[00:00:18]
WELCOME THIS MORNING TO THE REVEALING OF A HOUSTON HOMELESS LIVING CENTER.
SO BADLY NEEDED FOR QUITE FRANKLY, MANY YEARS.
I'M SO PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS, HOUSTON PLUS, CHRIS LARSON.
MAN, IT MAKES MY DAY TO SEE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR PARTNER HERE 'CAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SECRETARY OF HUD HERE VERY SOON.
THIS WILL BECOME THE MODEL THAT HE'LL CARRY FORWARD TO CARE FOR OUR HOMELESS.
AND ALSO LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PLAN.
IT'S NOT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION, BUT IT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD TO DEAL WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND ALSO TO GO INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT'S PERHAPS CAMPED OUT ACROSS FROM A LIBRARY OR SCHOOL.
MANY ARE IN SUCH CONDITION, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THAT CONDITION.
SO NOW WE HAVE A LOCATION TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, FOOD, CLOTHING, CLEANLINESS, CERTAINLY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I JUST HERE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK AT THIS OUTSTANDING FACILITY, WALK-IN CONDITION.
COUNCILMAN CARTER BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION SIX MONTHS AGO.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING DAILY AND THIS IS JUST A STEP, IT'S A BEGINNING.
WE'VE GOT OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS, ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR THE HOMELESS.
ANYONE WANT TO GUESS? HOW MANY CALLS HPD MADE DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS IN A GIVEN MONTH OVER AT 700 PEOPLE TO ASSIST THEM AND PROVIDE SAFETY FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE HOMELESS.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CALL FOR EMS SERVICES.
SO THERE ARE MANY REASONS, MANY STAKEHOLDERS THAT WANNA CELEBRATE TODAY THAT WE'RE LIVING OUT OUR VISION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR OFFICE WHEN I WAS ASKED BY HOUSTONIANS TO LEAD THE LEGISLATURE.
NUMBER ONE ON MY LIST, COUNCILMAN DAVIS WAS THE HOMELESS ISSUE HAS TO BE HANDLED PROPERLY.
WE'RE BUILDING ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WE ALL HAVE THE PURPOSE OF GETTING PEOPLE IN PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH A HOUSING AUTHORITY, HOUSING DEPARTMENT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WORKED DAILY ON.
THERE'S BEEN SOME INEFFICIENCIES.
THERE'S BEEN SOME ABUSES WE COULD WALK TO MIDDLE STREET THIS MORNING.
400 UNITS BUILT IN A VERY CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING.
SO AS WE ACCOMPLISH MORE WORKING WITH OUR TOURS, OUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, HARRIS HEALTH HARRIS CENTER, WAYNE YOUNG, IS GOING TO EXPLORE OPERATING THIS.
HE ALREADY RUNS SUCCESSFUL RESIDENTIAL A DIVERSION PROGRAM.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
YES, WE STARTED IN CENTRAL HOUSTON, BUT WE'RE GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE HOT TEAM OUT OF HPD IS GONNA ASSIST US IN SAFELY GETTING THOSE.
WE DON'T BREAK UP AN ENCAMPMENT OR INTERVENE IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.
NAVIGATION CENTER, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[00:05:01]
I'LL MENTION AGAIN, THE COUNTY, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE NONPROFITS.I WISH, I WISH I COULD DO A TOUR AND I, I CERTAINLY AM URGING NONPROFITS COME SEE WHAT, WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T CARE WHO GETS CREDIT, WE JUST WANT IT DONE.
SO THIS MORNING WE'RE SHARING THIS INFORMATION.
MIKE SATTERWHITE, LARRY SATTERWHITE, MIKE NICHOLS, HOUSTON FIRE, HPD.
I WISH Y'ALL WOULD WALK OR DRIVE BACK UNDER 59 BETWEEN HERE AND THE STADIUM.
WE WORKED WITH FISH AND LOAVES TO RELOCATE, CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER LOCATION.
HOW MANY OF US HAVE GONE TO AN ASTRO GAME OR DYNAMO AND WATCH PEOPLE HAVE TO STEP OVER THE HOMELESS? IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE HOMELESS, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE FANS AND TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD HARM THIS COMMUNITY IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU WILL NOTICE IS THE PRIORITY.
