[Quality of Life Committee on April 9, 2026]
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I AM JULIAN RAMIREZ, CHAIR OF THIS HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I CALL IT TO ORDER PRESENT IN CHAMBERS, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO FROM DISTRICT H, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE, HUFFMAN'S OFFICE, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS'S OFFICE, TARA CARTER'S OFFICE IN ALEJANDRA SALINAS OFFICE.WE HAVE ONLINE STAFF FROM MAYOR PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM'S OFFICE, AND VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM AMY PECK'S OFFICE AS WELL.
WE HAVE AN AGENDA TODAY RELATED TO THE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, HOMELESS HUB AND PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WANNA WELCOME DIRECTOR, UH, MIKE NICHOLS AND, UH, ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS, UH, MELODY BAR.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING, HAVING US HERE TODAY AND GOING THROUGH THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
UH, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON, UH, MAINLY ON FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION IN THE DR 24 FUNDING.
AND I'LL GIVE MELODY BARR THE TABLE AND THEN COME BACK, UM, BEFORE YOU GET TO FOUR 19.
I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ITEM TWO A.
THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2024 DERECHO AND HURRICANE BARREL DISASTER RECOVERY PUBLIC SERVICES, HOMELESS SERVICES PROGRAM GUIDELINES.
WE ARE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK BEFORE COMMITTEE TO REFLECT MINOR UPDATES TO THE GUIDELINES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $30 MILLION TO $40 MILLION OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AND SELECT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN REVISED TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S GRANT AGREEMENT.
THESE GUIDELINES ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK FOR A TARGETED PROGRAM TO PREVENT, TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE 2024 RETRO WINDSTORMS AND HURRICANE BARREL.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE CITY WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO SELECTED SUB-RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO DELIVER CRITICAL HOMELESS SERVICES, SUCH AS SHELTER OPERATIONS, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS TRANSITION TO STABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM RECOVERY.
AS COUNCIL IS AWARE, BOTH EVENTS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ACROSS HOUSTON.
THE MAY 16TH, 2024 DCHA WAS ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE WIND STORMS IN NEARLY 25 YEARS, RESULTING IN PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE.
HURRICANE BARREL MADE LANDFALL JULY 8TH, 2024, BRINGING LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING AND FURTHER COMPOUNDING IMPACTS ON ALREADY VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS.
TOGETHER, THESE DISASTERS HAVE INTENSIFIED HOUSING INSTABILITY ACROSS THE CITY IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT ISSUED MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR TEXAS.
FOLLOWING BOTH EVENTS, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED WITH APPROXIMATELY $41 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS, OR C-D-B-G-D-R DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LONG-TERM RECOVERY EFFORTS IN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER AREAS.
THE CITY WILL ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE GUIDELINES AND ALL APPLICABLE HUD C-D-B-G-D-R REQUIREMENTS, ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, REGULAR REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND THAT ENDS MY PRESENTATION FOR THAT ITEM.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR DIRECTOR, MIKE NICHOLS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST IS DO SOME LE GENERAL LEVEL SETTING ABOUT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UM, AT THE DIRECTION OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, THE CITY'S TAKEN BOLD AND DELIBERATE ACTION TO ENSURE NO ONE IS LEFT SLEEPING OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR HOUSING.
THIS EFFORT BUILDS ON HOUSTON'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM BY INCREASING THE SCALE, SPEED, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SOLUTIONS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS MOVE QUICKLY FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY AND ULTIMATELY PERMANENT HOUSING.
UH, THE ROLE OF 4 19 4 19 EMANCIPATION IS CENTRAL TO THAT EFFORT.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE BROADER HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHICH BRINGS PUBLIC AGENCIES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOGETHER THROUGH A COORDINATED SYSTEM DESIGNED TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT LEVEL OF
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CARE AND HOUSING SUPPORT.IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT.
FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION IS NOT A SHELTER.
IT IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN EASY ENTRY TRIAGE TREATMENT AND TRANSITION FACILITY THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS COME INDOOR, STABILIZE AND CONNECT TO THE APPROPRIATE NEXT STEP.
HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
THE MODEL REFLECTS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED APPROACH THAT RESPONDS TO THE FULL CONTINUUM NEED.
UM, WE'LL DISCUSS FUNDING FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT.
THE CITY'S IN A STRONG POSITION TO SUPPORT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THROUGH RECOMBINATION OF DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS FROM D 24 AND NON-FEDERAL SOURCES.
THIS PUTS US IN A POSITION NOT ONLY TO LAUNCH THE FACILITY, BUT TO DO SO WITH A FOCUS ON OPERATIONAL STABILITY, TIMELINE, AND URGENCY.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION OPERATIONAL AS SWIFTLY AND RESPONSIBLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS WORK IS BEING ADVANCED WITH URGENCY BECAUSE OF THE NEED IS URGENT.
VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED TODAY AND IS INHUMANE TO ALLOW ANYONE TO REMAIN SLEEPING OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR HELP.
TODAY WITH US, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR PARTNERS.
THIS IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, UM, REPRESENTING THE, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE CITY REPRESENTING HARRIS CENTER, WHO YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IN A MOMENT.
WAYNE YOUNG AND KEENA PACE REAL.
THEY ARE REAL HEROES IN THE CITY.
UM, LARRY SHADOW WHITE, AS YOU KNOW, IS MY PARTNER REPRESENTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE HAVE JAMES GONZALEZ AND UE.
WE WERE HERE FROM THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
THESE FOUR PARTNERS ARE THE KEY ESSENTIAL TO MAKING FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WAYNE YOUNG TOLD ME, AND I WANTED TO AGREE, HE SAID, WHEN HE TRAVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND HE SAYS, AND HE SAID, THEY SAY, YOU'RE FROM HOUSTON.
HE, THEY SAY, WE WISH WHAT YOU HAD, WHERE YOU HAVE A GREAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND THAT IS UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE SAW IT WHEN WE WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, AND WE SEE IT THROUGHOUT FOUR 19 WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THAT PARTNERSHIP.
I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO MELODY TO TALK THE DETAIL OF THE PROPOSAL FROM PUBLIC SERVICES.
IF I COULD INTERRUPT JUST FOR A MINUTE.
JUST TO NOTE THAT ARRIVAL, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND, AND VICE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AMY PECK HERE, AS WELL AS SALLY ALCORN AND JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
WE'LL DISCUSS TWO ITEMS, WHICH IS THE LEASE, AND THEN THE OPERATIONS CONTRACT.
AGAIN, THE CITY OF THE HOUSTON, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE OWNER BEFORE 19 EMANCIPATION, AND SHE'LL GO THROUGH THE LEASE AND THE OPERATIONS.
SO ITEM TWO B, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTED AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, OR SIMPLY THE HARRIS CENTER FOR THE CITY OWNED FACILITY LOCATED AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE HARRIS CENTER WILL OPERATE A 24 HOURS PER DAY, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK, EASY ENTRY FACILITY SERVING INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
THE SITE WILL FUNCTION AS AN EASY ENTRY ACCESS POINT WITH ONSITE PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING THE LIKES OF HARRIS HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE COORDINATED SERVICES AND SUPPORT PATHWAYS TO STABLE HOUSING.
