDS, MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
AGAIN, COULD, COULD BE CORPORATE FUNDING, COULD BE ADDITIONAL CITY FUNDING.
WE'LL BE WORKING, UH, FOR IT FOR THAT.
SO AFTER YEAR ONE AND TWO, WHAT DOES THE POTENTIAL FUNDING COME FROM? AGAIN, TOURISM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
UM, I WILL KEEP SAYING HOMELESSNESS IS A MAJOR ISSUE IF YOU WANT POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO I WILL KEEP ARGUING THAT AND I THINK IT'LL WE'RE ALLOWED SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE THOSE FUNDS.
I WANNA WORK CLOSELY WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS.
[00:55:01]
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE OVERLAPPING CONSTITUENTS WITH THE, WITH THE COMMISSIONERS NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT, THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS CITY OF HOUSTON GENERAL FUNDS.I HOPE THAT THAT FREES UP SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
UM, CHIEF AND I'LL BE OUT TALKING TO PHILANTHROPIC AND CORPORATE DONORS.
THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.
UM, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DOLLARS COME IN BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WITHOUT A PLACE TO PUT THOSE DOLLARS, UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THE OPERATOR.
WE GET THE OPERATIONS DOLLARS.
IT'S REALLY CAN'T GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF CAN YOU FUND THESE PROJECTS? AND THEN WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN NEW STATE FUNDING.
UH, JOSH SANDERS AND I, UH, WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS.
THERE WAS A HUGE APPETITE IN THE LAST SESSION FOR FUNDINGS, FACILITIES JUST LIKE THIS.
UM, UH, I THINK PRESSURE YOU NEED ON YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE THE SAME, WHICH IS IF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, IF THEY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET AND FEEL BADLY ABOUT THAT, IF THEY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH REDUCING HEALTHCARE COST, THEN FUND THIS FACILITY AND FUND THE HOUSING THAT COMES AFTERWARDS.
UM, THE NEXT PAGE IS, UH, PRIVATE AND CORPORATE DONORS.
THIS IS JUST OUR ARGUMENT FOR WHY THEY SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
UM, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE AND CORPORATE DONORS.
AND THE LAST PAGE IS A TIMELINE.
UH, AGAIN, WE'RE HERE AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE PRESENTATION OCTOBER 15TH.
WE HOPE TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
UM, THIS IS THE WRONG DOCUMENT.
WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST.
OH, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENT.
UM, UH, WE HOPE TO SELECT AN OPERATOR BY THE END OF NOVEMBER WITH SUCCESS THERE.
UM, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE SELECTED OPERATOR HOPEFULLY THROUGH DECEMBER 24TH.
SO WE CAN BEGIN THE, EXCUSE ME, BEFORE DECEMBER, IN DECEMBER FOR DR 24 SO WE CAN BEGIN TO DISCUSS HOW TO, WHEN DO WE OPEN THE FACILITY.
AND OUR HOPE, OUR HOPE IS THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026.
THAT WILL DEPEND ON HOW FAST WE GET APPROVAL FROM HUD ON D 24 AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY TO GO.
AGAIN, THE DECISION ON OCTOBER 15TH IS, DOES THE CITY, DOES THE CITY COUNCIL GIVE, UM, HD HCD AND THE CITY PERMISSION TO BUY THIS FACILITY? UH, ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OR ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT COME UP BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF OUR 120 DAY PERIOD.
I'M READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR GET SOME OF OUR PARTNERS TOO, SINCE YOU'VE HEARD ME ENOUGH WITH MY SCRATCHY VOICE.
SO LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT, UM, RAMP UP COSTS.
LOOKING AT SLIDE NUMBER NINE IN THE FIRST BULLET POINT, YOU DESCRIBE IT AS THREE YEARS, $168 MILLION.
UM, MONTHS AGO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE OVERALL COST OF THE PLAN, UH, ESTIMATED TO BE 70 MILLION A YEAR.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING HERE OR IT'S, IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
UM, IT'S JUST THAT IT'S THREE YEARS.
SO HUNDRED 68 IS THE FIRST YEAR WAS A SLOWER RAMP UP, WHICH WE'RE IN TODAY FOR THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD GUESS THIS WILL CHANGE.
THIS WILL CHANGE AS WE KNOW WHEN THE PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS WILL BE ELIGIBLE.
LET ME, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT, UH, THE PURCHASE PRICE 16 MILLION.
UM, IS IT ANTICIPATED, 'CAUSE YOU SAID FOUR MORE SUPER HUBS ARE ENVISIONED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IS IT, IS IT ANTICIPATED THAT EACH ONE WILL COST ABOUT 16 MILLION? NOT AT ALL, BUT MY, MY VISION OF A SUPER HUB, AND WE CAN ASK AGAIN KELLY, WHAT HER VISION IS.
MINE IS MORE OF A STOREFRONT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT AND THEN TRIAGED THERE AND THEN PLACED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER FACILITIES, WHETHER IT'S THE OTHER SHELTERS, WHETHER IT'S A HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, UM, OR ANY OF THESE OTHER FACILITIES.
THIS IS, THIS IS UNIQUE BECAUSE, AND I CALL IT A SUPER HUB, IF YOU CAN THINK OF A BETTER NAME, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LOVE THAT.
UM, IT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEDS IN IT AND THAT'S THE REASON THE COST IS SO HIGH.
UH, THE OTHER ONES WILL BE MUCH MORE, UH, A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN.
I DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE 24 HOURS A DAY.
UM, BUT WE HAVE NOT DESIGNED THOSE OTHER HUBS.
[01:00:01]
ME, CHIEF, YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT MORE ABOUT THIS.SO YEAH, DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE, THE OTHER HUB MODELS, UH, WILL, WILL BE RESOURCE CENTERS FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND, AND DETERMINE WHERE THEY MIGHT GO FROM THERE TO GET HELP REGARDLESS OF WHAT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
THIS SPECIFIC SUPER HUB LIKE DIRECTOR NICHOLS WAS STATING AND IS, IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE A LOT OF, UH, COORDINATION ACTIVITY OCCURS.
THE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY TOURED IT, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVEN'T THAT WISH TO DO.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A LARGE AREA UPFRONT THAT IS ADMINISTRATIVE AND WE ENVISION AN EMERGENCY CALL CENTER IN THAT AREA, MEANING THAT WE COULD HAVE REPRESENTATIVES AND PLAN TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR NONPROFITS, OF OTHER RESOURCES.
SO THAT HAVE VISIBILITY ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS THE COUNTY, ON ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS, ANY OF OUR FACILITIES, RESIDENTIAL, EVEN SOME IN MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
AND, UM, SO THAT WE HAVE THAT REAL TIME INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE BEDS.
NOT EVERYBODY THAT WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION WOULD STAY THERE.
SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY READY FOR ELEVATION TO ONE OF THE CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING RUN BY OUR NONPROFITS BECAUSE THEY CAN ALREADY MEET THAT THRESHOLD IN TERMS OF THEIR RULES AND, AND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND TO, TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THEIR PROGRAM.
SOME WILL NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, SOME WILL NEED THAT TRANSPORT TO BACK HOME TO WHEREVER THAT MAY BE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING IN TERMS OF DIVERSION.
SO THIS ONE LOCATION WILL COORDINATE RESOURCES ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS THE COUNTY, MAYBE EVEN ACROSS THE STATE.
AND WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE UP THERE TO DO THAT.
THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S SEVERAL MODELS THAT ARE JUST EMERGED.
LOS ANGELES JUST OPENED UP A LARGE ONE OF SIMILAR DESIGN.
SO THINK OF THIS ONE LOCATION AS ANSWERING LOTS OF NEEDS.
ALL OF YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITHIN YOUR DISTRICTS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED HELP, YOU CAN CALL THE CENTER AND, AND WE CAN START THE PROCESS OF GETTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO KIND OF HELP FROM THAT LOCATION.
SO THAT'S THE VALUE OF THIS THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CALL, BECAUSE OFTEN MANY OF YOU CALL, HEY, WHO DO WE GO TO? WELL NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PLACE TO CALL RESOURCES AND EVERYTHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, UH, TO RESOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE CITY AND TRULY HELP PEOPLE.
SO I'M GLAD YOU'VE GOT IT ON THIS SCREEN HERE 'CAUSE I'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT BULLET 0.5.
PHASE ONE ESA WAS COMPLETED AND IT RECOMMENDED PHASE TWO ESA, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDERWEIGHT.
DO YOU KNOW WHY PHASE TWO WAS RECOMMENDED? UM, LIKE, LIKE MUCH OF THAT AREA WAS USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AND THERE'S SOME, UH, CLEANING FLUIDS THAT WERE FOUND VERY COMMON IN THAT AREA.
UM, I THINK IN GENERAL IT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, THIS, THIS AREA IS VERY, UM, COVERED WITH CEMENT AND THERE ARE VERY FEW AREAS THAT AREN'T.
UM, SO WE ARE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS DON'T SEE ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS. ALRIGHT.
AND YOU MENTIONED TWO APPRAISALS.
ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE WITH US WHAT THOSE, THOSE APPRAISALS WERE? THOSE TWO? UM, SURE.
WELL CAN YOU, CAN YOU JUST, UH, TELL US WHAT THEY WERE? OH, ONE WAS 10 MILLION, ONE WAS 20 MILLION.
UM, AND AGAIN, I I, I'LL SAY THAT'S, YOU CAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE 10 MILLION AND SAY, MIKE, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.
'CAUSE I TOLD THEM I WANTED, I WANTED YOU TO SAY THIS.
WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THE APPRAISALS TOO.
UH, DON'T, DON'T WE USUALLY GET THREE WHEN WE BUY? I MEAN, ISN'T THAT OUR POLICY? THAT I, I DON'T KNOW.
SO I'M LOOKING AT, AT, UM, LEMME ASK THIS, BRIAN, DO YOU KNOW 54,276 SQUARE FEET TOTAL? IF YOU DO BOTH BUILDINGS? SO THAT'S, I'M NOT IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, BUT THAT'S BY MY MATH $294 A SQUARE FOOT.
SO IS THAT, I MEAN, WHAT IS THAT IN THE BALLPARK? I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE RANGES OF DOWNTOWN KIND OF, I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A UNIQUE FACILITY.
I HAVE TOURED THIS FACILITY IN THE PAST, COUNCILWOMAN AS, AS IN AS AND AS Y'ALL KNOW, THAT REAL ESTATE HAS BEEN A SIDELINE, NOT MY MAIN AREA.
UM, I THINK IF YOU HAD TO BUY THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY RAW, THAT LAND RAW, YOU'D PROBABLY SPEND ABOUT $10 MILLION.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE APPRAISAL SHOWED.
IT SHOWED BASICALLY THE, THE BUILDING BEING WORTHLESS.
UM, SO THEN YOU TAKE THAT AGAIN AND SAY, FOR $6 MILLION, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD BUY FOR THAT LOCATION.
IT'S NOT, IT, IT, I I'M NOT, IT'S NOT A STEAL.
[01:05:01]
RIGHT.WE'RE PAYING A VERY FAIR PRICE FOR THIS.
UH, WHEN I BEGAN BEATING UP THE OWNERS SAYING, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK IT'LL LOWER THE PRICE.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR SHAREHOLDERS AND THEN SAID, OH, BUT WE'LL MAKE A MAJOR DONATION AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THAT MAJOR DONATION.
AND ON THE, ON THE OPERATING FUNDS, SO THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS YOU'RE USING THE BARREL AND, AND DIRECT SHOW FUNDS, BUT DO WE HAVE THOSE, I MEAN, WELL WE HAVE THOSE BY 26 TO, IS IT A REIMBURSEMENT THING? I MEAN, ARE WE GONNA HAVE MONEY AT THAT TIME FROM THE FEDS TO USE FROM ON DAY ONE? IT, IT IS REIMBURSEMENT.
LIKE ALL THE FUNDING, IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT.
BUT ONCE WE HAVE IT AND THEY'VE APPROVED IT, WE CAN BEGIN USING IT.
AND WE'RE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT GETTING THOSE DOLLARS BACK QUICKLY.
AND WE USE WHAT WE USE WHAT MONEY AND GET REIMBURSED AS WE, AS WE DO IT.
LIKE GENERAL FUND MONEY OR HUD MONEY OR, I MEAN SURE.
MY UNDERSTANDING ONCE AND, AND, AND WE CAN GET, UH, THE, UM, WE CAN GET MELISSA DUBROSKI TO COME ANSWER THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE COMMITMENT FOR THE HUD MONEY, THEN YOU CAN USE THE, OUR BORROWED FUNDS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST LIKE HAVING THE MONEY.
SO WE, WE WOULD BORROW, WE WOULD BORROW THOSE FUNDS.
AND, AND SAME ON THE EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION FUNDS.
THOSE ARE USUALLY USED TO BUY CAPITAL ASSETS.
UM, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE IN THE CIP.
UM, IS THIS 16 MILLION THAT WE'LL BE INITIALLY USING AND THAT'S USUALLY BACKED WITH COMMERCIAL PAPER.
IS THAT, WAS THAT DEDICATED TO SOMETHING ELSE? IS THERE LEEWAY IN THE CIP? MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S, THERE'S LEEWAY IN THIS FUND BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEDICATED TO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND SO THUS WE CAN USE IT FOR THIS PURPOSE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT PART OF THE CIP AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR FUND IS NOT DEDICATED, IT IS FOR PURPOSES OF WHEN YOU HAVE A OPPORTUNISTIC BUY AND THE TURS FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO REIMBURSE IT.
THE, FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTION FROM THE PETITION TS.
IS THAT, IS THAT THE FUND? THAT'S, THAT IS THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE.
THERE'S STILL DISCUSSION ON THAT, BUT THAT IS THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE.
AND YOU HAVE THAT, THAT THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE OVER TIME.
SO, BUT ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR THAT'S FOR 10 YEARS IS ABOUT WHAT IT COST WITH INTEREST 2 MILLION A YEAR FROM THE TURS OVER 10 YEARS BECAUSE YOU HAD TO PAY BACK THE 1850 WITH INTEREST.
AND, AND WELL, THE HOUSING CHAIR WILL BE, KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TOTAL FUNDS IN THE, IN THOSE TSTS ACCOUNTS.
BUT YEAH, MY QUESTION'S REALLY, I, IT, I MEAN THIS SOUNDS, YOU KNOW, VERY NECESSARY.
UM, IT'S A, THERE'S A LOT AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC AND FOUNDATION.
UM, WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF, WE HOPE WE GET THIS, WE HOPE WE GET THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS HERE.
I MEAN, IT'S A BIG MONEY COMMITMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
I, I, LET ME MAKE ONE NOTE HERE.
