* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Quality of Life Committee on November 3, 2025.] [00:00:15] FOR QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING, MY NAME IS JULIAN RAMIREZ. I'M CHAIR OF THIS, UH, UH, CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE, AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. WE HAVE, UH, JOINING US TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER M ANN HUFFMAN FROM DISTRICT, DISTRICT G AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FROM DISTRICT A, WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS'S OFFICE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER'S OFFICE, ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO'S, OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PROTI, CASTEX TATUM AS WELL. SO WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH US TODAY. WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM LEADERS FROM OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS AND, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MELODY BARR WITH US. SO WE HAVE AN AGENDA, UH, THAT HAS ABOUT TWO ITEMS ON IT, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. AND SO, UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. WE, UH, APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS AND THEN, UH, WE'LL ALSO I'LL DO A DIRECTOR'S REPORT THAT WE'LL HAVE SOME FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER HOUSING ISSUES. UM, MELODY BARR. WE'LL BEGIN OUR CONVERSATIONS TODAY, LOOKING AT THESE TWO PUBLIC SERVICE ITEMS. MELODY, GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM TWO A. UM, SO WE MAY WANNA, THERE WE GO NEXT. THERE WE GO. UH, WITH ITEM TWO A, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE OPERATING OUT OF SEARCHES, FOCHE FAMILY HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES, LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD. THIRD WARD. THIS PROGRAM WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 20 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN, AGES 21 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THEIR FAMILIES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON A BIANNUAL BASIS. INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLANS FOR CHILDREN IDENTIFIED TO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AS WELL AS BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND AFTERNOON SNACKS. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, TRANSPORTATION, AND PARENTING CLASSES DESIGNED TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND INCREASE HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL STABILITY. SEARCH HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 1996 AND HAS NO FINDINGS. THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT TO OCTOBER 31ST, 2026. AS OF SEPTEMBER OF 2025, SEARCH HAS EXCEEDED THEIR GOAL BY 35%, SERVING A TOTAL OF 30 CHILDREN. TODAY WE HAVE ALEXIS, LOVING PRESIDENT AND CEO LARRY KRAUSE, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS IF HE BE WONG, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, AND RYLAND FLUENCE, MANAGER OF FAMILY SERVICES HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE TO THE NEXT ONE, OR PAUSE FOR THIS ONE? THAT'S FINE. LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO OUR, UH, SERVICE PROVIDERS HERE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO AGAIN, SAY HOW IMPORTANT SEARCH IS TO OUR WHOLE EFFORT ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GREAT THE WORK DONE IS DONE AT HOUSTON. IN HOUSTON, IF YOU GO BACK, OH, UH, 15 YEARS. SEARCH HAD A, A MYRIAD OF, OF PROGRAMS. AND IN 2012 OR SO, THEY MADE A BIG DECISION, WHICH WAS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO REALLY FOCUS ON, UH, HOMELESSNESS AND, UH, ITEMS AROUND HOMELESSNESS, PARTICULARLY OUTREACH CASE MANAGEMENT. AND AS YOU SEE WITH THE HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES, UH, EDUCATION, I ASKED MELODY, I SAID, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES WHEN YOU SEE THESE OTHER, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY FOR HOMELESSNESS, HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW DOES IT IN THAT, WHAT WAS YOUR COMMENT BACK TO ME? MELODY? I DON'T REMEMBER. BUT I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO HOUSE PEOPLE, WE NEED THOSE SERVICES TO WRAP AROUND THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THE HOUSING STABILITY PIECE. SO CHILDCARE IS ONE OF THOSE VERY EXPENSIVE PIECES. WITHOUT CHILDCARE, PEOPLE CAN'T GO BACK TO WORK. UH, AGAIN, WELCOME PEOPLE TO GO SEE THE HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES AND SEE THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DO. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. ITEM [00:05:01] TWO B. AND SO THIS IS VERY TIMELY. THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A SECOND AMENDMENT WITH SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES TO EXTEND AND PROVIDE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $376,669 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FUNDING. SO THIS IS BOTH CDBG AND ESG FUNDING FOR THE CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION OPERATION OF A HOMELESS PROGRAM SERVING APPROXIMATELY 100 HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES RAPID REHOUSING ALONG WITH HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TERM OF THE SERVICE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, SEARCH HAS EXCEEDED ITS GOAL BY SERVING 103 HOUSEHOLDS AND EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THEIR FUNDING SEARCH BEGAN, UM, RECEIVING FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE OF HOUSTON SINCE 1996. AND THERE WERE NO FINDINGS ON THIS ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING REPORT. AND WE HAVE THE SAME INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I PREVIOUSLY LISTED, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, UM, A FEW DAYS AGO IN THE, IN THE PRE-COMMITTEE MEETING WE DID, WE DID DISCUSS HOW RAPID REHOUSING FITS IN WITH WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON AND PASSED, UH, LAST WEEK. THAT BEING THE, WE'RE NOT GONNA CALL IT A SUPER HUB ANYMORE, BUT , UH, THE PROPERTY ON EMANATION FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION FOR NOW FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. HOW, HOW ARE THOSE TWO GOING TO, TO WORK? OR WILL THEY WORK TOGETHER AND, AND IF I GET A CHANCE, I WOULDN'T, I THINK ALEXIS WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ALSO. BUT LET ME ADD MY QUESTION TO THAT. WHEN MAYOR MEYER CAME INTO OFFICE, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, ALL THE EMERGENCY HOUSING YOU WANT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME EXIT SOMEPLACE FOR PEOPLE TO EXIT AND GET HOUSING. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT. AND THERE'S OFTEN THIS TENSION BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, PEOPLE NEED HOUSING, OR THEY NEED THESE SERVICES. THEY HAVE TO HAVE BOTH. THEY REALLY HAVE TO HAVE BOTH. AND SEARCH DOES A GREAT JOB IN PUTTING TOGETHER HOUSING ALONG WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICE. RAPID REHOUSING IS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REALLY ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THEY'RE NOT DISABLED, THEY'RE NOT ELDERLY, UM, AND THEY NEED TWO YEARS TO REALLY GET ON THEIR FEET. UM, THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT RAPID REHOUSING DOES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NEVER GIVEN OUT WITHOUT SERVICES GOING AROUND THOSE. UM, AND AGAIN, IN HOUSTON, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, IT COULD BE IN A FACILITY LIKE NEW HOPE, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE IN ONE OF THE MANY APARTMENTS IN HOUSTON, UM, THAT A PERSON COULD LIVE WITH A VOUCHER AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES. BUT I WILL KEEP SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE TO FUND, UM, HOUSING, POST POST COMING INTO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, POST COMING IN TO TEMPORARY HOUSING. AND THAT'S FOR PEOPLE BOTH WHO ARE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS AND WHO ARE COMING OUTTA HOMELESSNESS. IT'S GONNA BE TOUGHER AS TIME GOES ON. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS KEEPS SPEAKING TO TRYING TO CUT THESE SERVICES DOWN, CUT VOUCHERS DOWN. UM, AGAIN, HOUSTON'S SUCCESS IS BASED ON GETTING PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES. AND AGAIN, MS. CHAIRMAN, SINCE YOU'RE DOWN TO JUST TWO PEOPLE, IF MAYBE ALEXIS LOING LOVING COULD COME UP AND MAKE A STATEMENT, I'D APPRECIATE IT. MM-HMM . OKAY. UM, SO WHEN, WHEN WE THINK OF THE, SORT OF THE TYPICAL, IF THERE IS A TYPICAL HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY THAT IS SERVED THROUGH RAPID REHOUSING, ARE, ARE THEY, UH, TYPICALLY GOING THROUGH THE, THE NAVIGATION CENTER FIRST OR THROUGH SOME SORT OF SHELTER? OR ARE THEY BEING MET THROUGH OUTREACH THAT WE DO OUT ON THE STREET AND THEN GO INTO THE RAPID REHOUSING? YEAH, I, I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION. UM, ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND IT, AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE PERSON IS ENGAGED. SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS ENGAGED BY AN OUTREACH TEAM, AN OUTREACH TEAM ON THE GROUND, THERE ARE TIMES THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS MAYBE HAD THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT ENCOUNTERS. THAT PARTICULAR OUTREACH TEAM MAY ALREADY HAVE A UNIT AVAILABLE FOR THAT PERSON. THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT INTO HOUSING. SO WE'VE SEEN THAT MOST TIMES AS OF CURRENT. UM, THEY ARE TRANSITIONING INTO A PLACE. SOMETIMES THEY GO INTO THE SOBERING CENTER IF THAT'S NECESSARY, AND THEN MOVED OVER TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER, OR THEY GO STRAIGHT INTO THE NAVIGATION CENTER. ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF SERVICE FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT IS TRACKING FROM ENROLLMENT FROM WHEN THEY ENGAGE WITH THAT PERSON. THAT PERSON SAYS, YES, I'M READY TO BE HOUSED TO WHEN THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT PERSON IS, UM, IS WAITING TO ACTUALLY ENTER THAT [00:10:01] UNIT. AND SO ON THIS GRANT, OUR GOAL IS 75 DAYS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRIDGE THEM POTENTIALLY SOMEWHERE. AND THAT BRIDGE IS TYPICALLY THE NAVIGATION CENTER ON THIS GRANT. IT'S ABOUT 15.5 DAYS, IS WHAT SEARCH HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH, UM, WITH THIS FUNDING. BUT REALLY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT DEPENDS ON THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THAT MOMENT. MM-HMM . SO I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT THE, AGAIN, THE IMPORTANT THING THAT WAS DECIDED IN, UH, 2012 WAS THAT EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHICH DOOR YOU COME THROUGH, WILL HAVE TO COME THROUGH COORDINATED ACCESS. SO THERE IS A COORDINATED ACCESS TO DETERMINE WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE MOST VULNERABLE, AND THUS WE GET THE HOUSING FIRST. AND SO THAT'S A IMPORTANT AREA. UM, AND NO MATTER WHICH OF THESE DOORS THEY COME THROUGH, THE COORDINATED ACCESS WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYBODY THAT'S COMING THROUGH ANY DOOR. MM-HMM . AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR BARR FOR HITTING ON A PERFORMANCE METRIC OF HOW LONG IT IS BEFORE THEY, WE GET'EM INTO THE, UH, HOUSING IN, IN THIS INSTANCE. BUT THIS CALLS FOR CASE MANAGERS AS WELL, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THIS PROCESS. WOULD EITHER OF YOU LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE CASE MANAGER IS DOING, OR, UM, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO CALL, UH, PHOEBE UP WHO WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THOSE CASE MANAGERS AT SEARCH TO GIVE YOU MORE INSIGHT ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S SO APPROPRIATE FOR THESE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU, WOULD YOU MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THEM YOUR FULL NAME SO THEY SURE. UH, MY NAME IS PHOEBE WONG. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AT SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. UM, IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON. UM, SO OUR CASE MANAGEMENT REALLY IS, UM, THIS ONE-ON-ONE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, EXPERIENCE THAT WE PROVIDE. SO EACH CLIENT THAT COMES THROUGH OUR PROGRAM HAS A SPECIFIC CASE MANAGER, UM, WHO SITS DOWN TO MEET WITH THEM, RIGHT. TO REALLY, BECAUSE, UM, A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT WE WORK WITH, THEIR STORIES ARE SO INDIVIDUALIZED, RIGHT? THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THEY EACH FACE, UM, ARE UNIQUE TO THEM. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE CASE MANAGER SITS DOWN TO REALLY ASSESS, UM, WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS, WHAT ARE THEIR CHALLENGES, NOT JUST AT THE SURFACE LEVEL, RIGHT? LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE MAY NEED FOOD, SOMEONE MAY NEED ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, BUT REALLY KIND OF WHAT IS UNDERLYING THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE. UM, AND SO THEY WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO BUILD A PLAN. UM, SO KIND OF GOALS FOR WHILE THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, UM, WHAT IS THEIR PATH TO STABILITY. SO THE CASE MANAGER IS THAT PERSON WHO WALKS WITH, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL IN OUR PROGRAM, UM, TO REALLY KIND OF WORK THROUGH SPECIFIC GOALS, WORK THROUGH THE BARRIERS THAT THAT THEY HAVE. UM, AND SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THIS INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, UH, WE FIND IS SO CRUCIAL TO HELPING SOMEONE NOT JUST GET INTO HOUSING, BUT REALLY STAY HOUSED AND REMAIN OFF THE STREETS IN THE LONG TERM. AND, AND YOU, TO YOUR, TO YOUR POINT, UH, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO'S GONNA HELP THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. THAT'S CORRECT. NOT JUST ONCE THEY MM-HMM . EXACTLY. GET INTO HOUSING. OKAY. GREAT. APPRECIATE THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR WHAT YOU DO ABSOLUTELY. IN THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . YES. OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE DIRECTOR. SO I THINK THAT WAS OUR SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE TO THE DIRECTOR COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA, THAT'LL BE PERFECTLY FINE. UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK SINCERELY THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED SUPPORT AS WE ADVANCE THE, UH, IMPORTANT PROJECTS, PLURAL UNDER THE MAYOR'S END STREET HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN. UM, AS, AS