THIS INITIATIVE IS A KEY COMPONENT TO MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER STRATEGY TO END STREET HOMELESSNESS AND ALIGNS WITH THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY HOMELESS RESPONSE STRATEGY.
THE HARRIS CENTER WAS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE NOFA OR NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY PROCESS, THE LEASE TERMS, 36 MONTHS BEGINNING WHEN THE FACILITY BEGINS OPERATIONAL WITH A RENEWAL OPTION AT THE CITY'S DISCRETION.
I'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM AND THEN I CAN PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS.
FOR ITEM TWO C, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER AND AN AMOUNT UP TO $39 MILLION UTILIZING BOTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, DISASTER RECOVERY, 2024 FUNDS AND IN STREET HOMELESSNESS FUNDS.
THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION AT THE CITY OWNED FACILITY LOCATED AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, WHERE THE HARRIS CENTER WILL OPERATE A 24 HOUR SEVEN DAY PER WEEK EASY ENTRY FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY LIVING UNSHELTERED, THE FACILITY WILL PROVIDE UP TO 222 BEDS AND IS EXPECTED TO SERVE A MINIMUM OF 750
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INDIVIDUALS THIS YEAR.ONSITE STAFF, ALONG WITH PARTNERS LIKE HARRIS HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WILL WORK TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO HOUSING AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO BECOME STABLY HOUSED AND NOT RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS.
THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS FULL OPERATIONS OF THE SITE OF THE SITE, INCLUDING STAFFING, CASE MANAGEMENT, MEALS, SECURITY, PET CARE AND MAINTENANCE, AND AGAIN, IS A KEY PART TO MAYOR WHITMEYER STRATEGY TO END STREET HOMELESSNESS SERVICES OFFER INCLUDE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR, INCLUDING DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES AND DISASTER EVENTS.
IMPLEMENTATION IS SECURITY PROTOCOLS THAT PRIORITIZE DEESCALATION AND CRISIS RESPONSE WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE ABILITY TO TRIAGE INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS TO APPROPRIATE HIGH LEVELS OF CARE WITHOUT DISCHARGE TO THE STREET, EXCEPT REFERRALS FROM OUTREACH TEAMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SYSTEM PARTNERS, EXCEPT WALK-IN CLIENTS DAILY FROM 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM CONDUCT IMMEDIATE INTAKE ASSESSMENTS AND TRIAGE UPON ENTRY TO IDENTIFY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND STABILIZATION NEEDS, MEAL SERVICE THREE TIMES PER DAY, INCLUDING SNACKS AND BEVERAGES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CLINICAL INTEGRATION WITH WARM HANDOFF TO HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE IMPLEMENTATION OR IMPLEMENT DIVERSION AND REHOUSING STRATEGIES INCLUDING REUNIFICATION WHEN APPROPRIATE, COMPLETE THE COORDINATED ENTRY ASSESSMENTS, PROVIDE CLIENT TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICES, APPOINTMENTS, EMPLOYMENTS, AND HOUSING RELATED STRATEGIES.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED AT THE FACILITY.
THE HARRIS CENTER, AGAIN, WAS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, AND THE AGREEMENT TERM IS 36 MONTHS, BEGINNING AT THE DATE OF THE CONTROLLER'S.
COUNTER SIGNATURE HARRIS CENTER HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS FROM THE CITY SINCE 2008, AND TODAY WE HAVE WAYNE YOUNG, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ALONG WITH KEN KENA PACE, THE DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS HERE.
SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, NUMBER OF FOLKS YOU EXPECT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND, AND, UH, STAY IN THE FACILITY WHEN IT'S AT CAPACITY.
UH, IS THERE A PARTICULAR PLACE THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL BE, WILL BE TOLD TO GO, OR WHAT WILL BE THE GUIDANCE GIVEN? IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS COMES TO FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, THE FIRST STEP IS THEY WILL BE ASSESSED.
UH, AGAIN, THE HARRIS CENTER IS AN EXPERT IN ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS.
THEY WILL BE ASSESSED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM TO BE.
MANY OF THEM WILL COME AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE FACILITY.
AGAIN, THERE ARE 222 BEDS THERE TODAY.
UM, THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, UM, SOMETHING LESS 76 ROOMS RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT THEY WILL BE ASSESSED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.
SOME OF THEM, IF THEY HAVE HIGH PSYCHIATRIC NEEDS, WE GO TO HCPC OR 61 60.
UH, SOME WILL WHO HAVE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, MAYBE DIRECTED TOWARD OPEN DOOR MISSION OR SALVATION ARMY.
UM, PEOPLE WHO, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM DOMESTIC, UH, ABUSE MAY BE, UH, SENT AND BROUGHT OVER TO THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, OTHER CENTERS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS YOU SEE IN MELODIES WRITE UP, WE EXPECT TO HAVE MORE THAN 750 PEOPLE GO THROUGH THIS FACILITY IN A YEAR.
THAT NUMBER IS A, IS A, IS OUR GUEST.
THE WAY I'M WORKING AT IN MY HEAD IS IF THE AVERAGE DAY IS, UM, 90 DAYS, THAT'S, UH, FOUR TIMES 222.
SO IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 700, 800.
WE, I THINK THERE COULD BE MORE THAT WILL GO THROUGH THERE.
SOME PEOPLE, AS YOU REMEMBER, AS WE SAW DURING THE COLD WINTER, SPELLS ARE REALLY HERE IN HOMELESS VERY TEMPORARILY AND JUST NEED SOME DIVERSION PROGRAM.
THEY MAY NEED, UH, UH, A REHABIL THEY MAY NEED TO COME BACK AND BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY MAY NEED, THEY MAY BE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH TOWN TO SOME OTHER PLACE.
AND WE WILL HAVE FUNDING AND PROGRAMS FOR THAT.
ALSO, AGAIN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE, BOTH WAYNE YOUNG AND KENA PESA HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, CHIEF LARRY SAT WHITE'S HERE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO
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IN THE QUEUE.THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO THE, THE 222 BEDS AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, YOU'LL HAVE 222 INDIVIDUALS AT THE FACILITY CURRENTLY MAXIMUM, CURRENTLY MAXIMUM COULD BE, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY.
YOU COULD HAVE FOUR BEDS PER ROOM RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE THREE BEDS IN A ROOM.
SO THAT CONFIGURATION COULD CHANGE.
WHAT WOULD DETERMINE THAT? I THINK THAT WHAT WOULD DETERMINE THAT WOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE OPERATOR.
SO PART OF IT IS WHAT KIND OF NEED DO THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE? AND SO EVEN TO YOUR QUESTION, WHERE DO INDIVIDUALS COME WHO ARE HOMELESS? AND THEN WHERE DO WE DIRECT THEM THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THAT PERSON.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF BEDS THAT THAT TYPE OF SERVICE IS ON THAT INDIVIDUAL AND HOW HIGH OR LOW, UM, THE BARRIERS ARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING IN.
WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE AS THAT, MY, MY EXPERIENCE, WHAT I'VE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, 222 OR LESS, AND I THINK IT WOULD GET TO THAT ANY BIGGER WOULD JUST MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
AND AGAIN, PART OF THE SUCCESS IS MOVING PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT SERVICES, AND THAT'S GONNA BE KEY TO IT.
UM, THERE'S A ROOM IN THERE IN THE, IN THE, TO THE SIDE WHERE IT'S LIKE A CALL CENTER AND OUR GUESTS AND OUR, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE WILL BE NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS STATIONED THERE TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE TO THEIR PROGRAMS WITH, THROUGH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARRIVE FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS, WHETHER AGAIN, IT'S SANTA MARIA HOSTEL OR ANY NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT THEY COULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD IT.
AND WOULD THAT BE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THAT GROUP AND THE HARRIS CENTER, ESSENTIALLY THE NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDER TO GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE THEIR CLIENTS.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO STEP FORWARD WITH FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE ALL CLIENTS.
AND IT'S, THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE HARRIS CENTER, WITH THEIR EXPERTISE IN MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, IDD IS THERE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT CLIENTS WITH WHICH TO WORK.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP HERE AND WHY IT'S SO UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY.
SO DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY NONPROFIT PARTNERS WILL BE A PART OF THIS FACILITY? UM, THE, UH, COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HAS A HUNDRED LITTLE LESS THAN A HUNDRED NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS.
I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE WORKING THERE, BUT AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE THOSE NAMES.
AND ANOTHER KEY AREA IS, AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS SURE HOW MANY BEDS ARE AVAILABLE AROUND THE CITY IN TRANSITIONAL TEMPORARY HOUSING.
AND WE WILL HAVE THAT UP TO DATE AS PART OF THE PRO PROGRAMS HERE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IN THE QUEUE.
UM, AND I, I THINK WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET RIGHT IS LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT INTAKE LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE ACTUAL NUTS AND BOLTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING DAY IN, DAY OUT? WE'RE ALL INTERESTED.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, TO WAYNE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT HE IS DOING OUT AT THE RESPITE SITE AT SIX 10 AND, AND LONG, UH, WE'VE HAD THAT, THAT FACILITY THERE IN DISTRICT GUY FOR SOME YEARS ALREADY.
UM, AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS REALLY, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH, UM, IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE TO, TO TRY AND TACKLE, RIGHT? UH, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT IT'S MANAGING HOMELESSNESS, RIGHT? MANAGING UNHOUSED FOLKS, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW OUR, ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCILLOR THOMAS HOUSING FIRST, AND I THINK WE ALL WANT THAT AS WELL.
BUT AS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 10 YEARS, KNOWING THAT HOUSING FIRST, IF THERE'S NO FUNDING FROM HUD FOR VOUCHERS, THEN WHAT ARE, WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE DOING? AND DO WE STOP THE WORK? AND SO ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK NOW, UM, OUT OF FOUR 19 IS IMPORTANT.
AND SO AS, AS Y'ALL FIGURE OUT WHAT THESE, THESE RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE, UM, WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IDS ARE IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL MEDICAL ATTENTION INITIALLY THAT TRIAGE IS IMPORTANT.
UH, BUT THEN ALSO HOW DO YOU KIND OF GET REACCLIMATED BACK WITH, UH, WORKFORCE AS WELL? SO, UM, AND I, I KNOW Y'ALL PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, BUT AS, AS Y'ALL REALLY START KIND OF PAINTING INSIDE OF THE LINES, UH, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, IT'D BE HELPFUL FOR US, UM, JUST TO BE ABLE TO BOUNCE IDEAS, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT WORKS.
AND OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WELL.
UH, BUT QUITE FRANKLY THEN, HOW DO WE, UM, UM, CAN BE THAT SOUNDING BOARD FOR YOU ALL OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE IMPACTED DIRECTLY IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA, EAST DOWNTOWN FOR ME.
UM, AND THEN A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS EASTWOOD, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ME AS WELL.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN DOWNTOWN THAT MEETS AS WELL, THAT ARE, HAVE, HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, I THINK REALLY IT'S HOW CAN WE GET THAT INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE KNOWING
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THAT IT'LL BE OPENED UP PRETTY SOON.UM, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL, IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
PART OF THE, PART OF THE GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITY AT THE AIR CENTER WILL BE TO MEET WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND BE PART OF THAT, UH, EFFORT.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL LARRY SATELLITE UP TO AN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT.
THE JOB PIECE IS DONE TOO, AS WE TALK ABOUT EXIT HOUSING, THAT IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I'M ON MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS A WEEK WITH THE COALITION WITH THE HOMELESS TO DISCUSS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE'S EXIT HOUSING? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE'S PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S OPENING IN THESE VOUCHER PROGRAMS AS SO PEOPLE CAN MOVE ON AND ONCE THEY BECOME SUSTAINABLE.
AND SO THAT'S STILL A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.
UM, THE H THE HOUSING WILL BE PROBABLY SHORTER TERM BECAUSE OF THE MANDATES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER TIME.
UH, WE, THIS YEAR I THINK WE'LL STILL GET OUR $70 MILLION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THAT'S GREAT.
AND WE ARE HAVING, MAKING PLANS ONGOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS EXIT HOUSING AND EXIT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE GOAL BEING INDEPENDENCE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WOULD YOU LIKE, UH, LARRY S TO COME VISIT ABOUT THAT? THAT'D BE FINE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, DID YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF UM, OH, FOR TEAM'S CAST? OH, SORRY.
UM, WELL, SO WE KNOW THAT THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM IS GONNA BE HOUSED OUT OF THERE.
WHAT DOES THAT SPACE LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S HOURS? WHAT ARE THE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW ARE FOLKS GONNA BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, I NEED HELP.
SO IT, IT, THE, THE HPD HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM WILL BE ON THAT FLOOR, AS WILL METROS TEAM.
THIS IS A COLLABORATION EFFORT.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED ON DOING COLLABORATION, MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAS RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEY ALL HAVE CONSTITUENCIES THAT ARE, ARE CRYING FOR HELP.
BOTH THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING ON THE STREET, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT HOMELESSNESS AFFECTS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS A, A LARGE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
UM, AND NOT JUST HPD AND METRO, BUT, UH, HARRIS COUNTY, UH, SHERIFF SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ALL EIGHT CONSTABLE'S OFFICES.
AND JUST NOT TO GIVE YOU A FULL LIST, BUT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, 40 OR 60 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE AREA.
AND THEY'LL ALL BE PARTNERS IN THIS BECAUSE WE ALL FACE THIS TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST APPROACH WE HAVE.
AND, AND SO YEAH, THEY'LL BE THERE AND HELP.