UM, UNLIKE THE, UM, NAVIGATION CENTER THAT WAS BUILT WITH AND BOUGHT WITH C-C-D-B-G FUNDS, RIGHT, IT REQUIRES A FIVE YEAR TERM OF ACTIVITY.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT TERM.
WERE WERE ANY OTHER LOCATIONS UH, EXPLORED? UH, YES.
UH, A FEW OTHER LOCATIONS WERE EXPLORED.
THIS ONE CAME IN WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS, UH, WITH THE FASTEST USE SAID IT'S READY TO BE USED TODAY THAT IT DOESN'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANYTHING.
AND ON THAT POINT, IT, IT'S A 16, 16 MILLION INCLUDE ANY, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S GONNA NEED VERY MINIMAL MODIFICATIONS.
CHIEF, YOU TALKED ABOUT A CALL CENTER AND THINGS AND THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE MADE.
DOES IT ENCOMPASS WHAT WHATEVER MODIFICATIONS WILL BE NEEDED? NO, THAT'S ONLY THE, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
BUT NOW WE THINK, WE THINK THERE'S A FULL SECURITY SYSTEM IN THERE.
UM, THERE IS EVERYTHING READY FOR A TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
UM, THERE'S A BRAND NEW HVAC, WE THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE FOR THAT NOW.
YES, YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE A TELEPHONE SYSTEM FOR THAT.
BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT EITHER WE WILL HAVE TO RAISE SOME MONEY OR WE'LL HAVE THAT WILL BE PART OF THE, YEAH, THAT'LL BE PART OF THE OPERATING EXPENSES.
I'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS AS CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THIS IS A BIG ITEM AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF THE WHOLE CITY.
YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT BY ITSELF.
AND, AND, AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN BE AT STATE PHILANTHROPIC, OTHER GRANT FUNDS, BUT I MEAN, IF TO RELY ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR I UNDERSTAND FOR ANY OF THIS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT JUST GIVES ME PAUSE TO
[01:10:01]
THINK THAT, THAT THAT'S, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT WE WOULD RELY ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT THERE.WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN FOR GETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN ONE STATEMENT.
UM, FOR THE 24 0 9, DO WE DO ENVIRONMENTAL OUT OF 24 0 9? ARE WE, AND IF, ARE WE GONNA REIMBURSE THE 500,000 OUT OF THAT? IS THAT REIMBURSABLE? YEAH.
WE WILL, WE WILL REIMBURSE IT OUT OF THE 1850.
I CAN YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE EIGHT.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM AND THIS INITIATIVE.
'CAUSE I, I BELIEVE A LOT OF THE WORK SOMETIMES GETS LOST.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER COMPONENT TO THE CONTINUUM.
AND SO, UH, MY ONLY REQUEST, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, IS THAT THIS INITIATIVE ONE, THE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF SATELLITE, Y'ALL HAVE EXPRESSED HOW THIS IS ANCHORED IN COMPASSION.
AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT CENTERED TO THIS WORK.
'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR POPULATION, BUT WE HAVE TO ANCHOR IT IN LIKE, IN REAL CONSISTENT COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING A NEW COMPONENT.
AND FOR ME, MY, I WOULD LOVE FOR ANY, UH, UH, NEWS OUTLET TO STOP EVERYDAY HOUSTONIAN AND ASK THEM WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING AROUND THIS.
AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THAT.
'CAUSE OFTENTIMES IT'S A HUGE GAP AROUND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING AND THEN HOW IT'S COMMUNICATED.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY TARGETED GROUP, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL CAN WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO COMMUNICATE THESE EFFORTS OUT, RESOURCES BEING AVAILABLE, I MEAN, YOU NAME IT.
SO WE CAN CHAMPION WHAT IS HAPPENING.
I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, REITERATE THE DIRECTORS OF PERSPECTIVE AROUND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THAT'S WHERE WE CUT OUR TEETH.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS US NOT JUST ON THE, THE NATIONAL STAGE, BUT IT WORKS.
SO WHILE WE ADDRESS, 'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE POOR WILL ALWAYS BE AMONGST US WHILE WE ADDRESS THIS GROUP.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THAT WE MOVE THEM THROUGH ALL OF THESE, THIS ENTIRE CONTINUUM TO GET THEM ONE DAY, IDEALLY.
AND SO IF, UM, UM, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION PRIOR TO THE 15TH OR AFTER THE 15TH AGENDA, BUT JUST TO KEEP THE, THE ECOSYSTEM BEFORE US, UM, SO WE CAN ARTICULATE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SUPER HUB, THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
UM, UM, AND I THINK WE'LL GET MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT AROUND THAT WORK IF WE KEEP THAT IN FRONT OF THEM.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND, AND CHAIR THOMAS, I WANNA SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRESSURE ON ME IN MANY WAYS.
UM, TO SAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE CORRECT NARRATIVE AND STORY ON THIS, THIS IS COMPLEX AND YOU'RE GOING TO, EACH OF, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE GONNA WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
'CAUSE UH, UH, OTHER THAN EDUCATION AND SAFETY, YOU HAVE THIS, THIS GETS RIGHT UP THERE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT.
IF IT REQUIRES ANOTHER MEETING, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.
AGAIN, THIS IS ITERATIVE PROCESS.
AS WE CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE HOW THIS FITS INTO THE WHOLE SYSTEM, I DO THINK WE NEED A PAGE.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THE COALITION ABOUT HOW DO YOU SHOW THIS CONTINUUM FINANCIALLY TOGETHER, THE HOUSING PLUS THIS, AND WHAT IS THE REAL COST.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
AND, UH, BOTH MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO THINGS THAT I DEF DEFINITELY WANTED SPEAK TO.
AND I THINK, UM, IF I CAN JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK A BIT OFF OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE, THAT WE'RE, UH, WORKING THROUGH ONE OF 'EM, THE 61 60 THAT'S IN DISTRICT, I, IT'S OFF OF SIX 10 AND LONG.
UM, AND THE ADDITIONAL BEDS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A BRIDGE GOING INTO ULTIMATELY, UH, PERMANENT HOUSING.
UM, AND SO THAT CONVERSATION, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE MORE AND MORE.
UM, I, I THINK OF, UH, THIS SUPER HUB AS A LOCATION WHERE AS I'VE DONE, UH, POINT IN TIME COUNTS, UH, IN THE PAST.
THERE'S A COUPLE, UM, BUT THERE'S NOT A PLACE FOR A COUPLE TO GO TO AND A COUPLE WITH A DOG POSSIBLY OR AN ANIMAL, UM, AND, UH, OR A PET.
AND SO, UM, WHAT THIS SUPER HUB, UM, CAN BE AS FAR AS A BRIDGE TO POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR A BRIDGE TO 61 60, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE BEDS THAT THEY HAVE AT THE APARTMENTS, UM, THAT, THAT FULL CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD.
[01:15:01]
UM, SO THIS LOCATION IS, IS IN DISTRICT.I, BUT I, I'M SENSITIVE TO THE POINT THAT IT'S ALSO, UH, NEIGHBORING, NOT JUST EAST DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO SECOND WARD.
AND SO THE, THE CONVERSATIONS OF WALK IN, WALK OUT, PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BEING COGNIZANT OF THE RESIDENTIAL, ALTHOUGH I THINK THE CLOSEST RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET AND IT'S, UH, LOFT.