THE TWO CHIEFS ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND THE HOMELESS.
WERE ALREADY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE PROVIDING FOR NOW AND WE'RE GONNA IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.
SO TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR HOUSTON.
ALL GREAT CITIES, MAJOR CITIES I SHOULD SAY HAVE CHALLENGES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
AND BEFORE I CALL UP A MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS, LEMME JUST SAY MOST MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA THIS MORNING ARE IN TURMOIL, DISTURBANCES IN THE STREET, MAJOR PUBLIC FALLOUTS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IN HOUSTON TODAY? WE'RE OPENING A LIVING CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND WE'RE DOING IT THROUGH COLLABORATION.
WE'RE DOING IT EFFICIENT AND MOSTLY WE'RE DOING HUMANELY.
UH, MIKE WAS RETIRED FROM THE HOMELESS COALITION.
CAN YOU THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO SPEAK FIRST? HE'S THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYONE HERE.
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUTTA RETIREMENT.
YOU GIVE THIS PROJECT SUCH CREDIBILITY BECAUSE YOU'RE MR. FIX HOMELESS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I, I WISH I COULD JUST FIX HOMELESSNESS.
UM, IT IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ITS MOST DIFFICULT JOB.
AND I TOLD SOMEBODY THIS MORNING IS THE REASON I DO THIS IS BECAUSE WE DO HARD STUFF.
THIS IS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 3000 PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE EITHER IN TEMPORARY OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR SLEEPING ON THE STREET.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES WITH OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY, THEY'RE JUST UNCOMFORTABLE HAVING THESE PEOPLE SUFFER.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE PROGRAM.
AND I WANT TO SAY THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN BUILT OUT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, PLANNING ON IT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN A PLAN.
UH, THE REASON WE MOVE QUICKLY ON THIS FACILITY IS BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE INTO IT.
AND IT IS IN MOVE IN CONDITION.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO DO IT.
WE THINK WE CAN BE OPENED UP CLEARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
WE THINK WE CAN HAVE AN OUTSTANDING OPERATOR RUNNING THIS WHO'S AN EXPERT IN BOTH HOUSING PEOPLE TEMPORARILY AND TRANSITIONALLY AND IN THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE WHOLE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM'S IMPORTANT.
AND THE LAST THING I WANNA LEAVE THIS GROUP IS THIS IS PART OF THE CONTINUUM.
THE CONTINUUM THAT'S BEEN THERE THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED, WHICH IS THAT MOVING PEOPLE FROM THE STREET TO THE RIGHT SERVICES.
AND FOR THE MAJORITY, THE GREAT MAJORITY, THAT 80% WHO CAN MOVE INTO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THAT'S GONNA BE THERE FOR THEM.
AND THE SUCCESS WILL BE HAVING THE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH HERE.
AND THEN THE BACK DOOR, THE EXIT, WHICH IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[00:10:01]
TRUST THIS, THAT, THAT IS THE PLAN AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.AND LARRY SATTERWHITE HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT, PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY, MANAGING AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I MADE HIM MY HOMELAND SECURITY BECAUSE HE HAS THE EXPERTISE.
BUT ABOUT THE SECOND DAY ON THE JOB, HE SAID, I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU AND MIKE ON THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE.
BRING MY EXPERIENCE, PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY WHICH WE SERVE.
HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE.
AND IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT WE ARE LABELED THAT WE WANT TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS.
NO PASSION, COMPASSION AND FIRMNESS IS OUR MOTTO.
AND LARRY, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.
THE CIVILIAN ORDINANCE WAS MODELED AFTER THOSE THAT ARE ACROSS HOUSTON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE JUST BROUGHT IT TO WHAT IS NOW BECOMING A VERY LARGE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
OUR WALKABILITY, A CIVILIAN ORDINANCE, WAS REALLY MODELED AFTER SOME OF THE FIRST ORDINANCES THAT WE PUT ON THE BOOKS AFTER I GOT THERE.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND MAYOR FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED, VERY COMPLICATED CHALLENGE.