I MEAN, YOU'LL HAVE TEAMS THAT NORMALLY WORK THEIR NORMAL EIGHT HOUR SHIFTS, UH, WHICH THEY'LL JUST BE HOUSED THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE SECURITY FOR THIS FACILITY, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
THEY, THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY ARE, THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND ASSIGNED TO DO, WHICH IS GO INTO THE FIELD AND ENGAGE, UH, THE, THE, THE UNHOUSED ON THE STREETS AND ALL OF THOSE ISSUES AND, AND TRY TO OFFER THEM HELP, BUT ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, ASSESS AND, AND ALSO ENFORCE THE LAW.
AND THEN, UH, THE PLAN AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, UH, THOSE ARE PRIMARILY ON DAY SHIFT.
MOST OF THOSE TEAMS THAT WORK THAT ALL THE TIME, UH, SO WE NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST EIGHT TO FOUR.
IT IS, UH, IT IS 24 HOURS, 24 7.
SO WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES WORKING, UH, THE AFTER HOUR SHIFTS.
WE NEED THIS BECAUSE ALL OF THESE AGENCIES, UH, BECOME INUNDATED WITH CALLS FOR SERVICE AND ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE LATER EVENING HOURS AND EARLY NIGHTTIME HOURS.
IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANY OF Y'ALL THAT CALL VOLUME GOES UP.
A LOT OF THINGS START TO HAPPEN IN THE CITY, UNFORTUNATELY, BETWEEN, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BETWEEN, UM, OTHER ACTIVITIES, UM, CONSUMPTION, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES AND NEEDS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE WORKED OUT WHERE WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES DEDICATED SOLELY TO THIS EFFORT EVERY EVENING, UM, AND INTO THE NIGHT, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING BECAUSE THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'VE NOT EVER DONE BEFORE.
WE'VE DONE IT ON A SMALL PILOT SCALE, UH, IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE'RE JUST GONNA EXPAND THAT, UH, BY A SEVERAL FOLD AND BE ABLE TO FIRST AND FOREMOST TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
WE MADE THAT PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITIES OVER THERE, LIKE YOUR DISTRICT, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S.
UM, BUT, BUT EVERYBODY, WE, AND OF COURSE, DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN, YOU KNOW, THESE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE CLOSEST
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TO IT, AND ALSO THEY ATTENDED, THIS IS ACTUALLY GROUND 0 4 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, IS ACTUALLY BEING, UH, STOOD UP IN WHAT WE WOULD ALL PROBABLY AGREE OVER THE DECADES THAT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THE AREA THAT HAS BEEN MOST AND WORST IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS.SO, UH, BUT WE MADE COMMITMENTS TO THESE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WOULD NOT LET THEIR AREAS GO INTO DECLINE.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF WORK, MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT.
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT AND KEEP THAT GOING AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON TOP OF THAT.
SO THAT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF OUTREACH, A LOT OF CARE, A LOT OF HUMANITY, BUT ALSO, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY.
I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT BECAUSE, UM, I THINK QUITE FRANKLY, AND WE GREW UP IN THE EAST END AND YOU KNOW, EVEN ON YOUR WAY INTO THE EAST, DOWNTOWN AND DOWNTOWN, THAT IS GROUND ZERO.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF YOUR SERVICES HAVE BEEN AS WELL, MIDTOWN AS WELL.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST ELEVATING THAT, THAT IS GOING TO BE, UH, CORE MM-HMM
UH, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WE ALL KNOW AS DEVELOPMENT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN, UH, IT'S PAST THE EAST END NOW, UH, FOR ME IT'S IN THE HOBBY AREA.
AND I KNOW Y'ALL WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH, UH, CONSTABLE GARCIA.
HE HAS A HOT TEAM AS WELL THAT THEY'VE STOOD UP WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING IT AT, UH, BA SINCE BAYOU AND ALONG BROADWAY AND TELEPHONE, UH, SOUTH OF SIX 10.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S BEEN MOVE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER OUTSIDE OF THAT CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
UH, BUT I THINK MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ARE FOCUSED WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE THE MOST MM-HMM
UM, AND THEN MAKE SURE WE DON'T FORGET.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ALSO SAYS ON THE WEST SIDE THAT THERE'S, AND SHE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH WITHIN HER COMMUNITY.
IT'S UNHOUSED FOLKS ARE EVERYWHERE.
UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE, BE ABLE TO ADMIT THAT, THAT, BUT THEN STILL FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGE AT HAT AS WELL.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND I WERE AT AN EVENT JUST THE OTHER DAY AND SHE COMMITTED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TRYING TO DO THAT.
I KNOW SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE, UH, AT THE U AT THE HORSESHOE HERE ALSO ARE DOING THAT.
I WILL SAY THE, THE PROBLEM IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND INTO THE COUNTY AND ON, I MEAN, IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY'S FACING.
OUR PLAN AND OUR STRATEGY IS USING THE RESOURCES WE HAVE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY FOCUSING ON THE, THE AREAS THAT ARE WORSE IMPACTED.
BUT AS WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, WE THINK WE WILL QUICKLY, WE'RE GONNA EXPAND AND EXPAND AND EXPAND.
SO EVENTUALLY WE HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE NO ONE ANYWHERE IN OUR AO AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
EVEN THE COUNTY OF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE HOPE, THE GOAL THAT IS SLEEPING OUTSIDE AND GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
AND BEFORE YOU, UH, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, DIRECTOR SATTERWHITE, I KNOW YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT MIDTOWN MM-HMM
AND, AND YOU WERE GONNA HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS.
UH, ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE, UH, ANY ANY PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE ON THOSE LINES? SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY I'M TALKING TO THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM CLOSELY.
UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES IN MIDTOWN ALSO.
AND, AND IT'S, YOU HAVE A LOT, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU HAVE A LARGER POPULATION OF, OF, OF HOMELESS OUT THERE.
UH, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE RIGHT NOW A LITTLE STRUGGLING, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THEIR FACILITIES.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM, JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER PLACES TO WORK OUT A BETTER PLAN.
UM, MIDTOWN IS A, A, A VERY, UH, IT IS, IT IS FRONT OF MIND.
UM, ANYBODY THAT GOES THROUGH THERE, SOME, SOME OF THOSE STREETS RIGHT NOW, UM, ARE ARE SEEING A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF PROBLEMS. AND SO WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON THAT.
AND I'LL, I'LL ALSO SHARE, UM, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WAS SORT OF ALLUDING TO THIS, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS RAISED FROM, UH, EAST END AREA RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.
SPECIFICALLY AROUND FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UH, SOME HAVE A FEAR THAT, THAT THE FACILITY WILL ACT AS, AS SORT OF A DRAW MM-HMM
AND IF, IF CAPACITY IS EXCEEDED IN, IN THE HUB, UH, YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL NUMBERS OF HOMELESS, UH, HANG, YOU KNOW, UH, BEING PRESENT IN IN THE AREA.
UH, DO EITHER OF YOU, ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT OR? SURE.
SO RIGHT NOW, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WE, WE, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU GO OVER CONGRESS, UH, EMAN SAINT EMMANUEL, YOU WILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HOMELESS.