UM, MORE SO RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE CITY GAS OR IN EAST DOWNTOWN WHERE WE HAVE MORE, UM, CONDOS MAYBE ABOUT HALF A MILE OR A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, I THINK, UM, MY QUESTION IS, UH, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE POINT IN TIME COUNT FOR THAT IMMEDIATE AREA, UH, KNOWING THAT THERE'S ALREADY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNHOUSED IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA, DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF, OF, OF WHAT THAT MIGHT BE RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW, RIGHT AROUND THE VILLE STATE? I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER.
IT'S DRAMATICALLY REDUCED SINCE WE STARTED OUR INITIATIVE IN THAT AREA.
IN MAY END OF MAY WHEN WE STARTED, UH, WE REDUCED IT PROBABLY ABOUT 70%, 80%.
AND UM, BUT WE STILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF PRESENCE OF STREET HOMELESSNESS OUT THERE.
UM, IT'S EXACERBATED ON WEEKENDS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF, OF, UH, UH, DIFFERENT GROUPS.
SOME FAITH, SOME OTHER THAT COME IN AND DO A LOT OF CHARITABLE FEEDING.
AND IT REALLY DOES DRAW THE CROWD BACK IN EVERY TIME ALONG.
AND YOU SEE THE, YOU KNOW, THE RESULT OF THAT IS, IS A LOT OF TIMES A LOT OF DEBRIS.
YOU KNOW, THAT THAT OCCURS BEHIND AND AROUND THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT ISSUE TOO, BECAUSE WE NEED COLLABORATION.
THIS DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT COLLABORATION FROM EVERYBODY, UH, TO, TO TRULY FIND SUCCESS AND THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE ON THE STREETS.
IF I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER, I COULD PROBABLY GET THAT.
KELLY MAY HAVE THAT KELLY YOUNG MAY BE IN THE ROOM AND HAVE THAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.
SO, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THAT FOR YOU, SIR.
THE INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT NUMBER GOES DOWN AS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN, UH, TO A PLACE AND WRAPPED AROUND WITH SERVICES AND CARE.
SO ACTUALLY TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER, NOT TO SEE IT INCREASE.
SO HISTORICALLY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN USED TO DOWNTOWN EAST, DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN, AND THEN SOME PARTS OF NEAR NORTH SIDE THAT HAS, UH, THE MAJORITY OF UNHOUSED FOLKS, I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ARE ON THIS HORSES HORSESHOE.
UM, HAVE HAVE SHARED AND EXPRESSED THAT IT'S ACTUALLY HAVE GONE PAST SIX 10.
I HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE HOBBY AREA WHERE WE'VE STARTED SEEING MORE MM-HMM
UM, AND OF COURSE THE, THE GREEN LINE INTO MAGNOLIA PARK.
AND WE, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
UM, AS, AS YOU'RE WORKING TO, TO BRING IN FOLKS INTO THIS SUPER HUB, UM, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PHASE, PHASE IN THE SUPPORTER? IS IT GONNA BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE? UH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES JUST IN THAT IMMEDIATE EAST END SECOND WARD, EASTWOOD INTO MAGNOLIA PARK.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ALL OF THE ABOVE.
UH, THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WILL SEEK IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
THERE WILL BE NON-PROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE WORKING IN THIS SPACE, UH, THAT ARE ENGAGING.
AND THEY'LL BE REFERRING PEOPLE THERE.
THERE'LL BE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WILL BE ENGAGING, WHETHER IT'S, UH, AN ENCAMPMENT THAT THEY'RE DECOMMISSIONING OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
UM, WHAT, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
I, I THINK THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE IMMEDIATE AREA AND SOME FROM FURTHER OUT.
AND, AND IN TERMS OF, OF OF, OF FLOW AND DISPLACEMENT AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, WHEN WE GO TO WORK AN AREA, UM, WE, WE, WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEDS TO OFFER THIS WILL GIVE US MORE BEDS TO OFFER AND, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO NOT MOVE THEM, BUT TO LIFT THEM OFF THE STREETS AND INTO THE RIGHT KINDS OF CARE.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR.
I DID A SITE VISIT, UM, SAW THE SPACE.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK.
UM, BUT I STILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
UM, I THINK ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE, I APPRECIATE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR ALCORN RAISING THOSE, THOSE KIND OF RED FLAGS, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
AND ONE THING THAT, UM, AS A STAFFER AND THEN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, RECOGNIZING THAT, UM, UNHOUSED PROGRAMMING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NORMALLY COMES FROM OUR PROPERTY TAX OR SALES TAX THAT USUALLY IS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE SHARED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, I'VE SHARED THIS WITH A FEW FOLKS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, IF THERE'S A LOCAL ENTITY THAT SHOULD BE HELPING DO THE HEAVY LIFTING AS THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, UH, WE JUST WENT THROUGH A CAMPAIGN FOR, YOU KNOW, FLOOD MITIGATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A HALF CENT TAX OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
BUT THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS ARE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AFTER A FEW YEARS AS, AS WE'RE SEEING.
AND TO CONTINUE TO DIG INTO THE TURS DOLLARS IS NOT, IS NOT REALLY THE
[01:20:01]
ROUTE TO GO.AND ONLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAD DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR DECADES, UH, HISTORICALLY, UM, WHETHER IT'S WITH INFRASTRUCTURE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND SIDEWALKS, UM, IF IT'S SOME OF THESE, UH, PUBLIC, PUBLIC, UH, FACILITIES LIKE FIRE STATIONS, UH, POLICE STATIONS, UH, ULTIMATELY THEY TUR SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF CIP PROJECTS.
UM, BECAUSE WE, THE TUR CAN'T DO IT ALL EITHER.
OUR GENERAL FUND CAN'T DO IT ALL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SPEAK TO REACHING OUT TO OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT'S SUSTAINABLE MORE LONG TERM.
AND IF IT IS THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAKING THE LEAD AND THEN WORKING WITH THE HOSPITALS AS WELL, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE A RESPITE PROGRAM LEAVING THE HOSPITALS? I SHARED WITH YOU EARLIER, MY WIFE'S A SOCIAL WORKER AND THE TURNOVER TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE IN AND OUT OUT OF BEDS.
IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE HOSPITALS ARE, ARE PUSHING TOWARDS, BUT THE CARE DOESN'T STOP ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, THEY ULTIMATELY COME BACK INTO, UM, HPD COMING OUT, HFD COMING OUT, AND THEN THE CYCLE CONTINUES.
AND SO IF WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT, UH, A, A, A BETTER SOLUTION, THEN WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, HARRIS COUNTY IS AT THE TABLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND BOTH THINGS YOU SAID, LEMME GO BACK TO, SO THE FIRST PIECE, 225 BEDS, 240 BEDS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM UNLESS THERE'S EXITS.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT EXITS TO HOUSING, BUT ALSO EXIT TO OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR THEIR PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IN ONE PLACE.
WHO'S THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR OPEN DOOR MISSION? WHO'S THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER? UM, WHO'S THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR STAR OF HOPES WOMEN'S SHELTER? I MEAN, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL, WILL WORKS, BUT IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF THOSE.
'CAUSE THIS IS JUST, UH, THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE TOTAL, BUT IF IT WORKS, THERE'LL BE LOTS OF MOVEMENT THERE.
UH, THE SECOND THING IS ABOUT FUNDING.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT T FUNDING.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT GENERAL FUNDING.
