[Housing and Affordability Committee on August 18, 2026.]
[00:00:16]
GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE WITH US JOINING US.
WE ARE HERE TO, UM, HAVE OUR HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
IT IS EXACTLY TWO, I MEAN, 10:00 AM AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED IN THE ABSENCE OF OUR CHAIR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, UM, VICE CHAIR WILLIE DAVIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR AGENDA THIS MORNING.
I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH EVERYONE.
AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MAKE SOME PRESENTATIONS.
UM, OUR PUBLIC SERVICE REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MELANIE BARR.
UH, AND I THINK THIS IS NOT MELANIE BARR, I'M SURE.
UH, ALFONSO LOPEZ, ADMIN MANAGER FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.
AND THEN WE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A MULTIFAMILY, PRESENTED BY DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RYAN BIBBS.
AND, UH, OUR DIRECTOR'S COMMENT, UH, IN THE ABSENCE OF MIKE NICHOLS IS GOING TO BE COMING FROM DEREK SELLERS.
AND THEN WE WILL PROCEED WITH OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND, UH, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY WELCOME ALL OF THOSE.
SO LET ME JUST START BY IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH US.
WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE JOINED WITH US.
OUR, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM, UH, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, OUR VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AMY PEG, AND AS WELL AS OUR, UH, AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER JUNIOR RAMIREZ.
AND THEN WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM DISTRICT B, DISTRICT C, UH, DISTRICT F UH, H AND UH, ALSO AT LARGE THREE AND AT LARGE FIVE, WE WILL HAVE THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH US.
AND, UH, CERTAINLY WE'LL WELCOME ALL OF THEM THAT ARE GATHERED.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE READY.
GOOD MORNING, VICE CHAIR DAVIS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MEMBERS OF THE STAFF FOR DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TAMIKA JONES, AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MELODY BARR, ALL THREE AT A HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY HOMELESSNESS EVENT TODAY.
SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO JOIN US, UH, BUT WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH AND, UH, GET LET YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT.
FOR OUR FIRST TWO ITEMS RELATED TO PUBLIC SERVICES, ALONSO LOPEZ, ADMINISTRATION MANAGER IN OUR PUBLIC SERVICES DIVISION IS GONNA PRESENT THOSE TWO ITEMS. UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK RECAP, UM, TODAY WE ARE PRESENTING TWO PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH VERY SPECIALIZED PROJECTS AND PROVIDE, UH, PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES.
SO, ITEM TWO A, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH EL CENTRO DEON, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION IN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS HAWA FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HAUA ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH H HIV AIDS.
THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 130 HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING 80 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE REFERRED TO AS TBRA AND 50 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SHORT TERM MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
UM, ALSO REFERRED TO AS TRIUM.
EL CENTRO WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO A MINIMUM OF 80 HOUSEHOLDS.
THE AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH STARTED OCTOBER 15TH, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
EL CENTRO DEONE HAS, UH, RECEIVED VARIOUS FUNDING FROM THE CITY SINCE 2007, UH, DURING THE INITIAL AGREEMENT AT CENTRAL DEONE HAS SERVED 93 HOUSEHOLDS MEETING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ITS GOAL.
AND HAD NO FINDINGS IN THEIR MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE MONITORING.
TODAY WE HAVE JOE FUENTES, CHIEF INTEGRATION OFFICER, AND YVONNE BENMAR, OUR HOUSING, THE HOUSING DIRECTOR HERE WITH US.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS ITEM? GO AHEAD, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
SO FOR ITEM TWO B, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE SUB RECEIVING AGREEMENT WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INSPIRING COMMUNITIES INC.
FOR THE HOUSING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE HEART PROGRAM, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $90,000
[00:05:01]
IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CVG FUNDS WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE HEART PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO 45 INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.THROUGH ITS BENDING AND CONCESSIONS PROGRAM AND CBS HEALTH JOB TRAINING PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE CLASSROOM AND HANDS-ON RETAIL TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR CBS INTERNSHIPS AND FUTURE EMPLOYMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH STARTED SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2027.
HART HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY SINCE 2005, AND HAD NO FINDINGS IN THEIR MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE MONITORING.
HART HAS SERVED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ITS GOAL AND USE APPROXIMATELY 88% OF THEIR ALLOCATED FUNDS.
HART HAD NO FINDINGS IN THEIR LAST MONITORING REVIEW.
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE STRUCTURED INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, TRAINING, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. TODAY WE HAVE SHEILA TURNER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, JANE BERGOFF, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND A FEW OF THE INTERNS HERE WITH US.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
WELCOME OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE, I DON'T SEE THERE'S ANYONE IN THE QUEUE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE TOO, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM, UH, OFFICE OF, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, IS PRESENT WITH US.
SO WE ALREADY, UH, BROTHER SELLERS.
SO FOR THE NEXT, FOR THE MULTIFAMILY PRESENTATION, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS RELATED TO THE MULTIFAMILY, UH, DIVISION, RYAN BBBS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, IS GOING TO JOIN US TO PRESENT THOSE.
CO-CHAIR MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, VICE PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
THIS FIRST ITEM, FIRST, UH, SLIDE IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PROVIDING $6 MILLION IN CDBG FUNDS.