WE DID A LOT OF WORK LAST YEAR ALONG THAT CORRIDOR AND PROBABLY REDUCE THE NUMBERS BY HALF, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY THE SINGLE PLACE.
I MEAN, EVEN TODAY, EVERY WEEKEND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP, UH, CHURCHES, OTHER GROUPS AND OPENING UP THEIR TRUNKS AND, AND, AND SETTING OUT THINGS AND DOING, HANDING OUT FOOD AND RESOURCES BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S AN AREA AS DO OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
SO THEY, THEY CONGREGATE THERE.
SO IT IS A, IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH.
[00:30:01]
BY THE COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT, THAT WILL, THAT WILL GET WORSE.IT IS OUR POSITION THAT WE'RE GONNA ENSURE THAT IT GETS BETTER, THAT WE BRING THEM IN.
TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE ALSO, FOR THOSE THAT ABSOLUTELY REFUSE SERVICES OR ANYTHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO OFFER, UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY'RE STILL IN VIOLATION OF LAW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME OF THAT TOO.
WE HOPE TO DO THAT VERY LITTLE.
WE HOPE TO BRING THEM IN AND START THEM ON A PATH TO SOMETHING BETTER.
BUT WE CAN NO LONGER, AND NOT THAT WE EVER WANTED TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, CAPACITY AS CAPACITY, WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO TO, TO CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THE LAW.
AND SO, UM, THERE, THERE WILL BE THAT I MENTIONED THE, UH, THE, THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL BE FOCUSED ON THOSE AREAS FIRST, AND IT WILL NO LONGER BE A PLACE TO ENGAGE IN THOSE ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, FOUR 19 IS GOING TO BUILD AND BRIDGE CAPACITY.
AND SO WE WILL BUILD CAPACITY ONCE OPEN, BUT WE'RE ALSO BRIDGING THAT CAPACITY TO SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT, UM, DON'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, THE FRONT DOOR WILL BE OPEN IN A WAY THAT HASN'T BEEN OPEN IN THE PAST.
AND SO I OFTEN TALK ABOUT OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION IS VERY DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS SAY, FIVE YEARS AGO, OR EVEN 11 YEARS AGO.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.
AND THE ONE THING THAT MAKES HOUSTON SUCCESSFUL IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE FLUID, WHICH IS A PROMISE THAT WE MADE WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT HOMELESSNESS BACK IN 2011, THAT WE WOULD BE FLUID TO ADJUST OUR SYSTEMS TO WHAT HOMELESSNESS LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
IF IT'S NOT WORKING, WE HAVE TO CHANGE.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAPACITY, IT'S ALSO BRIDGING THAT CAPACITY TO OTHER PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THAT PROVIDE SHELTER, AND THAT NOT EVERY HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL IS AWARE OF OR AT THAT MOMENT READY FOR.
AND SO AS THEY STAY HERE, IT'S GONNA BRIDGE THEM INTO THAT NEXT DESTINATION.
SO I DO THINK, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT FOUR 19 IS GONNA BUILD SOME OF THAT CAPACITY.
WILL IT BUILD IT FOR EVERYONE? PROBABLY NOT, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A GREAT START.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
DIRECTOR NICHOLS, DO YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? I HAD A FEW OTHER ITEMS AS I'VE, AS I'VE LISTENED TO MY ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, ONE IS, I, WHEN I SAT DOWN, I HAD A, A NOTE FROM WAYNE YOUNG WHO'S JUST MORE, YOU GET TO KNOW HIM, THE MORE YOU'LL LIKE HIM FROM WAYNE YOUNG WHO SAID, REMEMBER THAT IN WEATHER PROBLEMS, FREEZING RAIN, FREEZING SNOW, WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT FACILITY.
THAT'S JUST ANOTHER OP OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
UM, THE SECOND ITEM IS, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE BOB YURI, WHO'S HERE.
BOB, OF COURSE, IS A MAJOR FIGURE IN HOUSTON, HAVING RUN THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
AND BOB IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HARRIS CENTER FOUNDATION, WHICH WILL BE THE ENTITY THAT WHICH UNDER WHICH WE WILL RAISE FUNDS 4 4 19.
AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AS YOU SAW IN MELODY'S WRITEUP, IT'S A $39 MILLION THREE YEAR CONTRACT.
IF YOU TAKE $13 MILLION A YEAR AND DIVIDE IT BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IT'S LOT OF MONEY.
SHELTERS DO COST LESS, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
UM, EVEN, EVEN HOUSING WITH, UM, WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES MAY COST LESS, MAY COST LESS.
THIS GROUP IS THE REALLY THE HARDEST TO SERVE, HARDEST TO HOUSE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THE DOLLARS ARE THERE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
AGAIN, HOUSTON'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT FOR, FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.
THIS GROUP NEEDS THAT EXTRA HELP, NEEDS THE PSYCHIATRIC HELP, NEEDS SUBSTANCE USE HELP.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT COST IS THERE.
BUT AGAIN, COMPARED TO LEAVING PEOPLE ON THE STREET, IT'S A, IT'S A REAL BARGAIN.
UM, TWO OF THE POINTS, POVERTY.
THERE IS A LOT OF POVERTY IN HOUSTON.
UM, STUDIES SHOW THAT MORE THAN 40% OF THE POPULATION DO NOT HAVE $400 FOR AN EMERGENCY.
UM, WE LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN EVICTIONS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT SOLVING POVERTY, BUT THE REASON I REALLY LIKE THIS PROGRAM, IT'S, IT'S SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, MOST DIFFICULT TO HELP.
AND THE ECONOMY'S GONNA GO UP AND DOWN, BUT FOR THIS GROUP, THEY NEED THAT URGENT HELP.
FUNDING, BUT FUNDING CAME FROM METRO.
[00:35:01]
WANTS TO FUND THIS PRODUCT PROGRAM.THEY SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS ON THEIR TRANSPORTATION.
AND IT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM RIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO THEY'RE WITH THIS BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS.
AND THEN LAST IS THE URGENCY PART.
UM, WE HAVE PREPARED ROXANNE TO GO TO COUNCIL ON THE 22ND OF APRIL.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE DO THAT THEN.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE DON'T GET, HAVE TO WAIT, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK THAT WE GET ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
UM, BECAUSE THE QUICKER WE GET TO COUNCIL, THE QUICKER WE CAN OPEN UP AND THE QUICKER WE HAVE APPROVAL, THE QUICKER WE CAN OPEN UP.
SO WHAT I URGE EVERYBODY TO DO, EVERY COUNCILMAN AND COUNCIL PERSON TO DO, IS TO CALL US.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D LIKE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THAT COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE'D APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD MOVE TO THAT.
IT IS THE TOP OF OUR PRIOR PRIORITY TO GET IT THROUGH COUNCIL ON THE 22ND AND OPENED UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO IF YOU'RE, IF, UH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE CAN MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO COME TO YOUR OFFICE.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT HAPPENING NEXT WEEK.