UM, I, I, I, I AM, I THINK THIS IS STILL THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT PUTS US IN A POSITION TO GET STATE FUNDING WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
IT PUTS US IN A POSITION TO GET MORE HEALTHCARE FUNDING WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL TO OUR PARTNERS AT HARRIS CENTER 'CAUSE THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THAT.
UM, BUT ALONG THE WAY WE, HAVING THIS FACILITY SHOULD BE, MAKE IT EASIER AND BETTER TO GET THIS OTHER FUNDING.
BUT I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
I DO THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, I FORGET THE STUDY, MIKE, MAYBE YOU CAN CORRECT ME.
BUT THE LAST STUDY CONDUCTED THE AVERAGE COST OF A PERSON.
THIS GOES TO WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR, LIVING ON OUR STREETS IS ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO THE TAXPAYER RIGHT HERE.
SO, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, THAT THAT CONTINUAL CYCLE THAT YOU DESCRIBED, UH, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS, IN AND OUT OF THE JAILS, IN AND OUT OF, OF OTHER FACILITIES SO MUCH AND REQUIRE SO MUCH, THERE'S A HUGE COST TO THAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE HUMANS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE COST, GETTING THEM OFF THE STREETS AND GETTING THEM ONTO A BETTER LIFE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, SAVES EVERYBODY, BUT ALSO SAVES TAX MONEY.
SO IT'S A BETTER LONG-TERM SOLUTION THAN JUST LEAVING THEM ON THE STREETS.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
THANK YOU GENTLEMAN FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, JUST HAD A COUPLE OF UM, UH, I GUESS MORE STATEMENTS THAN QUESTIONS.
BUT THIS SUBJECT MATTER, WE ALL KNOW, IS A HEAVY LIFT FOR THE CITY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE DOLLARS, A LOT OF THEM AND THE SORT AND OF COURSE THE BUY-IN FROM OTHER ENTITIES.
SO THE 16 MILLION, UM, COST FOR THE FACILITY, BUT SHARE, WAS THAT DECISION MADE KIND OF BASED UPON THE ABILITY THAT THIS FACILITY HAD PREVIOUSLY FOR IT ITS ABILITY TO HOUSE 225 TO 40? BECAUSE YOU DID SPEAK OF OTHER ENTITIES THAT WERE IN THERE PRIOR TO, CORRECT.
SO DID YOU TAKE THAT, I'M ASSUMING, I DON'T WANT TO JUST MAKE IT ALL ASSUMPTION, BUT TO, TO MAKE THE DECISION TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL.
WAS THAT ONE OF YOUR MAJOR? VERY MUCH SO.
ONE IS THAT, THAT ONE TIME THEY HAD OVER
[01:25:01]
240 PEOPLE THERE AND LET ME JUST, AND WAS NOT A PROBLEM TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.SO WE DIDN'T HEAR A WORD ABOUT THAT BEING A PROBLEM TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT FACILITY, BUT I WOULD SAY YES, WE LOOKED AT THAT AND WE SAID, IF YOU'RE GONNA CHOOSE A FACILITY, THIS IS THE, AGAIN, QUICKEST TO GET INTO MM-HMM
LEASE COSTS THAT WE THINK WE CAN DO IT.
THE OTHER COSTS WERE VERY HIGH.
REMEMBER Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT HAVEN FOR HOPE THAT WAS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS MM-HMM
THAT'S A BIGGER FACILITY, BUT IT WAS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS MM-HMM
UM, SO WE FELT LIKE THIS WAS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR US TO BEGIN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
WELL, TO DO, TO DO SOMETHING RATHER THAN DOING NOTHING IS ALWAYS A BIG CHALLENGE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LET'S FACE IT, WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE CITY AS MOST CITIES DO, BUT WE CAN BE COMFORTABLE AND PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN THE CITY THAT HAS DONE BETTER THAN OTHER CITIES NATIONALLY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HOUSTONIANS AND THE OTHER COLLEGE EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF.
BUT WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE AN ASK, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DOLLARS.
NOW, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S 28.
UH, WAS IT, UH, THE APARTMENTS 28 APARTMENTS AS PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM PROCESS? UH, CAN I ASK ABOUT THAT? CAN YOU COME UP PLEASE, KENA? I GOT IT.
UM, UH, KENA PACE OF THE HARRIS CENTER IS ONE OF OUR, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE, Y'ALL HEARD ME TALK ABOUT WAYNE YOUNG, WHO FROM WHOM SHE WORKS IS A, UH, SHOULD BE A HERO.
AND IF WE HAVE, IF WE GIVE OUT CITY, IF WE GIVE OUT CITY AWARDS, HE AND KEENA SHOULD GET THAT.
SO, UH, KENO, IF YOU'LL SPEAK ABOUT THE 20TH SURE.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE GRAND OPENING.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO ATTEND.
UM, AND THE CITY AND, UM, WAS A HUGE, HUGE SPONSOR, BUT I THINK THE APARTMENTS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING, UM, WILL BE THE RIBBON CUTTING NEXT MONDAY.
UM, THAT WILL HOUSE 26 INDIVIDUALS, UM, INDEPENDENT UNITS.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY PART OF THE 61 60 CAMPUS MM-HMM
UM, SO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PROVEN AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AND SUCCESS AND IT'S THEIR NATURAL NEXT STEP.
LOTS OF, UM, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND WE HAVEN'T HOUSED OUR FIRST PERSON YET, BUT WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT WE THINK WOULD BE VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THERE'S A VERY HEAVY EMPLOYMENT COMPONENT, WHICH IS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM.
OVER 50% HAVE GOTTEN, UM, PART-TIME OR EMPLOYMENT, UM, THAT SETS PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS.
I, FOR THIS, UM, CONVERSATION, IT WAS PROBABLY MORE OF A, HEY, PLEASE COME SEE US, COME SEE THE APARTMENTS.
UM, MONDAY WOULD BE A GREAT MODEL TO, TO REPLICATE AND THEN TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE RICH SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ON SITE AND CAMPUS FROM AN INTEGRATED CARE STANDPOINT.
UM, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT NEED A LIGHT TOUCH AND MINIMAL SERVICES.
AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL NEED FULL WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS, PRIMARY CARE, UM, HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE, WHICH I THINK THAT THE LARGER FACILITY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
IT BROUGHT YOU, I WANT TO PASS IT BACK, BUT I, LET ME JUST ADD HARRIS TO, REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THIS HARRIS CENTER STEPS FORWARD ON HOMELESSNESS, BUT THEY SERVE 90,000 PEOPLE A YEAR.
I MEAN, THIS IS A, THIS, THIS IS THE BEST SECRET WE EVER HAD IN HOUSTON.
BUT THAT, THAT, THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TOO.
AND, UH, MAY I ADD, AS I SAID TO THIS PROCESS AND ONE OTHER THING THAT I DO WANT TO, UM, INDICATE THAT I'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED THAT MORE PEOPLE GIVING 'CAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH HOMELESS IS A, IS A, A CITYWIDE, UH, WHETHER YOU ARE, UM, NON-FOR-PROFITS, BUSINESSES AND ALL.
AND THE MORE WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, PHILANTHROPISTS WHO CAN GIVE THEIR DOLLARS TO IT, UH, I'VE ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY ONE, UH, AND I'VE MENTIONED PART OF IT TO BROTHER SADDLE WHITE OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTED TO HOST A LARGE EVENT TO GIVE TO THIS PROCESS.
AND I THINK MORE OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UH, AS COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE COULD HELP TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO GIVE TO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A PART THAT WE COULD DO, UM, MORE THAN ANYTHING.