THE LAW WILL BE FOR FUNDING REHABILITATION OF THE NEW HOPE HOUSING CANAL, LOCATED AT 28 21 CANAL STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 3, LOCATED IN DISTRICT H.
UH, IN AUGUST OF 20, UH, AUGUST, UH, UH, 2005, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED TO THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT, THE DEVELOPMENT AND O DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION, UH, BY NEW HOPE HOUSING, UH, FOR THE NEW HOPE HOUSING CANAL PROJECT IS LOCATED IN HOUSTON SECOND WARD, PROVIDING 134 STUDIO EFFICIENCIES, UH, AMIS AT LEVELS 30%, 50%, AND 60% A MI.
THIS REHAB WILL INCLUDE ROOFING REPLACEMENT, CABINETRY FLOORING, ENERGY STAR WINDOWS, HEATING BOILER UPGRADE, UH, BRICK AND STUCCO REPLACEMENT, AND IS GONNA INCLUDE A MAJOR, UH, GENERATOR, WHICH WILL POWER, UH, ELEVATORS, AMENITY SPACES, CORRIDOR LIGHTING, HVAC, AND WATER TO RESIDENTS DURING LONG POWER OUTAGES.
HERE IS JUST A SLIDE OF THE SOURCES AND USES FOR THE PROJECT THAT SHOWS THE CITY'S, UH, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON CDBG INVESTMENT OF $6 MILLION.
THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT IS, IS $12 MILLION, AND WE HAVE IRAN OSA, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT HERE WITH US FROM NEW HOPE HOUSING, UH, TO REPRESENT THE, UH, CORPORATION.
WE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, TWO PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEK TATU.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, THIS PRESENTATION.
I, I WANTED TO JUST AMPLIFY THIS REHAB BECAUSE I'M A PROPONENT OF REHABS.
IT'S BEEN 20, 21 YEARS MM-HMM
UM, AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACK AND PUTTING MONEY IN TO UPLIFT THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK THAT THIS IS, IS SUCH A, A GREAT METHOD TO MAINTAIN OUR HOUSING STOCK THAT I WANTED TO JUST GET ON THE RECORD AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I LOVE A GOOD REHAB.
PEOPLE DESERVE A GOOD REHAB, AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE REHABS.
UM, AS WE LOOK AT THESE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES,
[00:10:02]
WE HAVE A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY THAT JUST LITERALLY CLOSED YESTERDAY.AND SO THERE'LL BE REHABS COMING OUT OF IT, SO THERE'LL BE MORE IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO CHAIR, THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY, UH, A GOOD RESIGNATION.
WE HAD THE TOWN HALL MEETING ON LAST NIGHT AND OVER IN THE DISTRICT, UH, DE COMMUNITY AND THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER MM-HMM
AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO ME AFTER THE TOWN HALL ABOUT SOME OF THE REHABS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT THIS DONE.
WE RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT NEW HOPE HOUSING HAS DONE, DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK OVER THE YEARS.
UM, YOU MAY HAVE SAID IT, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT.
WHEN DID, WHEN DID THE BUILDING FIRST OPEN? 2005.
AND, UM, UH, YOU, YOU WENT THROUGH THE REHAB WORK, UH, WHICH I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS, IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THESE PROPERTIES MAINTAINED.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW THE, THE LOAN IN QUESTION, IS IT A FORGIVABLE LOAN OR, UH, UH, WHAT SORT OF LOAN IS IT? IT IS A FORGIVABLE LOAN.
AND, UM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FOLKS CURRENTLY IN, IN THE FACILITY NOW ARE, ARE RECEIVING, UH, HOUSING VOUCHERS? I DO NOT.
I CAN, UH, WE HAVE A REP HERE, RON, WHO COULD COME UP AND ANSWER THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION IF NEEDED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
NOW WE ARE UP TO THE, IS IT FINANCE? YOU WANNA ASK? I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, ABOUT 30% OF THE RESIDENTS AT CANAL HAVE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS.
UM, WE ALSO, IN THAT, IN THAT DEVELOPMENT ALSO INCLUDE, UM, PRIVATE MOUS, UM, PARTNERSHIPS WITH, WITH THE LIKES OF BRIDGET'S HOPE AND, AND SEARCH, UM, UH, THAT PROVIDE RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO THOSE EXISTING TENANTS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TENANT, WE ALSO ACCEPT TENANT BASED VOUCHERS FOR THAT PROJECT.
AND, AND ABOUT HOW LEASED UP IS THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW? IS IT, SO THE PROJECT IS ABOUT 90% LEASED UP.
UM, AND SO WE DO HAVE A RELOCATION PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, TO CERTAINLY, UM, FACILITATE THE REHABILITATION OF CANAL IN A, IN, IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
H HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL TAKE? SO RIGHT NOW, OUR, UM, EVERYTHING FROM START OF CONSTRUCTION TO THE END OF CONSTRUCTION, UH, IS ABOUT A 10 MONTH REHABILITATION.
APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION AND, AND YOU BEING HERE.