AND IT'S FACING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, HOMELESSNESS IS UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND, UM, AND I, I CONSIDER IT TO BE A NATIONAL CRISIS.
IT'S SO BAD, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SOLVE.
AND IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST MAJOR CITY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, 35 YEARS, 34 ON HPDC, BEING OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, SEEING, SEEING PEOPLE SUFFERING.
AND EVERY YEAR BEING CALLED OUT TO SCENES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN A TATTERED BLANKET IN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS OF, OF THE SAME CLOTHING AND ALL THE, AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.
THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS ON THE STREET, THE, UH, THE CARNAGE THAT OCCURS, THE IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, ON PARKS AND ON ON ON NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE AFRAID TO LET THEIR KIDS OUT BECAUSE OF, OF WHAT THEY'RE SEEING OUT THERE.
AND IT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SOLVE AND WE CAN, PUBLIC SAFETY WILL ALWAYS BE NUMBER ONE.
AND I CONSIDER THIS A HIGH, A PRIMARY PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE WE EVEN HAVE VIOLENCE TO THE POINT OF MURDER.
AND WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE STATISTICS ON THAT.
THIS LOCATION GIVES US THE CHANCE TO BRING PEOPLE IN OFF THE STREET.
AND PRIMARILY IT'S GONNA BE STARTING MOSTLY WITH THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA TO BRING THEM IN FROM THE STREETS.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO TWO BLOCKS IN ANY DIRECTION AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE STRUNG OUT, LAID OUT ON THE GROUND, HOMELESS.
WE WANNA MOVE THEM TO A BETTER PLACE.
WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY OF COMPASSION AND CARE.
UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO COUPLE THAT WITH FIRMNESS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SAY NO.
I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHAT YOU ALLOW, YOU ENCOURAGE, IF WE ALLOW HOMELESSNESS TO CONTINUE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR CITY LIKE IT HAS IN OTHERS.
SO WE DO NEED TO INTERRUPT THAT.
IT'S ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S A TRAGIC LIFE WITH A TRAGIC END.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE ALL HEADED.
SO THIS IS A CHANCE TO BRING THEM UP.
IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO GO AND TELL PEOPLE, HEY, WE HAVE A BED FOR YOU.
WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU TO GO RIGHT HERE WHERE WE CAN START DOING SERVICES.
WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S ALREADY SAID, WE HAVE HARRIS CENTER REPRESENTED HERE.
WE HAVE UT HEALTH CENTER HERE, UH, REPRESENTED HERE.
WE HAVE HARRIS HEALTH REPRESENTED HERE.
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM THE KIND OF CARE THAT NO OTHER FACILITY IN THE CITY OFFERS.
AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF 'EM RIGHT HERE AS WE GRADUATE THEM UP AND HOPEFULLY TO LIVING A QUALITY LIFE AGAIN, A CHANCE TO THRIVE, A CHANCE TO HAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO WHEN THEY'RE LIVING ON THE STREETS AND BEGGING FOR FOOD.
THIS IS A HUGE CHANGE AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THAT.
WE WILL NEED MORE AND WE DO NEED SUPPORT.
BUT THIS IS A HUGE STEP AND I APPLAUD THE MAYOR AND ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON.
LET ME MENTION, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO WIN OVER THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THE CHIEF AND I SATELLITE WERE RIDING DURING THE FREEZE.
SAW A LADY AT TWO IN THE MORNING AT A BUS STOP AT ALABAMA AND SHEPHERD.
[00:15:01]
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO A SHELTER.SHE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IN A SHELTER.
OF COURSE, BEING MYSELF, I SAID, WHAT IF WE TOLD YOU YOU HAVE TO GO? THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER.
BUT WE'RE GONNA WORK THE HOMELESS COALITION TO LET 'EM KNOW, HERE IS A SAFE HAVEN.
THIS IS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
GWEN TILLERSON, OFFICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL EXPERTISE.
THIS IS BEING PAID FOR WITH A COALITION OF THE TARS CITY, THE HOMELESS COALITION, OTHER RESOURCES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SHOW THE DIVERSE SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN THIS.
AND I'M GONNA CALL EACH OF THEM UP BECAUSE THEY'RE SPECIAL.