'CAUSE IT'S, THIS IS A BIG ASK, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S ALSO
[01:30:01]
A BIG CHALLENGE, EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT A LIMITED DOLLAR TO WHAT THIS DOES AND HOW THE COUNTER EFFECT IT CAN HAVE ON OUR CITY.BUT TO DO NOTHING, IT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BENEFIT US AT ALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
UM, WHAT, WHAT IS OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE ON THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS WE HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AND MIDTOWN AREAS? I COULD ANSWER THAT, BUT I THINK I WILL DEFER TO, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 300 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DID SMALLER COUNT THAT ARE COMING INTO HOMELESS.
ALRIGHT, SO, UH, JUST TO TO RESTATE, UH, CURRENTLY WE ESTIMATE ABOUT 111 HOMELESS DOWNTOWN IN MIDTOWN A YEAR AGO, PROBABLY ON THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT WE COUNTED BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN IS THE FEEDING GROUND AND PEOPLE BEING RELEASED AND DOWNTOWN.
SO THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT WE KNOW HAD 300 TOTAL OVER THE HOUSE.
AND IT WILL FLUCTUATE DAY TO DAY, IN OTHER WORDS, DEPENDING ON THE, THE FEEDING.
UM, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, WHAT THE SECURITY SETUP AND STAFFING WILL LOOK LIKE? DIRECTOR SATTERWHITE? YES, SIR.
SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY THERE.
THIS IS A CHALLENGING POPULATION AND SO IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE THAN, IS NORMAL, CERTAINLY MORE THAN WHAT IS AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR SOME OF THE OTHERS.
UH, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, I'M RELUCTANT TO GIVE OUT THOSE, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THAT.
BUT JUST IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD HAVE, WE WILL NEED AND WE'LL HAVE PRESENCE AT INTAKE, PRESENCE ON THE FLOOR PRESENCE, UM, IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.
UH, THIS IS, UH, A VERY COMPACT AREA.
UH, BUT THERE ARE STILL POTENTIAL BLIND SPOTS.
SO EVERYWHERE WHERE THAT EXISTS, UH, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF BOTH CAMERA AND ALSO, UM, HUMAN SECURITY RESOURCES ON SITE.
AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE PEACE OFFICER SECURITY OR, I'D SAY A COMBINATION.
THERE'LL BE A COMBINATION OF LIFE, UH, SAFETY OFFICERS, UH, PROBABLY NOT LONG ENFORCEMENT, BUT CERTAINLY TRAINED SECURITY, UH, COUPLED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AGAIN, COUPLED WITH TECHNOLOGY, UH, CAMERAS BEING THE MOST PROMINENT, BUT OTHER TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY.
ALSO, THE OVERALL GOAL BEING IS TO ENSURE EVERYBODY'S SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THINGS CAN BREAK OUT, FIGHTS CAN BREAK OUT.
THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY ON OUR STREETS, UH, COULD HAPPEN THERE.
SO WE WANT TO ENSURE AGAINST THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND, UH, ENSURE THAT THE, THE, THE ATMOSPHERE IS THAT OF YOU'RE SAFE HERE.
UH, HERE, UH, THE IDEA HERE IS TO MAKE YOU BETTER, GET YOU BETTER.
AND, UM, DIRECTOR SAT SATARA WHILE WE'VE GOT YOU, WHEN WE PASSED THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, UH, YES SIR.
A WHILE AGO, UH, IT, IT, UH, PART OF THE PART OF THE PLAN WAS TO RECEIVE A REPORT BACK.
AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO HEAR BACK ON HOW THAT'S GOING SO WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A REPORT FOR YOU AS, AS SOON AS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND, AND MAKE DELIVERY ON THAT.
I THINK THERE WAS A SIX MONTH WRITTEN IN THE CONTRACT, IN THE, UH, THE, THE ORDINANCE CHANGE, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, SOONER THAN THAT, I MADE A COMMITMENT TO GET YOU THAT SOONER.
AND I, I WILL GET THAT FOR YOU.
UH, ON, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS, THE NUM YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S BOTH, UH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, 60% OR SO THAT ARE TAKING OUR HELP.
WELL THAT'S, THAT'S NON-PROFIT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING OUT AND ENGAGING, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING.
203, 204 PEOPLE OFF THE STREET THAT WERE ON THE STREETS BEFORE THIS INITIATIVE IS, IS, IS A GREAT THING.
UM, BUT WE KNOW ALSO THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT HARDER, MORE RESISTANT AND WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THEM.
AND YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW THINGS LIKE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED, NUMBER OF ARRESTS, THOSE HAVE GONE UP.
UH, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH THE POPULATION NOW THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE RESISTANT.
BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOT, WHILE WE DON'T WANT TO WRITE TICKETS AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA MAKE ARRESTS AND A LOT OF THE ARRESTS ARE FOR OTHER OFFENSES, NOT FOR, UH, VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE, BUT FOR POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS OR WARRANTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT NATURE.
EVERY TIME WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY WE, WE BEFORE, UH, THE, EITHER THE HOMELESS COURT OR OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS UNDER JUDGE SANTOS, WE'RE OFFERING THEM HELP.
THIS IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO SAY, HEY, LET'S, LET'S LEAVE THIS LIFE.
[01:35:01]
HERE'S SOME PLACES TO GO.SO WHILE IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, IT DOES GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE TO WORK WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL.
UH, AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY OR WE WILL NEVER SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
SO WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE IN THE QUEUE.
UM, ONE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER HAD TO STEP OUT, BUT HE LEFT THIS QUESTION.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE ONSITE SECURITY THAT WILL BE PROVIDED JUST NOW, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS WONDERING IF SECURITY WILL BE INCREASED FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE, THE PLAN AND, AND AND ASSURANCE TO, UH, EVERYBODY WHO ARE, WHO ARE GONNA BE NEIGHBORS TO THIS FACILITY, UH, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE EXTRA IN SECURITY AND EXTRA LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE.
AND CERTAINLY I WOULD BE WORKING WITH BOTH, UM, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SIX WHO HAVE OVERLAPPING JURISDICTIONS FOR THAT AREA TO, TO ASSIST IN HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL DIRECTIVE PATROLS.
WHAT, WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID AGAIN, IS THE INSTANCE WHERE WE JUST HAVE PEOPLE LORDING IN DIFFERENT PLACES, YOU KNOW, AND, AND NOT, UH, USING THE FACILITIES.
AND EXCEPT FOR A STEP IN, STEP OUT, THIS IS INTENDED TO LIFT PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS INTO A BETTER PLACE.
SO THAT, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE.
I SEE NO OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, UM, DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR.
SO I THINK WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALRIGHT FOLKS, WE'LL START WITH, UH, CHRISTY OR CHRISTIA LINES IF YOU ARE HERE.
HOW ABOUT SCOTT SINGLETON? COME FORWARD, SIR.
UH, GO AHEAD, CHAIRMAN RU THANK YOU.
AND, UH, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, UH, APPRECIATE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I HAD SOMETHING VERY CONCISE AND EXACTLY THREE MINUTES AND I'M NOT GONNA USE THAT.
I AM A RESIDENT AT SET OF GAS PARK IN THE SECOND WARD, LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM, UH, THE FACILITY, WHICH I'M GONNA CALL THE BABY JAIL.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW IT AS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, FROM ITS VERY UNFORTUNATE, UH, TIME PERIOD AS, UH, FUNCTIONING AS THAT, OR ALMOST FUNCTIONING AS THAT.