UH, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE ITEM UNDER MULTIFAMILY, THE RESERVE AT ELLA AND RYAN.
UH, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS A COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT.
UH, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT RESERVE AT ELLA, LOCATED AT SOUTHWEST, AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF ELLA AND RUSH CREEK.
THERE'LL BE NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR FAMILIES.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADMINISTERS THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FEDERAL TAX CREDITS TO SPREAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE DEVELOPER MUST SUBMIT A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION WITH THEIR APPLICATION SUBMISSION TO T-D-H-C-A IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR APPLICATION.
THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS PERFORMED A THRESHOLD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION.
TODAY WE HAVE JOEL P*****K WITH STREAMLINED ADVISORY PARTNERS WITH US HERE TODAY.
UH, I WILL REMIND, UH, THE HORSESHOE THAT THIS IS A THREE STEP PROCESS, UH, MEETING AT COUNCIL THREE TIMES.
THE FIRST PROCESS WILL BE MOTION TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WE'RE TARGETING SEPTEMBER THE SECOND, THE SECOND S THE NINTH, UH, ITEM WOULD BE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'RE TARGETING THAT FOR SEPTEMBER THE NINTH.
AND THEN THE VOTE FOR SEPTEMBER, UH, 16TH IS OUR TARGET DATE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TAMIKA JONES IS NOT WITH US TODAY, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON DR 17 WHERE WE STAND.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING OUT MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS LEFT THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL RELATED TO OUR BUYOUT PROGRAM.
[00:15:01]
THE WORK IS COMPLETED, BUT WE NEED TO FINISH ON THE REMAINING AMENDMENTS IN ORDER TO CLOSE OUT THOSE CONTRACTS.OUR, UH, HOME BUYERS 2.0 IS FULLY EXPENDED.
UM, WE HAVE A REQUEST INTO THE GLO TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND MAYBE MOVE SOME UNUSED DOLLARS OUT OF OTHER PROGRAMS INTO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING DEFINITIVE YET, BUT WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
OUTSIDE OF THOSE TWO, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS IN A BUY, IS IN A CLOSEOUT, UH, REALM.
SO, AS WE MOVE INTO THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS, AS ALWAYS, WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THEN SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS WE'RE GONNA BE LAUNCHING OUR DISASTER RECOVERY 2024 SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM ON AUGUST THE 24TH ON MONDAY, AUGUST THE 24TH.
WE'RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS LAUNCH FOR THOSE THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE MAY, 2024 DERECHO OR HURRICANE BARREL EVENTS.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THAT MONDAY, AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO BEGIN, GO AHEAD AND BEGIN PREPARING FOR THAT LAUNCH.
IF THEY WERE IMPACTED, THEY CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO REVIEW OUR PROGRAM GUIDELINES, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM, AND BEGIN GATHERING DOCUMENTATION THAT'S NEEDED TO APPLY.
SO AS PART OF THAT LAUNCH, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT, THIS COMING SATURDAY FROM 10 O'CLOCK TO ONE O'CLOCK, WE'RE WE'RE HOLDING A HOUSTON DISASTER AND RECOVERY EXPO AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, LOCATED AT 64 0 2 MARKET STREET.
THIS EVENT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH HANDS-ON SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE.
AS THEY PREPARE TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM, EXPO, ATTENDEES WILL HAVE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND PICK UP A FISCAL APPLICATION, SPEAK DIRECTLY TO INTAKE SPECIALISTS, AND GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
WE WANNA THANK ALL EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS, UH, GETTING OUT THE WORD AROUND EVENTS LIKE THIS.
UH, TO DATE, WE ALREADY HAVE 300 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THE EXPO THIS COMING SATURDAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE POINT, HOPEFULLY THAT MANY PEOPLE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SATURDAY FOR THE, FOR THE HOUSTON DISASTER AND RECOVERY EXPO.
WE, IN OUR TOWN HALL, WE PUT THE EMPHASIS LAST NIGHT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALSO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
SO THIS IS ALL KIND OF FALLING IN AT THE RIGHT TIME.
WE, WE'VE BEEN GIVING REGULAR UPDATES ON THIS, UH, YESTERDAY IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS AND EVELYN LOCKLIN, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE HAIR CENTER, DID A ROBUST UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND FOR FOUR WITH FOUR 19.
I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO AND, AND FIND A REPLAY OF THAT ON THE HTV WEBSITE WHEN IT GETS POSTED.
LOOK, THIS MORNING, IT'S NOT QUITE UP YET, BUT THEY'LL HAVE THE, THE COMMITTEE THERE.
IT'S IN THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENT PORTION.
A FEW THINGS I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS MENTION IT.
UH, FOUR 19 CONTINUES TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY, AND THEY'RE EXPANDING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE RESIDING WITHIN IT, UH, TO HELP MOVE THEM TOWARDS STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
MOST RECENTLY, FOUR 19 WAS ADDED AS A STOP ON THE PROJECT ACCESS ROUTE.
THIS GIVES GIFTS FREE TRANSPORTATION TO 26 LOCATIONS THAT OFFER HOMELESS MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
DID YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT? UH, IN ADDITION, PNCS MOBILE BANK BEGAN BIWEEKLY VISITS ON AUGUST THE SEVENTH.