UM, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR MY CALENDAR AND I'M AVAILABLE TO, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER THIS, AND SO PLEASE, UM, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT LET US KNOW AND WE WILL DEFINITELY GET YOU ON THE CALENDAR.
UM, REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE DOCUMENTS INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE, THE LEASE AND THE, UH, THE, UH, THE CONTRACT.
WHEN MIGHT THOSE DOCUMENTS BE AVAILABLE? SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THOSE WITH OUR ATTORNEYS BOTH ON THE HARRIS CENTER SIDE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON SIDE.
SO AS SOON AS THEY'RE READY TO BE UPLOADED, I BELIEVE IT'S IN ONE MEETING, WE WILL UPLOAD THEM.
IT WILL BE PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL.
THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING FINE, BUT THEY ARE, THIS IS VERY COMPLEX.
FIRST TIME ANY OF US HAVE DONE THIS.
SO IT IS TAKING SOME TIME, BUT IT WILL BE THERE IN TIME FOR YOU TO REVIEW THOSE BEFORE COUNCIL.
THE $39 MILLION, THAT'S, THAT KIND OF COVERS ALL THE OPERATIONS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL MONEY GOING TO SOMEWHERE.
THAT'S THE WHOLE BALL OF WAX, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND IF YOU DIVIDE THAT NUMBER, I'M INTERESTED IN DIRECTOR, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER ABOUT KIND OF THE DIFFERENCE, DIFFERENCES IN COSTS IN A SHELTER.
AND, AND, UH, THIS, I I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA SAY, TRANSITIONAL TEMPORARY HOUSING IS THAT WE'RE GONNA SAY TRIAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY.
TRIAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY.
AND IT'S ABOUT $160 A DAY PER BED.
AND WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN LIKE A REGULAR OLD SHELTER? SO REGULAR SHELTER, SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY WAIT IN LINE UNTIL PROBABLY ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK.
THEY COME IN, THEY GET A BED, AND THEN THEY'RE ASKED TO LEAVE SOMETIME AFTER BREAKFAST.
THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS OR UNHOUSED RELATIVES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN, UM, ANYTIME BETWEEN SEVEN TO NINE, UNLESS THEY'RE WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT DROP OFF AND THEY CAN COME IN AT ANY HOUR.
THEY'RE GIVEN, UH, THREE HOT MEALS A DAY.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE, UH, ONCE THEY COME IN.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO TRIAGED FOR THE PROPER CLINICAL CARE, WHICH IS, THERE'LL BE A CLINIC ON SITE, UM, PSYCHIATRIC, UM, PSYCHIATRIC ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, UM, ANY TYPE OF PHYSICAL.
AND THEN THEY GET, UM, TRIAGED AND, UM, AND ASSESSED TO GO INTO THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS HEALTH, WHICH WILL RUN A CLINIC THERE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN IN THE SERVICES THAN SOMEBODY'S IN A REGULAR SHELTER WHO HAS TO BE OUT AT 7:00 AM.
UH, AGAIN, CLARITY, ESPECIALLY TO OUR COUNCILMEN TO REPRESENT THOSE AREAS.
THE GOAL IS FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THAT FACILITY.
SO THERE HAVE TO BE ACTIVITIES, THERE HAS TO BE TRAINING, THERE HAS TO BE EDUCATION FOR THEM TO STAY IN THOSE, THAT FACILITY.
FOR ALL YOU JUST DESCRIBED, I THINK $160 A DAY IS GOOD.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE IS, I MEAN, THERE'RE THERAPISTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, 300 BUCKS AN HOUR, MAN.
I MEAN, BUT, BUT, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE'S A WORKFORCE ECONOMIC COMPONENT AND IMPACT TO THIS PROGRAM.
SO IT IS $39 MILLION, BUT WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING FULL-TIME, 86.5 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S CASE MANAGERS, THAT'S YOUR STAFFING.
AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS, IS WHAT WE CALL THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS, LAUNDRY SERVICES, JANITORIAL FACILITY SUPPLIERS, SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR UNHOUSED RELATIVES, BUT WE'RE ALSO SERVING
[00:40:01]
THE COMMUNITY AND GROWING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AROUND THAT COMMUNITY.TO CLARIFY, THE $39 MILLION IS WHAT HAPPENS AROUND INSIDE THAT FACILITY, RIGHT? CORRECT.
WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE EXTRA DOLLARS NEEDED FOR EXTRA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER FOLKS, WHICH IS EXTRA.
UM, THE, WE WILL BE BACK TO YOU FOR FUNDS FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT DRAWN OUT AND READY TO GO WITHOUT ASKING FOR GENERAL FUNDS.
AND THEN ON THE PURCHASE PRICE, THE 16 MILLION, THAT'S WHERE WE LANDED, RIGHT, SIR? 16 MILLION? YES.
UH, THAT PAYBACK IS KIND OF OVER TIME FROM THE TURS.
WE HAVE FUNDING FROM, FROM ONE TURS THAT WILL PAY BACK, BACK OVER TIME AND OVER 10 YEARS, WE'LL HAVE COMPLETELY PAID THAT BACK.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL WITHIN THE PLAN AND I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE, UM, UH, THAT THIS IS A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT BECAUSE WE'RE USING HUD MONEY AND WE CAN DO THIS FOR FIVE YEARS WITHOUT COMING BACK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM STAFF, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS' OFFICE.
SO NOT A QUESTION, BUT JUST WANNA REITERATE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS' SUPPORT FOR FOUR 19, UH, AND GENERALLY THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IN HOUSING, UH, AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S POINT.
WE, WE DO BELIEVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER DOES BELIEVE IN HOUSING FIRST.
IT'S A DATA BACKED APPROACH, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT HOUSING, THAT HOMELESSNESS IS COMPLEX.
UH, AS WE WERE REMINDED THIS PAST EASTER WEEKEND, UH, AT OUR FIRST MOBILE CARE DAY.
UH, AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE BEING REALLY INDIVIDUALIZED IN THE HOLISTIC APPROACH AT FOUR 19, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO FOR THE CITY.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUPPORT FOR HOUSING FIRST FOR MANY YEARS, WE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT ARGUMENT.
WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IS PEOPLE MOVING TO SUSTAINABILITY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE HAS TO BE FUNDING FOR PEOPLE, ELDERLY WHO ARE PERMANENTLY DISABLED.
OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HOUSED, PROBABLY READY TO MOVE ON AND GO TO WORK AND HAVE SOME SUSTAINABLE PORTION.
IT'S ALL, WE HAVE GREAT PLANS WITH THAT.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL SUPPORT FROM THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE TRENCHES, GETTING PEOPLE INTO SOME KIND OF HOUSING AND THE RIGHT KIND OF HOUSING.
IT'S REALLY THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND RATHER THAN FIGHTING ABOUT IT, WE JUST WANT TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GO TO WORK.
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, IN THE QUEUE.
SO DIRECTOR, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, GREAT.
IF YOU DON'T, WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING SUPPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY COUNCIL? PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THOSE WELL BEFORE THE 22ND.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PART OF THE MEETING.
WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE'LL HEAR FROM ROY HIRSH.
UM, I REALLY ANTICIPATED SPEAKING AFTER SCOTT DIDN'T.
SO RORY, CAN YOU, YOU PRESS THE BUTTON THERE TO TURN.
UH, I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE, UH, FRIENDS OF CGAS PARK.
UM, UH, THE PARK IS UNIQUE BY ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE HISD BAYLOR MAGNET SCHOOL AND TO THE SOON TO BE OPERATIONAL FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, HOMELESS FACILITY.
UM, THERE IS A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND THE STUDENTS WITH THE NEED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
UH, HOMELESS, THE HOMELESS OR MEMBERS OF THE LARGE, THE LARGER CITY POPULATION, AND HAVE RIGHTS THAT MUST BE RESPECTED.
I NEED IT TO BE EXPRESSLY CLEAR THAT, UM, I KNOW MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF THIS, UH, THIS GROUP, FRIENDS OF CGA PARK, WE ARE NOT IN OPPOSITION TO THE DIRE NEED TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN THE CITY.
THE, THE, THE FOCUS IS DOING IT RIGHT AND ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE SAME TIME.
[00:45:01]
SUGGEST PARKING GREEN SPACE BENEFITS TO HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLBEING, UH, VASTLY DIMINISH IF THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS UNSAFE.THE PARK ASPECT BE CONTROLLED, WHICH WOULD UNDERMINE THE WHOLE PUBLIC STATUS OF ITS NATURE.
UH, RATHER THE SCREENING PROCESS AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, WOULD NEED TO BE THE DISQUALIFYING FACTOR AS TO WHO THE RESIDENT POPULATION OF THAT FACILITY IS BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THAT POPULATION IS GOING TO BLEED INTO THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PARK AREA.
UM, AND BEYOND THAT, IT'S APPRECIATED.
NO ONE'S EVEN SUGGESTING OTHERWISE, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, DIRECTOR SATTERWHITE AND, UM, MR. NICHOLS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT ANYBODY'S TRYING TO OVER, UH, OVERSIMPLIFY THE PROBLEM IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
SO, UM, AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER OBSERVATION IS, IS A DIRE NEED FOR, UH, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO BEING KEPT IN THE LOOP AND CONSTANTLY BEING UPDATED AS TO WHATEVER KIND OF REVISIONS ARE, UH, BEING MADE IN THE PROCESS, KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING, UH, AND THAT YOU KNOW IT AS, AS IS IT IN THE NATURE OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY AT A STARTUP, UH, UH, UH, POINT.
WE WILL NEXT HEAR FROM SCOTT SINGLETON.
NO, BUT, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB YOURSELF, SCOTT.
UH, HELLO CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF AND AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA EXPRESS MY THANKS AND RESPECT FOR CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND TERRY ROBINSON AND HOW THEY'VE HANDLED DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY THUS FAR.
UM, COMING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, SIX MONTHS AFTER I ORIGINALLY CAME HERE TO OPPOSE 4 1 9 EMANCIPATION COMMUNITY STILL DOES NOT CONSIDER CONCENTRATING 200 PLUS CHRONIC HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE SECOND WARD TO BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE PURCHASE TRANSACTION IS CONCLUDED, MISSING, STILL ARE THE TWO APPRAISALS FOR THE PROPERTY, WHICH HAVE BEEN, UH, SENT IN FOR TPIA REQUESTS.
SO THE FIRST ACT SINCE THE TRANSACTION IS CONCLUDED IS TO SHOW US THE APPRAISALS AND AS WAS APPRE, UH, JUST PRESENTED THE $39 MILLION FROM HUD IS NOW HERE AND IS GOING TO BE, UH, FUNDING THE HARRIS CENTER'S, UH, OPERATION OF 4 1 9.
SO THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS, UH, THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS, THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SINCE THOSE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED ARE THE LEASE AND THE OPERATING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE CITY, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE THESE AGREEMENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THE EXPECTATIONS ON BOTH SIDES UNDER THE HARRIS CENTER.
UH, MY SON IS ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM AND OUR FAMILY HAS PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED THE HARRIS CENTER FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.
NONE WITH ACCEPTABLE OUTCOMES.
SEVERAL THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.
FIRST OF ALL, THE HARRIS CENTER IS UNDERFUNDED.
THEIR MOST RECENT FINANCIAL REPORTS STATE THAT FUNDING DROPPED BY $8 MILLION.
THE HARRIS CENTER HAS DIFFICULTY ATTRACTING AND HIRING PROFESSIONALS FOR THAT VERY REASON, AND EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IS VERY HIGH.
AND, UH, TO THEIR CREDIT, THOUGH, THE HARRIS CENTER SERVES 90,000 INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CLIENTS.
THIS IS A RIDICULOUSLY LARGE CASELOAD.
THE CASE MANAGERS HAVE VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SERVICES OFFERED, AND THAT IS RESULTING IN CONSTANT MISINFORMATION, ESPECIALLY IN OUR
[00:50:01]
PERSONAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE WITH THE HARRIS CENTER.THE CONTRACT PROCESS WAS ABOVE BOARD, BUT BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT HARRIS CENTER CAN MANAGE 4 1 9, EVEN WITH THE $39 MILLION.
UH, ON MARCH 10TH, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY HPD HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM AT BAKER RIPLEY, WHICH WAS GREAT.
WE'VE BEEN PROMISED THAT EIGHT HOT TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE BASED AT 4 1 9, BUT AS WE LEARNED AT THAT, UM, OUTREACH SESSION FROM HPD, THOSE EIGHT ARE FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
AND THE HOT TEAM ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY AT 4 1 9 AS CHIEF SATTERWHITE JUST MENTIONED.
AND THAT WILL BE UP TO HARRIS CENTER ITSELF.
SO THAT'S A CONCERN, EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AND OUT OF THERE, THE SECURITY OF THE FACILITY ITSELF IS UP TO THE OPERATOR.
UM, NEXT, AND AS ROY KIND OF MENTIONED, THE UM, 4 1 9 FACILITY IS ABOUT 900 FEET FROM THE BAYLOR MAGNET SCHOOL.
AND CITY ORDINANCE AND STATE GUIDELINES PROHIBIT HOUSING SEX OFFENDERS WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL.
SO OUR NEXT ASK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTAKE REQUIREMENTS AT 4 1 9 PROHIBIT SEX OFFENDERS.
AND MY LAST POINT IS A SERIOUS SECURITY EVENT THAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 19TH, WHICH I DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH COPIES OF, BUT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS HIM THERE.
UM, A NEIGHBOR WAS WALKING HIS DOG AT THE CORNER OF EMANCIPATION IN TEXAS, 200 FEET FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF 4 1 9.
A HOMELESS MAN RUSHED THE VICTIM AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE, KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY.
THE VICTIM HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE AND MISSED WORK.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE THING THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AT 4 1 9.