UM, AND SO I WAS KIND OF MOVED BY A COUPLE OF THINGS IN, UH, THE PRESENTATION HERE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FACILITY'S BEEN OPERATING THERE FOR DECADES, SINCE 1950S.
THE STAR OF HOPE HAD THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER THERE.
AND THE, UH, THE IDEA THAT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK IS KIND OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN FOR WHAT IT'S BEING PROPOSED AS, UH, AT LEAST FROM THE AGENDA ITEM.
UM, THE PLACE IS SURROUNDED BY CONCERTINA WIRE, UM, WHICH GIVES IT A PRETTY IMPOSING VIEW, BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY IN THE SHELTER TO KEEP THE, UH, PEOPLE FORMERLY IN THEIR LIVES OUTSIDE OF IT AND TO, BECAUSE IT WAS LITERALLY A WOMAN'S SHELTER PROTECTING THESE PEOPLE FROM, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IF I WERE, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW OF MY NEIGHBORS, UH, THEIR IDEA ABOUT THE CONCERTINA WIRES LEAVE IT UP, BUT KEEP EVERYBODY INSIDE THE CONCERTINA WIRE BECAUSE THE IDEA THAT THERE'S GONNA BE 24 7 DROP OFF AND PICK UP OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO CAN COME AND GO FREELY OUT OF THIS FACILITY, REALLY IS VERY SCARY TO THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE, OR THEORETICALLY COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR, UH, THE SOCCER STADIUM, UH, FOR THE, UH, SPORTS BAR THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT.
THAT'S VERY BUSY DURING ASTROS GAMES AND SOCCER GAMES.
AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY THAT GOES THROUGH THERE.
AND ANY INCREASE IN PANHANDLING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR THE AREA BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST AREN'T GONNA WANNA COME THERE.
[01:40:01]
A, I THINK, AN IMPEDIMENT, UH, DEPENDING ON HOW THESE SECURITY ISSUES WORK OUT, BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY COMPLICATED.IT'S VERY COMPLICATED TO, TO TRY TO, ON THE ONE HAND HAVE COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, MAKE IT SO THAT, UH, THE POPULATION AT LARGE FEELS COMFORTABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE THE BIG ISSUE FOR, FOR HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT FACILITY.
UM, BUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, AS THE AGENDA ITEM SAID, YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR HOMELESS MEN IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MISSION THAN THE, UH, MISSION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHICH WAS THERE FOR SO LONG.
UH, I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 2004 AND AT THAT TIME THE KIDS FROM THAT FACILITY WENT TO SCHOOL AT RUSS ELEMENTARY RIGHT ACROSS THE PARK FROM ME.
SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH WHATEVER THIS NEW MISSION IS.
I'M ALSO KIND OF, UH, AND IT WAS MENTIONED HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO, UH, PUTTING ANY KIND OF WEIGHT OF FUNDING THIS ON THE TOURS JUST SOUNDS TO ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, SQUEEZING BLOOD FROM A TURNIP 'CAUSE THE TOURS ARE ALL READY.
APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT WITH US, FOR HAVING ME.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE DOMINIC MAZO, FRED.
I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE AGREEMENT, THE TRANSPORTATION CONVERSATION ON, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT THE, THE, THE TRANSIT VEHICLE THAT THIS ONE GROUP IS GONNA BE USING.
I THINK, UH, THEY, THEY, WITH METRO GOING TO PUTTING A NEW FAIR SYSTEM, I, I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE TALKING TO METRO 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA BRING THAT UP MYSELF, BUT THAT THEY, THEY PREEMPTED MY COMMENT.
BUT MY THING IS MAYBE WITH THE NEW FAIR SYSTEM THAT METRO HAS, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THIS VEHICLE TO GET, GET PEOPLE AROUND, BUT MAYBE METRO COULD PROVIDE, UH, OR WORK WITH METRO, MAYBE, UH, METRO SERVICE WOULD BE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
AND MAYBE INSTEAD OF THEM USING THAT BUS, MAYBE THERE COULD BE SOME FUNDING SOMEWHERE.
PARTICULARLY NOW WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE Q CARD COMING, THEY HAVE A Q CARD WHERE THEY CAN, THEY CAN RIDE THE BUS FOR FREE OR FOR REDUCED FARE SO THAT THOSE WHO HAVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AT METRO CANNOT SOLVE, THEY CAN USE THAT VEHICLE.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD THIS IS HAPPENING AND I, I'M WANTING TO GO, GO EVEN FURTHER.
UH, THERE IS ONE FACILITY I'M SEEING AND I'M KIND OF GLAD IT'S HAPPENING.
I THINK THERE IS A FACILITY FOR THE HOMELESS BEING PLACED NEAR THE, UH, BURNETT CA TRANSIT CENTER.
AND AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE HOMELESS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S KINDA LIKE BOTH SIDES OF BOTH SIDES OF THE SAME ISSUE.
UH, I DON'T WANT THESE PLACES BEING LIKE THE, UH, PLACE FOR THE WOMEN THAT'S ON EAST PARKER ROAD.
THAT IS LIKE A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY FROM JENSEN DRIVE.
THAT'S A LONG WALK FOR, FOR A WOMAN TO, IT HAS TO USE A BUS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK I, I THINK WITH ALL OF THIS, UM, THIS NEEDS TO HAVE MR INVOLVED AND ALSO TALK TO, UM, DIRECTOR ANGELA NCH WHEN I WENT DOWN TO THE BASEMENT A COUPLE MINUTES AGO.
AND HE, AND I'VE TALKED TO HIM, I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE BECAUSE OF THE HOLMES ISSUE BEING A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE AS WELL.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A, SOMEBODY FROM METRO, IT COULD BE PONCH, IT COULD BE TOM JASON, IT COULD BE CHIEF KEAN, IT COULD BE SOMEBODY FROM METRO AND IT COULD BE OVER, OVER THE INTERNET.
BUT METRO IS SO INTEGRAL TO THIS HOMELESS SITUATION THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE A SEAT AT LEAST IN THE CAR, IN, IN, IN THE, UH, GALLERY SO THAT THERE IS A METRO QUESTION.
THEY CAN ANSWER IT OR THEY CAN BRING IT TO THE BOARD OR THE PROPER PEOPLE.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.
I'M SENDING IT BACK TO YOU, GEELEN.
[01:45:01]
AND BOBBY, I KNOW YOU HAD A PRESENTATION.DID YOU, UH, DID EVERYBODY GET A COPY? DID EVERYBODY GET A COPY OF IT? THANK YOU.
I ONLY ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, I'M HERE ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION PROPERTY.
UM, THAT IS THE WRONG LOCATION FOR THIS CITY.
UM, IT'S, UH, NEAR THE SOCCER STADIUM.
IT'S NEAR THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE BROWN.
IT'S NEAR THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE BROWN SOUTH.
UM, AND IT'S AN PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AREA AND IT'S UNDERMINING A $2 BILLION INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IN THIS CITY.
THE WORLD CUP'S COMING UP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 500,000 VISITORS OVER 40 DAYS DOWN THERE.
IT'S NOT A PLACE WE WANT A SHELTER.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY IS COMING, AND THEN WHEN ALL THAT'S OVER, THE SHELTER WILL STILL BE THERE.
UM, ARE WE SHOWCASING HOMELESSNESS, HOUSTON'S HOMELESSNESS TO THE WORLD? UH, IT'S THE WRONG PRICE.