AND SO THEY'LL BE THERE EVERY OTHER WEEK, UH, THAT HELPS THE PEOPLE WITHIN FOUR 19 TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS.
UH, THEY'LL GET FINANCIAL LITERACY, WELLNESS RESOURCES, AND THE EVENT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL ON AUGUST THE SEVENTH THAT THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIR HOURS OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, THEY GOT A GREAT FEEDBACK ON.
AND JUST QUICKLY, A HUMAN IMPACT STORY FROM SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN THROUGH FOUR 19.
UH, THERE'S AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO FELL ON HARD TIMES WHILE HE WAS WORKING TO REBUILD HIS BUSINESS.
HE ENTERED FOUR 19 ON JUNE THE 23RD.
AND AT WHILE THERE, HE WAS CONNECTED TO MEDICAL CARE OPERATION ID, PEER SUPPORT, SOBRIETY ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING NAVIGATION.
THROUGH THAT SUPPORT, HE RECEIVED A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REFERRAL THROUGH AVENUE 360, AND ULTIMATELY QUALIFIED FOR PLACEMENT AT SITZ.
UH, THAT'S RUN BY NEW HOPE HOUSING.
UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, VICE, I MEAN, MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING UP FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION LAST WEEK.
UM, I HOSTED, UM, THE LARGE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTS FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE STOPS ON OUR TOUR.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, ELECTED LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE INTERESTED IN HOW WE PURCHASE THIS PROJECT, HOW WE ARE FUNDING THIS PROJECT, AND HOW THIS IS REALLY,
[00:20:01]
UM, MAKING AN IMPACT ON OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.UM, WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, LEARN MORE ABOUT, UM, THE VENDOR AND HOW THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH, UM, THE, THEY, THEY, AND THEY, AND I LOVE THAT THEY CALLED THEM THE GUESTS THAT WERE IN THE PROPERTY.
IT WAS A FIRST CLASS OPERATION HAPPENING THERE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THE FOOD THAT THEY WERE EATING, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.
UM, BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAID WAS, IF, IF THEY KNOW THEY CAN DEPEND ON A VERY GOOD HOT MEAL THREE TIMES A DAY, THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP COMING BACK AND GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HAIRCUTS, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE FOLKS THAT WERE ABLE TO HOUSE THEIR ANIMALS.
UM, THEIR, UM, IT WA IT WAS REALLY NICE TO WALK AROUND AND SEE PEOPLE SITTING AND WATCHING TV IN BETWEEN, UM, THEIR, THEIR SESSIONS AND JUST LIVING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BEST OF THEIR CURRENT CONDITIONS.
UM, AND THAT THEY WEREN'T JUST ON THE STREET, BUT THEY WERE IN A FACILITY THAT, YOU KNOW, FELT LIKE I'M, I NEED A HAND UP AND I HAVE A PLACE THAT I CAN GO TO GET THAT HAND UP TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF.
SO, UM, KUDOS TO, UM, HARRIS HEALTH AND EVERY PARTNER THAT WE HAVE, UM, OPERATING FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION BECAUSE EYES ARE ON IT AND PEOPLE WANNA REPLICATE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT'S, IT'S QUITE AMAZING WHAT HARRIS CENTER'S BEEN ABLE TO DO IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
IT'S, IT'S ONLY BEEN OPEN SINCE THE END OF MAY.
AND, UH, IT'S GONNA GET BETTER.
THE, THERE'S MORE RESOURCES COMING, UH, IT'S GONNA IMPROVE, BUT TO GET THE FEEDBACK WE'RE ALREADY GETTING, I THINK IT SAYS A LOT TO THEIR OVERSIGHT AND THEIR CAPACITY TO DO THIS.
I KNOW IT WILL, BUT IT, I'M GLAD TAMIKA JONES WAS THERE AS PART OF THAT VISIT, BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY SIDE OF IT, AND SHE'S BEEN INTEGRAL TO THAT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE HAD TO DO TO THE BUILDING ALONG THE WAY, LIKE OPENING UP THE BARK COMPONENT OF IT TO ALLOW ANIMALS TO COME.
I JUST, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO MAYOR PRO TEM, WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT, UH, FEEDBACK TO COME FROM NATIONAL VISITORS IN OUR CITY WHO REPRESENT OTHER LARGE CITIES.
AND TO SEE THIS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ON AS AN INITIATIVE.
THIS IS A PILOT AND IT'S ONLY BEEN OVER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT'S COMING OUT OF IT, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER, MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I GET QUESTIONED ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE FOUR 19, YOU KNOW, WHY DID WE DO IT? AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A PLUS FOR HOUSTON TO TAKE THE LEAD AND WHERE WE KNOW BY EXPERIENCES, A LOT OF CITIES HAVE FAILED IN THE AREA OF DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, AND WE ARE TAKING THE FOREFRONT AND THANK THE MAYOR AND, UH, MY COLLEAGUES AND CERTAINLY, UM, UH, THOSE WHO'VE TAKEN CHARGE, OUR CHAIR, COUNCILMAN THOMAS AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN IT.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT AS WE PRAYERFULLY PRAY THAT IT WILL FACILITATE FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN IT.