THEY BRING THEIR OWN SPECIALTIES.
AND THE CHAIR OF HOUSING, TIFFANY THOMAS, IS AN EXPERT AND PROVIDING HOUSING, BEING CREATIVE, BEING TRANSPARENT.
AND CHAIRWOMAN THOMAS, IF YOU'LL COME, LET US KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, VICE CHAIR DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
THANKS FOR HAVING US ON THE EAST SIDE.
I CAME ALL THE WAY FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE EAST SIDE, SO YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UM, LET ME SAY AS HOUSING CHAIR, UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, HOMELESSNESS IS A HOUSING ISSUE, NUMBER ONE.
UH, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE MUST SERVE WITH THIS CENTER, UH, THEY'RE NOT READY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
UM, THE CITY HAS MADE A SERIES OF RIGHT TURNS.
I GET THE BENEFIT OF WITNESSING THIS EVERY DAY.
UM, OVER THE YEARS, WE STARTED OUT WITH HOMELESS VETERANS.
IN 2011, UH, WE MADE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN WITH ADOPTING A THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE SOBRIETY CENTER.
WE MADE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN AT THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC, DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY, UH, REDUCING HOMELESSNESS MORE THAN ANY MAJOR CITY.
DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WE MADE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN WITH THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
AND SO WHAT'S BEFORE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY FOR A VOTE IS A OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEAST OF THESE.
I WANNA PUNCTUATE MY COMMENTS IN MY SENTIMENTS WITH HOUSTON STRONG.
EVERY TIME THERE'S A NATURAL CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE RESPOND TO OUR NEIGHBORS REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, CREED, FAITH OR INCOME.
IF THEY'VE LOST THEIR SHELTER, FOOD, MEDICINE, WE RESPOND.
MANY OF US HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MOVING ON FROM THAT NATURAL EMERGENCY.
BUT WHAT IF I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT INDIVIDUALS ON OUR STREET ARE IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF EMERGENCY? WHAT IF I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE CITY, THAT THE PRECIPICE OF AN EMERGENCY, IF WE DO NOT INTERJECT TODAY WITH THIS POPULATION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING BECAUSE HOUSTON DOES THE HARD THINGS.
AS DIRECTOR NICHOLS MENTIONED, WE DO HARD THINGS.
UH, OUR HOUSING CONTINUUM AROUND HOMELESSNESS IS A NATIONAL MODEL.
AND NOT JUST FOR THE TALKING POINTS, BUT FOR THE RESULTS.
AND SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO ON WEDNESDAY IS CONTINUE TO DO THE HARD THINGS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO HIM, HE'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, DIRECTOR NICHOLS, AND OF COURSE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING WITH COMMUNITY.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENS, ISOLATED OF YOU.
UM, AS INFORMATION CONTINUES TO COME UP, WE WILL PERFECT THIS MODEL AS IF IT'S A PILOT AND IT'S AN EXPANSION OF WHAT ALREADY EXISTS.
SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT ARE IN COMMUNITY, THAT ARE REFERRING TO OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS AS THOSE PEOPLE TO RECONSIDER.
AND MANY OF THEM ARE, UM, LIVING IN BODIES THAT ARE BRUISED, LIVING IN BODIES THAT NEED TREATMENT, HAVING MENTAL EXPERIENCES THAT NEED HELP.
AND WE HAVE THE PARTNERS AT THE TABLE TO ASSIST THEM SO THAT WHEN WE ALL TURN THE PAGE FROM THIS ITEM AND THIS INITIATIVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO POINT BACK TO THIS MOR MOMENT IN TIME AS A SUCCESS STORY WHEN WE CAN PUT THEM IN THE NAVIGATION CENTER, ASSIGN THEM A CASE MANAGER, GET THEM JOB TRAINING, AND THEN RETURN THEM TO THE LIFE IN THE CITY.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
I'M SU UH, EXCITED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THIS IS.
AND LET ME STEP TO THE SIDE AS YOU CALL UP ANOTHER COLLEAGUE.
BUT THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY.
HOUSTON IS SUCH A PHILANTHROPIC CITY, AND WE DO WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE THAT GRIT AND THAT COLLECTIVE SPIRIT OF GETTING IT DONE.