UM, AS IT TURNS OUT, THERE WAS A CASE NUMBER GENERATED BY THE COUNTY, UH, PRECINCT SIX, AND, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL WAS APPREHENDED.
AND, UH, SO THAT WENT INTO ITS OWN PROCESS.
BUT THIS IS A RECENT AND VERY, VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE KINDS OF PUBLIC SECURITY ISSUES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT AND WANTS TO PREVENT REGARDLESS.
SO, UM, THE LAST ASK IS TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY WITH REGULAR MEETINGS WITH 4 1 9 MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING INTAKE AND PUBLIC SAFETY STATISTICS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
GOING BACK TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY.
HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THIS GONNA BE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AS WELL AS FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT? AND IF 4 1 9 IS TO BE A SUCCESS, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS CONSTANT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WILL NEXT HEAR FROM DOMINIC MAZO HERE.
UH, BEFORE I START, UM, I WEREN'T HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, I WAS AT THE MEETING THIS MORNING, SO I TOOK MY USUAL 96 TO REDLINE TO WALK DURING THE OFF PERIOD I WALKED TO OVER TO THE FLYING S SAUCER APP, I TO EAT, WALKED OVER HERE.
SO I'VE BEEN DOING MY, UH, EARTH MONTH THING THAT WOULD DRIVE OKAY.
AND I THINK AS A METRO CUSTOMER, AND I'VE BEEN RIDING BETWEEN Q TRAN AND METRO FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, UM, THE SITUATION WITH THE HOMELESS ON PARTICULARLY THE THREE LRT LIMES, UH, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS PEOPLE THINK IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A SHELTER AND IT, IT'S NOT, AND I CAN SEE WHERE MR. GER WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND AS A METRO CUSTOMER, THAT IS A PROBLEM.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A HOMELESS PERSON, PARTICULARLY SOMEBODY WHO DOES HAVE MENTAL ISSUES, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU WANT, WANT YOUR KIDS WITH YOU ON THE TRAIN WITH, WITH A PERSON LIKE THAT? I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE TREATED WITH COMPASSION.
THEY NEED TO BE TREATED, BE TREATED, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ACCEPT ONE THING ON ALL OF THIS.
[00:55:01]
BECAUSE OF EITHER GENETICS OR THEY GOT, UH, DISEASE OR, OR, OR WHATEVER, UH, SOMETHING WITH, WITH INGESTING CHEMICALS OR DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN CANNOT EVER BE ABLE TO BE OUT IN THE WORLD.UH, UNFORTUNATELY LIKE THE, LIKE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM.
AND I THINK ONE THING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR IS HOW DO EACH, AND I THINK THE GENTLEMEN DID SAY THIS, THEY'RE GONNA BE, SOME PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE IN, UH, SOME SORT OF ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOME THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
UH, I THINK IN ALL, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE FORCED IN THAT SITUATION JUST BY, BY FIAT, BUT TO BE CHARITABLE.
AND THE THING THAT THAT PERSON NEEDS IS ACTUALLY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE BEING SENT INTO A SITUATION LIKE WE SAW IN THE MOVIE, ONE WHO FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO NEST, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE EXPERIMENTING OR BACK IN THE VICTORIAN ERA, WE HAD ALL THESE TERRIBLE THINGS WE DID TO, TO PEOPLE WHO WERE MENTALLY ILL.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, BY NOT PROVIDING FOR THEM, AREN'T WE JUST AS GUILTY? AND I USED TO BE A PARAMEDIC AND THERE WERE THREE CLASSES OF PEOPLE THAT WERE, UH, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF, OF NOT ABANDONING THAT IS PEOPLE UNDER 18 BE ELDERLY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE, UH, UH, MOBILITY AND OTHER NEEDS AND THE MENTALLY ILL.
AND I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF ALL OF US AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP, UH, ARE ABANDONING, ABANDONING THE, THE MENTALLY ILL.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH JUDGMENT CALLS ON THIS, BUT TO, TO, BUT I THINK THAT'S, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE BRINGING IT UP.
ALRIGHT, BECAUSE IT, WE NEED THINGS LIKE THE PERSON THAT SAID I'LL, I'LL FINISH UP.
THE PERSON THAT SAYS ME SAYS WE GOTTA DO THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR BOTH THE PERSON AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
NOW I'M GONNA STOP RIGHT THERE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU CHAIR.
AND DOMINIC, YOU BRING UP GOOD POINTS, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
AND I, I WANNA REMIND FOLKS, RIGHT? AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU PAY PROPERTY TAXES AND YOU GET SALES TAXES, WHICH IS OUR GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S NO LINE ITEM WHEN IT STARTS TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LIKE HOMELESSNESS SPECIFICALLY, RIGHT? AND MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHINESS, UH, CHALLENGES.
AND SO, UM, AS YOU'RE ADVOCATING, BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE FUNDING, AS YOU'RE ADVOCATING, YOU HAVE A STATE REP, YOU HAVE A STATE SENATOR, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.
UM, I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.
THERE WAS A TAXING ENTITY IN HARRIS COUNTY, RIGHT, THAT ACTUALLY IS TAXING US FOR THE, FOR HELP.
AND WE JUST RECENTLY DID A TAX INCREASE FOR FLOOD, FOR FLOOD CONTROL TO ADDRESS THE THOSE THINGS.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE MORE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO CONTINUE CONTINUOUSLY FUND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BACKS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TAXPAYERS ALONE.
IT IS IN OUR BACKYARD AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS 'EM.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND REALLY START TACKLING THIS ALSO TOO AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE WE DON'T GET ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING.
AND THEN ALSO TOO, CAN WE COLLABORATE WITH HARRIS COUNTY, RIGHT? AND LAST ONE OTHER THING I'M GONNA SAY, WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT INTO THE HARRIS CENTER, HAS ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT OF ACTUALLY DOING A BLOOD DRAW? AND IT'S NOT TO GET TEXT PEOPLE, THEY'RE DOING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, BUT MAYBE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THEIR BLOOD CHEMISTRY IS NOT RIGHT.
IF YOUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY ISN'T RIGHT, YOUR BODY AND YOUR BRAIN DON'T WORK.
RIGHT? AND MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE THE THING IS, AND MAYBE INSTEAD OF AS PART OF THEIR TREATMENT, INSTEAD OF THEM GIVING THEM A LOT OF DRUGS, CHANGE THEIR DIET OR GIVE THEM, UH, VITAMINS OR WHATEVER.
SO I'LL BE FOCUS WITH THIS, THE APPROACH, THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAX RATE IS, UH, EIGHT 18 CENTS TO THE A HUNDRED DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT'S THE TAX ENTITY THAT WE'RE PAYING TAXES TO EVERY HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT.
HOW DO WE START TAPPING INTO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON, ON, ON HOUSE COMMUNITY, ON THE HOUSING SIDE, BUT ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AS WELL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
IS UH, THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER COMMENT WHO HASN'T YET SIGNED UP? ALRIGHT, HEARING NO ONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING NOW.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE AND THE PRESENTERS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL MEET NEXT MONTH.
SO WE'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU SEE YOU.