AS TO UNDERSCORE THAT, UH, FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UM, THE CHAIR MENTIONED THE NAME, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT NAME RIGHT NOW, WE'LL JUST CALL IT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. UH, THE PLAN IS IT WILL SERVE AS A SAFE CENTRALIZED ACCESS POINT WHERE SAFETY MEETS CONNECTION TO LASTING HOUSING SOLUTIONS, PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL OR SLEEPING ON THE STREETS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. UM, THE SITE WILL SERVE AS A PLACE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP-OFFS AND WALK-INS, OUTREACH REFERRALS, OFFERING 24 HOUR SHELTERING AND 24 HOUR SERVICES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY TO OTHER SHELTERS, AGENCY PROVIDERS, OR HOUSING PROGRAMS. UH, WITH THE RECENT APPROVAL OF HOUSTON CITY, UH, BY THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. AND THAT IS A KEY STEP IN ADVANCING THE CITY'S CONNECTED HOMELESS [00:15:01] RESPONSE SYSTEM. UH, THE NEXT STEP IS A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND NOFA TO IDENTIFY AND SELECT AND EXPERIENCE OPERATOR. AND THAT'S SCHEDULED TO BE PUBLISHED THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 19TH. UH, DESIRED EXPERTISE INCLUDES PROVEN SUCCESS IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS, SUBSTANCE USE TO DISORDERS TO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. UH, OUR TARGET IS TO BRING THE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER. IN ADDITION, OUR TARGET FOR BRINGING THE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR APPROVAL IS BY DECEMBER 31ST WITH THE GOAL OF, UM, THAT CONTINUING TO WORK, UH, AND CONTINUE TO BE OPERATIONAL. OUR TARGET TO BRING THE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, BEFORE CITY COUNCIL IS ALSO THE END OF THE YEAR. SO WE CAN GET THAT FACILITY OPEN TO BECOME OPERATIONAL IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026. UM, DURING THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO DIRECTOR SADDLE WHITE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FORMS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE, UH, FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION IN TOWN HALLS TO PROVIDE UPDATES, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND GATHER FEEDBACK. UH, I'M SCHEDULED TO ATTEND DISTRICT AES TOWN HALL THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION, COUNCILWOMAN PECK, AND WE'LL BEGIN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THESE AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS. UM, IN ADDITION, UH, YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE SOME CONTINUED MOVEMENT ON DISASTER RECOVERY, 24, UM, SOME, UH, MOVEMENT IN, IN, UH, MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING RECOVERY, AGAIN, HOMELESSNESS. UM, AS WE GET THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET APPROVAL FROM HUD AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT OUR BEGINNING PLAN AND EXPENDITURES UNDER D 24. UM, IN A TIME WHEN THERE IS A NEED FOR MONEY IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT PLACES, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT COMING FORWARD. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE LAST THING YOU TOUCHED ON THE DR D 24. YES, SIR. UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GUIDELINES WILL BE, UM, IMPLEMENTED OR, OR PROPOSED, RIGHT. AND THOSE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL AT SOME POINT. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. LET ME SEE IF THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE. DEREK, YOU MIND COMING UP? DEREK SELLERS, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR THAT WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE DEREK BECAUSE HE'S BEEN THROUGH MANY STORMS, WORKING FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. AND, UH, EVERY TIME I GET SOMETHING THAT IT SAYS, IS THIS THE SAME AS THE LAST STORM? AND MAYBE WE COULD ARGUE DIFFERENTLY, BUT DEREK, YEAH. SO ALL OF OUR, EVERY PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED, IT'S GONNA HAVE A SET OF GUIDELINES THAT ARE REQUIRED. SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FORTH, UH, FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO HOUSING COMMITTEE AND QUALITY OF LIFE, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE GUIDELINES THEMSELVES AND THE PROGRAMS ARE COVERED. AND THEN TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE TO SUBMIT THEM TO HUD AS WELL. THAT'S A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT'S COME ALONG WITH THE DR 24 FUNDS. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OUR PAST FUNDING ON. AND HAVE THEY, HAVE THEY CHANGED THEIR, THEIR RULES REGARDING WHAT THE GUIDELINES CAN BE? OR DID THEY REMAIN THE SAME? UH, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO SAY BECAUSE HUD REALLY NEVER HAD OFFICIAL RULES WITH EVERY SINGLE DISASTER BECAME A NEW SET OF RULES THAT THEY WOULD PUSH OUT WITH IT AS PART OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER PROCESS. UM, SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE ON THIS LAST ONE IS THEY'VE ISSUED WHAT'S CALLED A UNIVERSAL NOTICE. AND THE GOAL OF THAT IS TO TRY TO STANDARDIZE RULES FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING. UH, SO THERE ARE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGES IN THAT, NOTHING THAT REALLY IMPACTS HOW WE IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AS MUCH. UH, BUT THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND WE EVEN SAW DIFFERENCES BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL UNIVERSAL NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE. THEY MADE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES ALONG THE WAY AS WELL, AND REISSUED THAT UNIVERSAL NOTICE. UH, ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF A SENATE BILL THAT HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN PASSED THAT WAS, UH, CO-AUTHORED BY REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT, WAS TO ACTUALLY PUSH FORWARD FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR THE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM. AND THAT SHOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THIS TYPE OF GRANT MOVING FORWARD. 'CAUSE IT'LL ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY STANDARDIZE PROGRAMMING AND EXPECTATIONS UNDERNEATH IT, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO ALLOW US TO GET OUR FUNDING MUCH FASTER. MM-HMM . GOOD NEWS. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEREK. MM-HMM . UM, DIRECTOR NICHOLS. LEMME JUST ASK YOU A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ON SURE. FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. SO YOU MENTIONED, UH, YOU'LL BEGIN MOVING FORWARD. DO, IS THERE A CLOSING DATE FOR THE PROPERTY? THAT HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED, BUT AGAIN, WE CERTAINLY EXPECT IT TO BE BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. UM, WE HAVE A FEW [00:20:01] MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT WE CAN VERY WELL TAKE CARE OF, UM, WITHOUT ANY BIG PROBLEMS, BUT WE DO HAVE TO SOLVE THOSE. BUT AGAIN, VERY WELL EXPECT THAT TO BE BEFORE, WITHIN A YEAR. AND THERE WAS MENTION OF AN OPEN HOUSE, AT LEAST ONE OPEN HOUSE COMING UP. UH, WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE? UM, I THINK THAT WILL BE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WE DO NOT HAVE A DATE SET, BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL DO THAT. UH, THAT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AND LET THEM SEE THIS FACILITY AND THEY CAN, WHEN THEY SEE IT, THEY'LL HAVE CONCERNS AND IDEAS AND WE'RE STILL TAKING THOSE CONCERNS AND IDEAS GOING FORWARD. SO ON THIS WEEK'S COUNCIL AGENDA, THERE IS AN EXPANSION OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE INTO A BROADER AREA OF THE EAST END. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? WELL, AS A, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, IT GIVES US ONE MORE TOOL TO ENCOURAGE AND MOVE PEOPLE. WE'RE SLEEPING OFF THE STREET INTO A SAFE, SAFER PLACE THAN LIVING ON THE STREETS. AND WE WILL USE THAT ON THE EAST END TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OFF THE STREETS AND INTO FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. UH, IT'S BEEN IN PLACE IN, IN DOWNTOWN AND IT IS WORKING TO SOME DEGREE. AND WHAT WE, IT IS A, IT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THOSE OF US IN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A PLACE TO TAKE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SLEEPING ON THE STREET. 'CAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE SOMEONE TO JOINT PROCESSING CENTER FOR SLEEPING ON THE STREET. WE WANT TO GET THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN START MOVING THEIR LIFE FORWARD. AND SO THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER HAS, UM, HAS BEEN A, A GODSEND TO US AS A PLACE TO TAKE PEOPLE TEMPORARILY. UH, THE NAVIGATION CENTER IS AGAIN, MORE FOCUSED ON PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING INTO HOUSING, BUT THEY TOO TAKE SOME PEOPLE COMING OFF THOSE OFF THE STREET. UM, UH, HARRIS CENTER HAS BEEN THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN GO AND BEGIN GETTING SOME SERVICES. UM, WHAT WE FIND IS WHEN YOU TAKE AN INDIVIDUAL OFF THE STREET INTO A FACILITY LIKE THAT, THEY DO BEGIN MOVING FORWARD WITH HIS LIVES. IT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE, BUT OVER TIME IT'S STARTING TO BE A PLACE WHEN ONCE PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE OVER THEIR HEADS, THEY BEGIN TO THINK MORE CLEARLY ABOUT THE DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING. AGAIN, ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ARE ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS INTO A, UM, A PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE SUBSTANCE PROBLEMS INTO A PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFE. UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE DUAL DIAGNOSED AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WORK FOR THEM WITH THE END RESULT BEING, LET US HELP YOU AND LET YOURSELF FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST DIVERSION BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE INVOLVED IN WITH NO SERVICES, NO HOUSING, UM, UH, SUBSIDY. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST MOVING THEM BACK TO THE FAMILY ONCE THEY GET SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS SOLVED AND HAVE SOME DIRECTION IN THEIR LIVES. SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE OFFERS, UH, YOU AND ADDITIONAL TOOL YES, SIR. TO ENCOURAGE, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY, UH, TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT'S RIGHT. FACILITY OF SOME KIND OR FAMILY TO FORCE THOSE PEOPLE TO GO THERE. UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN FAMILY HOMELESSNESS. IT IS SOMEWHAT MORE COMPLEX, UM, FOR A COUPLE REASONS. ONE IS IT'S OFTEN INVOLVED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UH, SECONDLY, IT IS OFTEN TEMPORARY BECAUSE NO MOTHER WANTS THEIR CHILDREN TO SLEEP OUTSIDE. SO IT BECOMES A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PROCESS TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SOMETIME ONE OR TWO DAYS. AND AGAIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND PLACES FOR THAT. UH, SALVATION ARMY, STAR OF HOPE HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS IN HELPING MOVE FAMILIES OFF THE STREET. OKAY. ONE THING I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE, SOME FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT SECURITY SAFETY AND, UM, THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, LAST WEEK THAT, UH, THE HOT TEAM WOULD BE BASED OUT OF FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. UM, AND, UM, I, I, I TOOK THE, THE, UH, UH, THAT AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO MEAN THERE WOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL POLICE PRESENCE IN, IN THAT AREA. [00:25:01] IS THAT RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, THE, THE SUCCESS IN THIS, IN THIS ENDEAVOR, AND IT'S A, IT'S A JOINT SUCCESS AND EACH OF THE COUNCILMEN AND COUNCIL PEOPLE AROUND THE, AROUND THE HORSESHOE RECOGNIZE THIS, IS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, UH, ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE OPERATIONS, WHICH WE FEEL LIKE WE DO. WE HAVE TO HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE SECURITY IN THE FACILITY, WHICH WE FEEL LIKE WE DO. WE HAVE TO HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING AND FOCUS FROM HPD AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AROUND THIS AREA IN OUR PARTNERSHIP. AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AS OUR PARTNER, UH, CHIEF, FORMER CHIEF LARRY SATTERWHITE, WHO HAS REALLY BEEN ORGANIZING THIS. HE LIVES IN THIS AREA. HE FEELS LIKE HIS NAME IS ON THE LINE AS FAR AS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY. I CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE THAT, YES, IT WILL MEAN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THAT AREA THAT'S NECESSARY ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR SOME OF THE OFFICERS IN THAT AREA. AND, UM, AND THAT WILL, THAT WILL COME TO FRUITION. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE SUCCESS BEFORE 19 EMANCIPATION, THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE PEOPLE HANGING AROUND IN THAT AREA THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE PROMISED THE COMMUNITY, AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SAFETY AND SECURITY, NOT A LOSS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALRIGHT. UM, I DON'T SEE ANY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF IN THE QUEUE, UM, DIRECTOR. SO UNLESS YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, WE WILL GO TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PHASE. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. AND, UH, HAVING SPENT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN, UM, IN AUSTIN, I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT SCOOTERS. . . ALRIGHT. THANK YOU DIRECTOR. AND THANK YOU MELODY AS WELL. OKAY. UM, PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. I, I THINK WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I DON'T SEE HIM PRESENT. DOMINIC MAZO. DOMINIC NOT TODAY. OKAY. WELL, DOMINIC WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE WEDNESDAY MORNING. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, UH, WHO HASN'T SIGNED UP BUT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYONE AT ALL? OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS GONNA CONCLUDE OUR MEETING. I'LL, I'LL DECLARE IT ADJOURNED AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH HOPEFULLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.