BUT HOUSTON'S A NATIONAL CITY AND PEOPLE LOOK TO US AND THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LOOK TO US.
SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO MATCH YOUR MONEY WITH OUR MISSION IN THIS CITY, THIS IS AN INVITATION TO JOIN
[00:20:01]
WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THIS CENTER.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN AFFIRMATIVE ON WEDNESDAY.
AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WILL JOIN ME AS WELL.
THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN THOMAS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR ASSESSMENT.
AND HOUSTON IS A BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND I THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GOING FORWARD.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING THROUGH TRANSFORMATION.
WE'VE DISCUSSED IT IN COUNCIL RECENTLY WITH TECH STOCKS, ACTIVITIES WITH THE RETAIL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEY HAVE A BOLD PUBLIC SERVANT REPRESENTING THEM ON COUNCIL.
HE GREW UP IN HIS COMMUNITY, AND HE HAS BECOME A REAL DYNAMIC ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN HE SPEAKS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LISTEN, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, WOULD YOU COME ADDRESS US PLEASE? AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UH, BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
AND I WANNA, UH, THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR PAINTING THE WITHIN THE LINES, RIGHT? THIS IS TO HUMANITY, TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, AS SOMEONE THAT WAS BORN NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE, UH, IN THE EAST END, AND WE THINK OF AN OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY, DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN HAS CARRIED THE BURDEN OF THOSE UNHOUSED COMMUNITIES.
UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS MEETING THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
AND SO THIS FACILITY PLAYS A DI UH, A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE AS, UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLAS SAID, AND LARRY AWA SAID, THEY'RE LITERALLY BLOCKS AWAY FROM THIS FACILITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, UM, THAT THE CITY IS BEHIND THIS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE START IDENTIFYING THESE RESOURCES AND THOSE PARTNERS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT WE ALSO SEE THE LONG-TERM VISION OF WHAT HOUSTON CAN BE.
UM, I STAND FIRMLY WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT THINK OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AS NOT OUR NEIGHBORS.
QUITE FRANKLY, AS WE START MOVING MORE THE TO THE EAST END, WE KNOW THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST IN THE EAST END, BUT IN THE SOUTHWEST, IN THE WEST SIDE AND THE NORTH SIDE.
AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO PUSH, PUSH FORWARD THROUGH A SOLUTION, A SOLUTION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FOLKS AT THE TABLE.
AND I AM COMMITTED TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE EAST END, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE NORTH SIDE OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA ALWAYS HAVE YOU AT THE TABLE AS WE CONTINUE TO MODIFY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE AT THIS LOCATION.
AS WE THINK OF THOSE THAT ARE REALLY THE HARDEST TO HOUSE NOW.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR.
EVERY, ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE AT THE TABLE, UH, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE IN HOMES, BUT THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED AS PART OF HOUSTONIANS.
SEE DR. TRAN HERE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEW DIRECTOR.
I MET DR. TRAN WHEN SHE WAS AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR.
AND BEN TOP SEEING HER HAVE A TOUR OF HER SESSION THERE.
TWO IN THE MORNING, SHE WOULD TELL ME, THIS PERSON'S HOMELESS AND I HAVE NOWHERE TO RELEASE HIM TO.
SO SHE'S GONNA BE INVOLVED WITH HER EXPERIENCE AND PASSION AS AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR.
SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY REASONS TO BE EXCITED WITH THE COALITION AND THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT'S GONNA MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.
WE OBVIOUSLY NEED THE FOUNDATIONS, NONPROFITS, WE NEED THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IS AN OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT, SOMEONE THAT I LISTENED TO.
HE'S BUILDING COLLABORATION ACROSS THE CITY WITH THE MINISTER MAYOR'S, MINISTER ALLIANCE ADVISORS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY CALL YOU PASTOR DAVIS OR COUNCIL DAVIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND, UH, COME SHARE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT THIS MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I I WANT TO JUST KIND OF JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON MY CHAIR FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'VE BEEN SITTING THERE NOW FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HER.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HOUSING DIRECTOR AND A LOT FROM ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
OUR CHIEF OF FIRE AND OF POLICE.