AND I THINK IT'S A, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE PNBC MOBILE BANK, I THINK THAT IS REALLY, UH, CUTTING EDGE TO HAVE THAT, TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE WHOLE, UH, ABOUT THE CHANGING OF THEIR LIFE.
SO I THINK PEOPLE OUGHT TO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HELPING TO RESHAPE AND MOLD PEOPLE'S LIVES.
FOR OUR NEXT ITEM, UH, THIS IS NATIONAL HOME OWNERSHIP MONTH, OR JUNE WAS NATIONAL HOME OWNERSHIP MONTH.
WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN AT HCB HIGHLIGHTING OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO EXPAND HOME BUYING OPPORTUNITIES AND PERVERT, UH, PRESERVE EXISTING HOMES ACROSS HOUSTON.
UH, ONE OF THE STORIES WE WANTED WAS FEATURE IS MR. ALTON FORD.
HE'S 88 YEARS YOUNG AND A RECIPIENT OF OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
UH, THROUGH THE PROGRAM, MR. FORD RECEIVED A FULL HOME RECONSTRUCTION, AND NOW HE'S ABLE TO LIVE COMFORTABLY AND PEACEABLY IN A SAFE, QUALITY HOME.
RECENTLY, UH, WE, UH, JOINED N HP FOUNDATION, TRINITY EAST VILLAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR.
THIS IS A NEW 90 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS AGED 55 AND OLDER IN THE THIRD WARD.
THIS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN PRESERVING AFFORDABILITY, REDUCING DISPLACEMENT, AND HELPING LONG-TERM RESIDENTS REMAIN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THIS TOTAL PROJECT COST IS $32.2 MILLION, AND THE CITY INVESTED $4 MILLION
[00:25:01]
IN HOME FUNDING TOWARDS ITS DEVELOPMENTS.AS ALWAYS, WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE PROGRESS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE NEW HOPE HOUSING WHEATLEY.
UH, IT RECENTLY BROKE GROUND ON THE APRIL THE 26 APRIL OF 2026.
ALL 103 ARE GONNA BE RESTRICTED, AND WE INVESTED $4 MILLION IN HOME TOWARDS THE TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $31.1 MILLION.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE THE RUSHMORE APARTMENTS, AND WHAT I WANNA NOTE IS WE'RE ESTIMATING A RIBBON CUTTING ON THIS DEVELOPMENT IN NOVEMBER.
UH, THIS ONE HAS 85 OUT OF 101 TOTAL UNITS THAT ARE RESTRICTED FOR FAMILIES AT 30 TO 60% A MI, WE PUT $3 MILLION IN HOME TOWARDS THE $32.9 MILLION DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS ONE'S LOCATED IN DISTRICT G.
WE HAVE AN UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTING EXPECTED FOR OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR FOR THIS ONE.
THIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT J, AND, UH, 90 OF OUT OF THE A HUNDRED TOTAL UNITS ARE RESTRICTED, AND WE'VE PUT INVESTED $4 MILLION IN HOME TOWARDS THE $34.8 MILLION DEVELOPMENT COST.
OUR NEXT TWO DEVELOPMENTS WERE RECENTLY, UH, CAME OUT OF OUR RECENT NOTICES OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY FOR OUR HOME PROGRAM.
ONE OF THESE IS RETREATED ESTHER AND DISTRICT B.
ALL 103 UNITS ARE RESTRICTED, AND WE INVESTED $4 MILLION TOWARDS A $27.5 MILLION DEVELOPMENT COST.
WE'RE EXPECTING COMPLETION IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE NEW FAITH SENIOR VILLAGE.
UH, WE INVESTED 4 MILLION TOWARDS THIS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
IT'S A $26.8 MILLION TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COSTS.
UH, WE RESTRICTED 98 OUT OF 105 UNITS, AND WE'RE EXPECTING COMPLETION IN DECEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
AS ALWAYS, WE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, SO THE EVENTS THAT WE HOLD, UH, INFORMATION THAT WE PUT OUT ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENTS, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO KNOW WHAT THE HOUSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS DOING FOR HOUSTONIANS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THE QR CODE ON OUR SCREEN WILL HELP YOU TO GET TO OUR EMAIL LIST.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE, WHETHER THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE OR THEY'RE DEVELOPERS OR SUB-RECIPIENTS THAT ARE LOOKING TO GET BECOME PART OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE ASK THAT YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST SO THAT YOU GET THE UPCOMING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COME ABOUT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UH, SO MY NAME IS BRANDON COFIELD.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR.
I WANTED TO, ONE, INTRODUCE MYSELF TO, UH, THIS COMMITTEE AND CITY COUNCIL AND TWO, INTRODUCE THE OFFICE.
UH, IN SHORT, THIS OFFICE, UH, BY STATUTE HAS THE AUTHORITY.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE AN ESTATE WITH NO KNOWN HEIRS OR SUITABLE HEIRS, AND THERE'S ASSETS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO LOSS OR WASTE TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN AS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE.