WE, THEY GOT ONE BUYER FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR SALE THAT HAD A $10 MILLION APPRAISAL ON IT.
UM, NOBODY WANTED TO BUY THE PROPERTY.
UH, AND WE'RE PAYING FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS, UH, NO PRIVATE INVESTOR.
I'M A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INVESTOR.
UM, $7 MILLION OR SO IN RENOVATIONS.
THEY'RE PAYING $60,000 PER BED.
UH, MR. UM, UH, NICHOLS CALLED IT A SUPER HUB.
IF IT'S A SUPER HUB, WHY AREN'T WE SERVING THE NEEDS OF ALL THE HOMELESS, NOT JUST 250 OF THEM AT 60,000 AT A PER BED AT A CAPITAL COST AND 90,000 AT A BED IN A RE, IN A, AT A RENOVATION COST AND $50,000 DOLLARS PER PERSON PER YEAR IN AN OPERATING COST.
UH, THE RECENT COUNTS THAT WE HAVE, 3000 HOMELESS.
YOU ALL SEEM TO BE FOLKS FIXATED ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
THEIR HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE THERE.
1960 IS OVERRUN WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE.
OKAY? THIS IS A HOUSING FIRST SOLUTION TO A PEOPLE FIRST PROBLEM AND IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.
AND ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS SPEND AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY TO SERVE 250 HOMELESS PEOPLE.
NOT TO MENTION THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BE HANGING OUTSIDE OF THERE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET IN.
UH, IT, IT, IT, IT IS JUST ANOTHER FAILED HOUSING FIRST APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, HOUSTON, BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, I CAN TELL YOU AS A PHILANTHROPIST, AS A DONOR, UM, THE, THE, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS TIRED OF GIVING ALL THESE GROUPS MONEY TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS AND NOT SEEING A SOLUTION.
MR. NICHOLS TALKS ABOUT THIS WILL BE AN INTAKE PLACE AND THEN THE MONEY WILL GO OUT TO THESE GROUPS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GONNA QUIT GIVING MONEY FOR HOUSING FIRST.
UM, WE NEED TO, UH, WE NEED TO NUMBER ONE, POSTPONE THIS VOTE OR KILL THIS DEAL.
UM, I CAN, I CAN JUST, I CAN GO ON AND ON RELATIVE TO ALL THE HOLES IN THIS PROJECT, BUT, UM, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES, NOT GETTING 'EM OFF THE STREETS.
UM, WE THINK THE, UH, UH, HAVEN FOR HOPE MODEL IN SAN ANTONIO AT 20,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR IS AN IDEAL MODEL.
THEY CAN LIVE IN THEIR SHELTER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
UH, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BE BUYING REAL ESTATE AT TOP DOLLAR.
WE CAN BUY OFFICE BUILDINGS, VACANT OFFICE BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE CITY FOR $20 A FOOT.
AND WE'VE GOT YOUR PRESENTATION, SO THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD DON HOOPER, 20 YEAR RESIDENT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY AND I, AND I GET WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO.
BUT, UM, DD JULIAN PROBABLY KNOWS, LARRY PROBABLY KNOWS YOU GUYS, GUYS REMEMBER LUCKY WARD, ANYBODY? LUCKY WARD WAS A SERIAL MURDER, SERIAL KILLER WHO WAS HOMELESS.
AND HE WANDERED DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, I THINK FOR FIVE OR SIX
[01:50:01]
YEARS BEFORE HE IS FINALLY CAUGHT.AND HE MURDERED EIGHT PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE.
LAST ONE, HE THREW DOWN THE CO CATHEDRAL STA STAIRWELL.
AND, UM, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW MANY MURDERERS ARE GONNA BE HOUSED IN THIS FACILITY AND WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? ARE THEY USED TO RESIDENTS? ARE PEOPLE DROPPING THEM OFF FROM VERY DANGEROUS CRIMINALS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE HERE IN HOUSTON? WHY, WHY ARE THE HOUSTON TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR ALL THIS? AND AGAIN, I'VE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN MY FAIR SHARE OF CRIME MURDERERS.
MY WIFE WORKED WITH JULIAN AT THE DA'S OFFICE AND I IMPLORE YOU TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF CHECKS AND BA UH, SYSTEMS HERE.
IF SOMEBODY'S WANTING TO KNOW WHO'S IN THIS FACILITY, IT'S NOT HIDING THEM.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HOUSING MURDERERS, RAPISTS, SEX OFFENDERS, AND THEY COMMIT A CRIME LOCALLY AND THEY'RE BEING HOUSED THERE, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE.
AND WE, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THERE PROBABLY TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT I, I DIDN'T HEAR THE FIRST PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, BUT THOSE ARE QUESTIONS FROM SOMEBODY THAT LIVES VERY CLOSE TO THIS FACILITY.
I HAVE BUSINESSES HERE AND UH, MY WIFE HAS A BUSINESS HERE, BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHO IS GOING INTO THIS FACILITY.
AND YOU CAN CHECK YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS.
HECK, I COULD GET SOMEBODY TO RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ANY, ANYBODY GOING IN THERE IN THE CRIMINAL HISTORY, ANYBODY GOING INTO THIS FACILITY.
CRIME OCCURS AROUND DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
WE CAN, YOU KNOW, START WITH THE BASIS OF THE KNOWLEDGE WHO'S IN WHAT FACILITY AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO CONTROL IT.
NOW, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S SAFE, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS OF THIS FACILITY.
NOBODY NEEDS TO BE MURDERED BY SOMEBODY ELSE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE HOMELESS.
YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS.
AND, UM, I'M NOT, HOW MANY CAPITAL MURDER DEFENDANTS DO WE HAVE FROM OUR STREETS RIGHT NOW? 1500.
THAT DIDN'T USED TO BE THAT WAY.
SO WE'VE GOT 1500 MURDERERS RUNNING AROUND HARRIS COUNTY, 1500.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHO WE PUTTING IN THESE FACILITIES AND DO THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THE FOLKS WE HAVE LISTED, UH, TO SPEAK.
HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE HERE AND HAVEN'T SIGNED UP AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY AT THIS POINT.
UH, IS ANYONE HERE? OKAY, COME FORWARD.
UM, THIS WAS JUST RECENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY WHERE HOSPITALS ARE DROPPING PEOPLE OFF IF THEY'RE RELEASED, UM, UNDER BRIDGES.
BASICALLY THIS WAS CLOSE TO THE STAR OF HOPE, UM, RIGHT THERE.
AND THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT IS HOMELESS TO MAYBE HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND BE STABILIZED.
I UNDERSTAND NOT ANYBODY WANTING THIS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S KINDA LIKE THE GREYHOUND SITUATION THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH.
BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WHERE AND HOW, I DON'T KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IS RIGHT WITH, THERE ARE PHILANTHR IN THE CITY THAT ARE WANTING TO DONATE AND TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
AND IF WE TOGETHER AS A CITY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING, WE CAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY DIG INTO THE TS MONEY, WHICH BY THE WAY, THEY HAVE LOTS OF MONEY.
SO WHEN SOMEONE SAID THE TURS DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE IT.
BUT ANYWAY, WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER GUYS.
IF WE ALL PUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, WHO HADN'T SIGNED UP YET?
[01:55:02]
ALRIGHT, SEEING NO ONE, UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, ADJOURN THIS MEETING SINCE UH, WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE AGENDA, BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.