NOW I STAND NOT ONLY AS IN AT LARGE WITH ALL OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, BUT I'M A VETERAN.
[00:25:01]
FIRST THINGS WE DID WHEN WE, WHEN I BROUGHT THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR TOGETHER, WE HAD THE MAYOR IN AND ONE OF THE VERY THING WE HAD CHIEF SADDLE WHITE, WE'VE HAD DIRECTOR NICHOLS AND WE'LL HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS COME IN.AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PASTORS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, PASTOR PRESTON WAS THERE AND IT WAS THE HOMELESS.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS FAITH LEADERS OF ALL DENOMINATION, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THIS CITY TO HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE TAKEN CARE OF.
I DON'T HAVE TO REITERATE HOW MANY VETERANS MAYOR DID WE HAVE ON THE STREET? WE HAVE THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN AMERICA, RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND IT IS, IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIND WAYS.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A GIANT STEP 'CAUSE IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.
OUR CHAIR HAD IT RIGHT, JOAQUIN HAD IT RIGHT.
WE'VE GOTTA DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WITHIN OUR FRAMEWORK TO ASSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE TREATED RIGHTLY AS I GO TO MY SEAT, THE STORY MOST OF US KNOW OF THE MAN WHO WAS BEAT ON THE JERICHO ROAD AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT CAME ALONG TO PICK HIM UP.
THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS PUT HIM IN A PLACE TO LIVE, THEN TOOK CARE OF HIS WOUNDS.
SO I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN.
AND FOR ALL OF THE PARTNERS AND THE, THE, THE, THE, THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO GIVE, WE DID A FINANCE, UH, SUPPOSING THE OTHER DAY TO MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WITH THE MONEY.
AND WE GOING TO GO BACK TO THEM TO GET THAT MONEY.
BEFORE I BRING UP OUR LAST SPEAKER, AND MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT, LET ME SPEAK TO SOME CONTACTS THAT ARE NOT HERE THIS MORNING.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMPONENT.
I KNOW FOR A FACT AS PREVIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHAIR IN AUSTIN, THEY ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THEY KNOW IT, I'VE TOLD THEM, BUT WE STILL HAVE A CHALLENGE THERE.
I'LL BE TRAVELING TO AUSTIN, TDCJ.
QUIT RELEASING YOUR PAROLEES TO THE STREETS OF HOUSTON WITHOUT ANY PLAN.
QUIT RELEASING THEM WITHOUT THE PROPER ID.
REMEMBER I SAID, WE'RE GONNA WIN OVER THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
WE WILL AS ASSIST YOU IN GETTING PROPER CREDENTIALS.
I'VE MET PAROLEES AT OUR WARMING CENTERS.
THEY CAN'T BE ACCEPTED ANYWHERE 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T IDENTIFY WHO THEY ARE.
HARRIS COUNTY, QUIT RELEASING YOUR INMATES AT MIDNIGHT.
I'VE BEEN RAISING HELL ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS.
YOU GO OVER THERE AT 12 O'CLOCK ON SAN JAINA, THE GARAGE DOOR'S LIFTED SOME FAMILIES THERE TO PICK UP THEIR LOVED ONES.
MANY ARE NOT WITH NO RESOURCES, NOT A DOLLAR AND NOWHERE TO GO.
YOU KNOW WHY THEY RELEASED AT MIDNIGHT BECAUSE THEY GET CREDIT FOR THE NEXT DAY AT 1201.
AND BECAUSE OF THE OVERCROWDING, THEY RELEASE 'EM TO THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
THEY GO TO METRO TRANSIT LINES WHERE THEY'RE ARRESTED AGAIN FOR TRESPASSING.
WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO THAT POPULATION.
PEOPLE NEED A SECOND CHANCE AND NEED A FIGHTING CHANCE, AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO 'EM RIGHT HERE.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TALK TO THE LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE AND THE COUNTY LEVEL.
DEAL WITH YOUR INMATE POPULATION MORE COMPASSIONATELY.