I KNOW SOME OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING, UM, DISTRICT H, HAVE REACHED OUT TO THIS OFFICE AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP OUT BECAUSE WHAT I, WHAT I SEE IS IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE THE KEY, AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE LOCK.
THE CITY GETS BLAMED OFTENTIMES WHENEVER THERE'S AN ABANDONED BUILDING OR A DANGEROUS BUILDING.
AND WHENEVER IT'S AN INSTANCE WHERE IT'S A DECEASED PERSON'S PROPERTY, WE CAN STEP IN AND TRY TO HELP RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.
UM, AND SO ULTIMATELY WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M REALLY WANTING TO DO IS TO KIND OF GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED, UH, I DEFINITELY WANNA COMMEND A COUPLE OF FOLKS OVER PERMITTING.
UH, MR. DAVIDSON, MS. STRONG, UH, OFFICER SIMON, HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF KIND OF TAKING THINGS FROM JUST THOSE YELLOW PLACARDS THAT YOU ALL PLACE, THAT OFTENTIMES THERE'S LIKE PLACARD AFTER PLACARD, BUT IF THERE'S NO OWNER OR NO KNOWN AIR, NOTHING COULD HAPPEN.
AND SO FOR US TO STEP IN AND BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE CITY AND THE COUNTY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS.
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE THINK OF AND KNOW THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THEY THINK OF WHETHER IT'S THE COMMISSIONERS OR THIS SMALL OFFICE.
AND SO HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY BETTER SERVE, UH, OR GREATER HOUSTON AREA IN THE COUNTY? SURE.
[00:30:01]
COLLABORATION IS ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY, UM, A GOOD THING TO DO.WE HAVE, UH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM ACK TATUM, AND THEN FOLLOWING WOULD ME, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
OH, YOU DIDN'T, COUNCILMAN P I'M SORRY.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, WE HAVE CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST MM-HMM
AND, UM, IT, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT SERVICE THAT YOU'RE OFFERING.
AND IF THERE'S ANY, UM, OFFICES THAT HAVE NOT CONTACTED HIS OFFICE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
UM, ANY WAY THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF, SO THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER BECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER BECK'S OFFICE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, SOME SIDES OF TOWNS ARE BETTER AT REPORTING ISSUES THAN OTHER SIDES OF TOWN.
SO, UH, I'M HOPING THAT LAWYERS WILL TAKE THAT LEAD.
UH, ONE THING THAT I WILL MENTION IN FOLLOWING UP ON THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS WITH THE DISASTER RELIEF AND ELIGIBILITY, SOME PEOPLE THERE ARE LIVING IN PROPERTIES THAT ARE HEIRS, PROPERTY THAT ARE IN THEIR GRANDPARENTS' NAME, THEIR GREAT GRANDPARENTS' NAME, THEIR PARENTS' NAME.
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE RUN INTO ISSUES WITH ELIGIBILITY FOR SOMETIMES FEDERAL FUNDS AND OR LOCAL FUNDS JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBATE PROCESS.
THIS IS A, A KEY EXAMPLE AS I WAS SITTING THERE, IS LIKE, MAYBE THIS OFFICE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT AT THOSE TYPE OF EVENTS TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THAT FRINGE.
AND SO JUST ENCOURAGING YOU ALL, AND THIS OFFICE AND THE COUNTY TO TRY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN IT COMES TO PROBATE ISSUES AND HOW THAT AFFECTS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND SQUATTING AND FLOOD AND DEBRIS IN THE STREETS.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIVING AT HOMES.
IT HAPPENS AT ABANDONED PROPERTIES.
AND, AND THANK YOU BRANDON, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT STREAMLINING IS NEEDED, BUT ARE THERE SPECIFIC MEASURES YOU WOULD URGE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE OR THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE TO, TO MAKE YOUR, YOUR OFFICE MORE EFFECTIVE OR HELP YOU OUT? YEAH.
ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING, UH, HOW REFERRALS CAN COME INTO THE OFFICE.
TECHNICALLY RIGHT NOW, IT HAS TO COME FROM A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OR A NURSING HOME, OR LIKE A FUNERAL HOME OR HOSPITAL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AMENDED ON LEAST ON THE COUNTY SIDE.
SO I WOULD LOVE THE CITY SUPPORT, UH, THIS 90TH SESSION TO MAKE IT SO THAT ANY PERSON CAN REPORT A PROPERTY.
UH, I'VE RUN INTO SO MANY INSTANCES WHERE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING A YARD BECAUSE IT'S THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IF THERE'S STILL A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE GRASS IS NOT OUTTA CONTROL, HOW IS THE CITY GONNA FIND OUT AND HOW IS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY GONNA FIND OUT? AND SO I THINK EXPANDING THAT AND THEN WORKING WITH, I WOULD LOVE IDEALLY TO DO SOME MORE WORK TOGETHER, EVEN NEXT YEAR IF WE CAN GET THIS, UH, ELECTRONIC WILLS PASSED, BUT EVEN JUST LIKE A WILLS WEEK.
BUT JUST, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEONE THAT HAS PASSED.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE.
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRIEVE AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF, OF DEATH.