QUALA CARTER HAS A PASSION TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND I HAVE DRIVEN ACROSS HOUSTON ON A SATURDAY MORNING LOOKING FOR PROPER LOCATIONS, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD CONSTRUCT, REMODEL, PROPER LOCATION, SERVICE CENTER.
AND IT'S A REALLY COMPLEX THINGS.
WE RESPECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GET MISINFORMATION AND THEY'RE GETTING PLENTY ON THIS PROJECT.
BUT TWAH QUIETLY WENT ABOUT HER JOB.
SHE HAS ALL THE CREDENTIALS HAVING RUN THE ASTRO FOUNDATION, WHERE I SAW HER PASSION AND LOVE FOR THE DISADVANTAGE,
[00:30:01]
DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS. CHARLIE CARTER FOUND THIS AND ASKED ME AND OTHERS TO TOUR IT.I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL TAKE TIME TO WALK ITS GROUNDS, HAS CLASSROOMS, IT HAS MEDICAL FACILITY, LAUNDRY, MATS, RECREATIONAL.
IT IS A GREAT BEGINNING, NOT THE LAST STEP.
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS IS IT'S GROWING DUE TO LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DUE TO INFLATION, DUE TO NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
BUT WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
CHRIS LARSON, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOU AND DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS PARTNERING OUR RESOURCES.
THE WORLD CUP LEADERSHIP, FIFA, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CALL US, THE GROWNUP CITY.
WE'RE CALLED THE GROWNUP CITY IN THE EYES OF FIFA BECAUSE OF OUR DEALING WITH REALLY BIG CHALLENGES, SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING.
WE'RE THE GROWNUP CITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL FIFA LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE NATION'S GONNA KNOWN US.
CALIFORNIA THOMAS IS NOT ONLY THE CAN-DO CITY, BUT BEING RUN BY GROWNUPS THAT JUST WANNA SOLVE PROBLEMS. KOALA, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO BE ON COUNCIL BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A PERSPECTIVE FROM YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR PASSION THAT REALLY, REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
COME SPEAK TO THIS IMPORTANT DAY.
WELL, WHAT AN EXCITING DAY FOR OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, UM, I LOOK AROUND AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ELOQUENT WORDS AND, AND YOU HIT THE NAIL.
WE'VE, WE'VE CONTINUED TO MAKE THOSE RIGHT TURNS.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE HISTORY IN, IN THIS END OF TOWN TOO, BECAUSE I LIVED HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AS A CHILD, WALKED UP AND DOWN NAVIGATION.
SO HAVE WATCHED THIS AREA OF TOWN DEVELOP, BUT CERTAINLY IN LANDING, JUST ACROSS THE FREEWAY ALONG ABOUT 2011 AT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION.
I REALLY WATCH THIS COMMUNITY AND I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT OUR HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS WITHIN A MILE FROM HERE.
WE HAVE THE SOBERING CENTER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE FROM HERE.
WE'VE GOT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, WE'VE GOT OUR SOBERING CENTER.
WE'VE HAD LOAVES AND FISHES, WE HAVE SEARCH, WE HAVE THE BEACON, AND WE HAVE ALL THESE FACILITIES THAT ADDRESS THE STREET HOMELESSNESS.
LITTLE FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD, WE'VE GOT THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
FOR YEARS, I WORKED HERE HELPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN NEED, HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND SAW THE SUCCESS OF WHAT THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THOSE SUPPORT SERVICES AND SYSTEM CAN ACTUALLY DO FOR THOSE.
AND HELP THEM GET TO THAT PERMANENT HOUSING AND HELP THEM TO CONNECT TO CERTAINLY THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY.
PASTOR, MEMBER COUNCIL, PASTOR, SEE, COUNCIL PASTOR, I'M GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA CALL YOU WILLIE.
BUT ANYWAY, BUT TO HELP THESE PEOPLE TO REALLY NAVIGATE, TO REALLY NAVIGATE THEIR LIVES, THOSE WHO AREN'T READY FOR, FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE YEARS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PIT COUNT.
WHERE'S MIKE NICHOLS OVER THERE? HE KNOWS FOR YEARS I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PIT COUNT.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO STREET OUTREACH OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS TO GO ON THE STREETS AND PRIMARILY IN THIS AREA, AND TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL, NOT FOR THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ONE STOP SHOP.