AND SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN INCREASE EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEN ALSO INCREASE AWARENESS OF SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, LIKE THAT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL, I THINK WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
UM, ALSO ON THE CITY SIDE, AND WE CAN HELP, I MEAN, ON THE IMMINENT DOMAIN PIECE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT EVERY INSTANCE WHERE YOU CAN'T FIND A PROPERTY OWNER AND HOW OFTEN THAT SLOWS THINGS DOWN, UH, THIS OFFICE CAN STEP IN AS A UNIVERSAL HEIR, ULTIMATELY FIND THE HEIRS, BUT GET THE HEIRS, THE ASSETS THEY'RE ENTITLED TO INSTEAD OF IT JUST BEING LOST FOR TAX FORECLOSURE.
SO ANY MECHANISMS, ANY PROCESSES, UH, WHEN WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO CONTROL THE PROPERTY, IF THAT'S SUFFICIENT FOR PERMITTING TO, TO ALLOW US TO SIGN THAT LIEN SO A PROPERTY CAN BE ABATED.
ANY OF THOSE THINGS I THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR MOVING THE PROCESS ALONG.
DO, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC LEGISLATORS LINED UP TO CARRY ANY OF THESE IDEAS? RESPECTFULLY, THAT IS ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.
SO FOLKS OVER AT IGA, I KNOW THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO COORDINATE, UH, I THINK THIS FRIDAY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO SAN ANTONIO FOR A HOUSING CONFERENCE.
AND I THINK SENATOR MENENDEZ IS THERE AND IS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BETTER ALLOW THIS OFFICE TO DO WORK AND HOPEFULLY CREATE THAT OFFICE THERE IN, UH, BEAR COUNTY.
BUT, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH YET, BUT I DO KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED SUPPORT UP THERE.
WELL, UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATION, I KNOW JOSH SANDERS WITHIN OUR, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION IS QUITE ACTIVE, UH, AND LEADS THAT EFFORT, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR COUNTERPART IS OVER AT THE COUNTY MM-HMM
BUT, UH, ANYTIME THERE IS A MUTUAL INTEREST IN, IN
[00:35:01]
SOMETHING LIKE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, UH, UH, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THERE'S, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.YEAH, I'M DEFINITELY GLAD TO REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND MR. SANDERS.
UM, AND JUST, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND OBVIOUSLY OFTENTIMES THEY OVERLAP.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE TYPE OF, EVEN JUST A SMALL INCREMENTAL STEP THAT CAN KIND OF BUILD SOME SYNERGY BETWEEN THE TWO.
'CAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OVERLAP, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
WELL, PLEASE CONSIDER ME AS A RESOURCE AS WELL.
I'D BE WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
HAPPY TO TAKE YOU UP ON MASTER.
UH, SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS AND PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO, UH, OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME DOWN.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, UM, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND SAY WHO YOU REPRESENT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
TURN YOUR MIC ON, RIGHT THERE IN FRONT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU.
I HAVE AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE LOVE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND THE FLOOR OF OUR FOUNDATION IS HOUSE IS HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE RECENTLY, OVER THE LAST, UM, FOUR YEARS HONED AND CRAFTED AND OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS YOUNG MEN 32 AND UNDER COMING HOME FROM PRISON AFTER SERVING LESS THAN 10 YEARS AND 18 AND, UH, 18 AND 21, BETWEEN 18 AND 21 AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
I CHOSE THAT BECAUSE BEING A WOMAN WHO EXPERIENCED HOUSELESS HOMELESSNESS WITH MY CHILDREN, IT WAS EASIER FOR, IT WAS HARD, BUT EASIER TO FIND RESOURCES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
MORE THAN MEN, ESPECIALLY COMING HOME FROM PRISON.
UM, BEING A HOUSELESS HOMELESS ADVOCATE, UH, I WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY IN THIRD WARD FROM A OUTER STATE INVESTOR BECAUSE FRANKLY, HE WAS NOT UPKEEPING THE PROPERTY.
AND AFTER ADVOCATING FOR THOSE TENANTS THERE, WE FINALLY GOT HIM ABLE TO, UH, CLEAN THAT PROPERTY UP AND HE SELF-FINANCE IT TO ME.
AND SO I AM TURNING THOSE UNITS INTO AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY FROM YOUNG MEN COMING HOME FROM PRISON.
WE HAVE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, SO THEY'RE NOT JUST COMING HOME AND CHILLING IN THE HOUSE.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS WE HAVE OUR INSERT CERTIFICATIONS.
SO THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A PROGRAM, THEY HAVE TO ATTEND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY EVERY WEEK AND PARTICIPATE.
THEY HAVE TO ATTEND FINANCIAL BUDGETING EVERY WEEK AND PARTICIPATE AT THE END OF OUR 16 MONTH PROGRAM.
THEY WILL GO INTO THEIR OWN HOME BECAUSE WE ARE THE FIDUCIARY AGENT OF THEIR PAYCHECKS, MEANING THEY'RE ON A BUDGET, THEY, UM, ANY BIG PURCHASES THEY HAVE TO MEET WITH THEIR FINANCIAL COUNSELOR.
I THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH HOUSING.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN, UM, WILLIE DAVIS BECAUSE I CAME HERE FROM THE MINISTER, THE MAYOR'S MINISTER ALLIANCE MM-HMM
UM, TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I AM A SITTING PASTOR AND A CHAPLAIN.
I ALSO HAVE CHAPLAINS THAT GO INTO THE PRISON UNITS EVERY THURSDAY AND EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.
THERE, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS TO YOU, BUT LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR PARTICIPATING WITH OUR ADVISORY BOARD, BECAUSE WE DO WANT THE FAKE COMMUNITY WHO HAS INPUT QUITE A BIT ACROSS THE CITY, AND MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT AND YOUR, UM, ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND TAKING THE LEAD.
WE CERTAINLY WANT TO COME APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT EFFORT AND WORK WITH YOU AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, LET ME, I DO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MEMBER.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OF YOUR LIFE.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE WILL BE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THERE ARE NO OTHER, NO OTHER COMMENTS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
AND ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE AT HEART, MY, ACTUALLY MY NAME IS SHEILA TURNER AND I'M SERVING AS INTERIM OH YES.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HEART PROGRAM.
AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR, AND I BROUGHT ALL THE TRAINING, SOME OF THE TRAINEES, NOT ALL THE TRAINEES ON MY PIN WOULD FILL THE WHOLE ENTIRE, SO YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND IF Y'ALL EVER GET A CHANCE, COME AND COME AND DO A TOUR.
[00:40:01]
JUST INCREDIBLE.I, YOU KNOW, I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ATTEND THE HEART LUNCHEONS AND, AND TO SEE, UH, THE, THE TALENTS AMONG THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK ALL OF THEM FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUATION FROM HOUSING, WORKING WITH HEART.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I DID SEE BROTHER, UH, DO SQUARE.
UH, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT BROTHER SQUARE, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS NOW, UH, BEFORE WE END THE, THE MEETING TODAY? YES, SIR.
I KNOW YOU WERE LIT, YOU WERE ON TO DO A PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WHY DON'T YOU COME AND, UH, AS, AS WE, UH, GIVE YOU THAT PRIVILEGE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, CAN I RAISE THIS UP OR DO I NEED TO LOWER MYSELF? NO, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SIT OR WE CAN RAISE IT RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN RAISE IT UP RIGHT THERE.
AND THEY CAN DO THIS AT THE GRAMMY.
NOW, UM, I WANTED TO, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE TOO MUCH TIME.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, HEDP, HARVEY ECONOMIC, UH, IT WAS, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT PROGRAM.
AND IT WAS BACK IN 2022, BUT I CAN ELABORATE ON THAT MORE PRIVATELY, UH, WITH YOU, DOC.
BUT, UH, IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE, I'M WITH HOUSTON HOMELESS HOTEL, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK GOD, FIRST OF ALL, AND IT WAS A PROGRAM BACK WITH THE CITY IN 2022, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE GAVE, UH, GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAD GOT TO PHASE TWO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND MIRACULOUSLY IT WAS THROUGH THE, UH, HOUSTON, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER, HCC, WHATEVER THAT IS, UH, THAT DEPARTMENT.
I THOUGHT MIKE NICHOLS WAS GONNA BE HERE.
BUT, UH, IT WAS BASICALLY COUNCILMEN SAYING THAT THAT WOULD'VE HELPED US.
WE WERE UP FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANT MM-HMM
AND MIRACULOUSLY WE MADE IT TO PHASE TWO AND WE WERE GETTING READY TO, UH, GET THE FUNDING DISTRIBUTED INTO OUR BANK ACCOUNT.
AND GLOBE ALL OF A SUDDEN PULLED THE, UH, WHOLE PROGRAM, TERMINATED IT.
AND WHAT IT WAS, WAS THAT THE REASON WAS IT WAS $16 MILLION.
THE THING WAS, THEY SAID THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS MOVING SLOW AND DIS AND DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDING.
SO BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST US, NOT JUST HOUSTON HOMELESS HOTEL, BUT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES GOT HURT BY THAT.
I JUST WANNA SAY IT, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU, APPRECIATE YOU.
I APPRECIATE EVEN, UH, MARTHA, MARTHA K TATUM.
AND, UH, SHE'S IN WHERE YOU IN K DISTRICT OR DISTRICT A, DISTRICT A AND, UH, EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN THE MAYOR.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL, Y'ALL PRAY FOR US AND, UH, YEAH, WE THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND CERTAINLY YOUR COMMENTS, UM, WE, WE WILL DEFINITELY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT WE COULD PROVIDE.
WITH THAT, UH, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, LET ME JUST SAY BEFORE WE ADJOIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR NEXT HOUSING AFFORDABLE ABILITY COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING, UH, ON SEPTEMBER THE 15TH AT 10:00 AM AND, UH, THE DISTRICT F OFFICE WILL BE SENDING OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND, UH, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AGAIN FOR, UH, TO EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE AND PARTICIPATING.
AND WE CERTAINLY, UH, WANT TO WISH YOU SAFE DAY AND BE CAREFUL AND ALL THAT YOU DO THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND STAY COOL.
IT IS NOW, UH, 10 45 AND WE STAND ADJOINED.
[00:45:01]
YOU.