AND AS WE KNOW, WHEN HOUSTON PULLS TOGETHER, TOGETHER, WE REALLY DO GOOD WORK.
WELL, AND THIS, THE MAYOR EARLIER REFERENCED IT AS A, AS GIVING BIRTH.
WELL, I'M GONNA CORRECT YOU MAYOR, BECAUSE I'VE GIVEN BIRTH TWICE AND THIS HAS BEEN A WHOLE LOT SLOWER PROCESS.
SO AS, AS I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AROUND THE CITY AT SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE SOMEONE WHO PROVIDES SOLUTIONS TO A PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT HOMELESSNESS IN THIS AREA, WHICH HAS BEEN THE GROUND ZERO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
EVERY MONDAY MORNING COMING INTO WORK AT THE BALLPARK, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TASKED WITH WAS, WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT CLEANED UP.
A YEAR AGO, I STARTED WORKING WITH LOAVES AND FISHES, ALTHOUGH I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH LOAVES AND FISHES FOR 10 YEARS TO SAY, YOU
[00:35:01]
KNOW WHAT FOLKS, YOU NEED TO HELP US AND BE THAT FIRST DOMINO THAT FALLS IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM.BECAUSE WHEN IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THEY WERE FEEDING 250 TO 300 A DAY, BUT THEY THOUGHT MAYBE HALF OF THEM WERE HOMELESS.
SO CLOSING AHEAD OF TIME LAST THIS APRIL 1ST, AHEAD OF THAT LEASE THAT WOULD END IN 20, IN 2028, WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND POTENTIALLY FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE, BUT KNEW IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ENCAMPMENTS WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS CAUSE AND EFFECT AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE.
AND SO IN LOOKING AT THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN GENERAL, THERE ARE MANY CATEGORIES.
THERE ARE MANY AREAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS RESPITE CARE.
GUESS WHAT? IT'S NOT GONNA BE RIGHT HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE WHERE THEY LAND ON THE STREETS, DOWN AROUND THE MEDICAL CENTER.
YOU'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WHERE THEY ARE.
SO TODAY, THIS IS SO EXCITING BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT IN THE BACKGROUND I'VE BEEN PUSHING.
AND MOST EMAILS YOU GET ON A MONDAY MORNING OR A LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, SAY, WHAT IS THE PLAN? WHERE ARE WE ON FOUR 19? SORRY MIKE.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S MY WAY OF GETTING THINGS DONE IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO TODAY TO ACTUALLY SEE THAT WE CAN SHOW THE MEDIA AND SHOW EVERYONE WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING, WE ARE PROVIDING THAT TRUE COMPASS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WHETHER IT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH, YOU'VE GOT A DOG AND YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE WITH YOUR PET.
WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THEM INDIVIDUALLY AT THIS FACILITY, FACILITY WITH A COLLECTIVE OF NONPROFITS WHO WORK IN THIS SPACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THAT THIS WILL BE, AND TO KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE THE MODEL FOR OUR NATION.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, FOR STEPPING INTO OFFICE WITH A PLAN.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT PLAN AND BE PART OF THE PLAN AND PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
I SO APPRECIATE HER CAN-DO ATTITUDE.
RECENTLY SHE WAS WORKING WITH A HOMELESS LADY THAT NEEDED SHELTER SO BAD THAT SHE HAD THREE OF HER PETS, SOME LARGE DOGS, TWILA WITH HER CAN-DO ATTITUDE, CALLED ONE OF OUR ANIMAL WELFARE FRIENDS.
AND THEY PLACED THOSE DOGS IN A ANIMAL SHELTER.
SO THE LADY WILLINGLY WENT IN AND GOT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT SHE BADLY NEEDED.
SO I JOIN YOU AND LET'S JUST GET IT DONE, ENGINEER AROUND ANY CHALLENGES.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR TIME, WALK THROUGH.
IT'S A LARGE FACILITY WITH MANY FACETS.
I'M SURE THERE'S QUESTIONS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MEDICAL ADVISORS, DR.
PARSA, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE HERE.
SO TALK TO THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO THIS GREAT CITY.