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I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ENERGY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
TWO YEARS AGO, OUR DISTRICT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS TASK THE STAFF WITH EXPLORING WAYS TO BETTER ADDRESS UNHOUSED POPULATIONS IN OUR AREA.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE TYPICAL RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS IS TO REACH OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CITATION, TICKETING, AND THEN EVENTUALLY A VISIT TO JAIL.
BUT OUR BOARD RECOGNIZED THE LIMITED UTILITY OF THAT APPROACH.
OUR PRECINCT FIVE DEPUTY CONSTABLE SERGEANT, SHARED A STORY OF ENCOUNTERING A YOUNG WOMAN AND HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON PANHANDLING ON THE FEEDER ROAD TO THE FREEWAY.
SHE HAD A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.
SHE HAD RUN OUT OF MONEY FOR HER HOTEL ROOM, AND SHE HAD NOWHERE TO GO.
OUR SERGEANT SPENT THE NEXT SIX HOURS, EVEN AFTER HIS SHIFT ENDED TRYING TO FIND AN OPEN SHELTER BED FOR THEM ANYWHERE IN WESTERN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND WHILE HE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY FIND AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR THEM TO STAY, HIS ENCOUNTER UNDERLINES THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
THERE SIMPLY ARE NOT ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS TO GO AROUND.
IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT PEOPLE NEED IS A SAFE PLACE TO STAY WHERE THEY CAN RECOVER AND NOT A JAIL CELL.
SO AT THE DIRECTION OF MY BOARD, I REACHED OUT TO WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES AND THEIR AMAZING TEAM, INCLUDING THE ABSOLUTELY INCOMPARABLE NASSA GAVION.
YES, BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HER.
AND RASHIDA AND LAURA AND SOME OF THE ENTIRE TEAM HERE AT WHAM HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, AND I THANK THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
SO WE GOT TOGETHER TO THINK THROUGH SOME IDEAS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO OFFER A SAFE, STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR FOLKS IN NEED.
AND TOGETHER WE DETERMINED THAT THE BEST WAY TO HELP PEOPLE WAS TO SIMPLY PUT THEM UP IN A LOCAL HOTEL ROOM FOR A FEW WEEKS WHILE THEY RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND HELP TO GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.
OUR BOARD SUPPORTED THE IDEA AND FUNDED IT WITH $30,000 AS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW FIRST RESPONDERS TO ASSESS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND IF THEY MET CERTAIN CRITERIA, PLACE THEM IN A PARTICIPATING HOTEL WHERE A WHAM CASE MANAGER WOULD MEET THEM AND HELP THEM BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.
WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM IN AUGUST OF 2025 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WHAM AND OUR PRECINCT FIVE DEPUTY CONSTABLES FROM ALL BRITAIN'S OFFICE.
THIS THREE-PRONGED APPROACH BROUGHT TOGETHER HOTELS LIKE THE WOOD SPRINGS, AND I BELIEVE THEY WERE HERE TODAY.
THERE THEY ARE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM CONSTABLE AL BRITTON'S OFFICE, AND OF COURSE, THE SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERED BY THE FOLKS.
AT TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE THE SAFE SPACES THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO START REBUILDING.
AND THAT INITIAL $30,000 FROM OUR BOARD ALLOWED US TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF A PROBLEM THAT WE HADN'T OFTEN SEEN BEFORE HERE IN WEST HOUSTON.
THIS PARTNERSHIP AND INNOVATIVE THINKING IS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE CAN SERVEE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER AREAS.
AND BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS FIRST FEW MONTHS, THE BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED A TOTAL OF $60,000 PER YEAR TOWARDS THIS EFFORT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOARD CHAIR, MR. CHRIS COOK HERE IN THIS MEETING.
THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS SWIFTLY MATCHED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHOM YOU WILL HEAR FROM IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. SONYA SCOTT, THE CEO OF WAM HOUSTON, AND SHE'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND ITS OUTCOMES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AS WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND JUST TO SHARE HOW TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE THIS COMMITMENT POSSIBLE.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANNA THANK ZACH AND BRIAN AND BOARD CHAIR AND ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBER AT LARGE SERGEANT COMMISSIONERS, EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT.
THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WHAM AND THE ENERGY CORRIDOR HAS BEEN POWERFUL.
IT MEANS MORE WHAT IT TELLS YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ALL ADVOCATE FOR A COMMON GOAL.
BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY CANNOT BE SOLVED BY ONE ORGANIZATION, IT TAKES ALL OF US.
AT WHAM, WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SAFE, STABLE HOUSING.
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KNOW THAT WHENEVER SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING, WE DON'T ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.WE ASK, WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND HOW CAN WE HELP? THAT PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN TESTED IN WAYS WE NEVER COULD IMAGINED.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WHAM SUFFERED A DEVASTATING LOSS.
WHEN WE, OUR PIPES BURST AND OUR BUILDING FLOODED, WE LOST EVERYTHING.
BUT THERE WAS ONE THING WE DID NOT LOSE, AND THAT WAS OUR MISSION.
OUR NEIGHBORS STILL NEEDED US.
AND OUR TEAM SHOWED UP IN THE COMMITMENT, AND THEY REALIZED, WE REALIZED QUICKLY THAT WHAM WASN'T THE BUILDING.
I WANNA TAKE A MINUTE, A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, MY ENTIRE TEAM WHO HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE ON THE GROUND, UH, PATRICE EDER, VICTOR, JUAN, NAA G AND VITA DUNCAN, WE ALL THE EXECUTIVE TEAM WHO HELPED BEHIND THE SCENES, WE ALL WORKED TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
THEY SHOWED UP FOR WHAM THROUGH ALL THE N GAINING THE CHAOS AND COORDINATED PROBLEM SOLVING, SUPPORTING THE STAFF IN WHATEVER NEEDED TO BE DONE.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO BARTA DUNCAN, WHO WAS, TOOK HER SATURDAYS EVEN TO COME TO THE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT I WANNA DO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO, UM, OUR BOARD CHAIR AND OUR BOARD WHO, STEVE WILLIAMSON.
ALL OF OUR CASE MANAGERS AND NAVIGATORS WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN TEMPORARY AND MAKESHIFT LOCATIONS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHOICE PANTRY.
AND THE STAFF FOUND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONTINUE TO GIVE FOOD INTO THE HANDS OF THE FAMILIES THAT NEEDED IT.
AND WHEN THE NEIGHBORS COULDN'T COME TO US, WE WENT TO THEM.
OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TEAM CONTINUED TO SERVE BY HELPING WITH RESUMES AND JOB SEARCH, JOB COACHING.
AND THESE WERE IN SPACES THAT WERE NOT NORMAL.
OUR TEAM COULD HAVE FOCUSED ON WHAT WE LOST, BUT INSTEAD, WE FOCUSED ON CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MINUTE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, BECAUSE WHEN I SENT THE EMAIL OUT ABOUT THE FLOOD WITHIN MINUTES, SHE RESPONDED, SHE CALLED AND SHE SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM ME? AND THAT QUESTION MEANT SO MUCH BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT WE NEEDED WAS TO HAVE THE WATER SHUT OFF.
THE BUILDING WAS FLOODING COMPLETELY.
SHE MADE ONE PHONE CALL AND ESCALATED IT, AND SOMEONE CALLED ME WITHIN MINUTES TO GET THE WATER SHUT OFF.
BUT WE KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THAT WE WERE NOT STANDING ALONE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE STANDING WITH US.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT TODAY'S PARTNERSHIP IS ABOUT.
IT IS ABOUT WHAM, IN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR AND A TRUE WRAPAROUND RESPONSE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY.
A HOTEL ROOM MAY PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SAFETY, AND THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT CANNOT BE THE END OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE TO ASK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
WE PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM OUR CLIENT CHOICE PANTRY.
WE HELP TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES HELP TO PROVIDE JOB READINESS, JOB COACHING, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT.
WE ALSO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND WHEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS NEEDED, WE CONNECT THEM TO AGENCIES SUCH AS THE HARRIS CENTER.
THIS IS WHAT A COMMUNITY RESPONSE LOOKS LIKE.
IT IS SIMPLY NOT PUTTING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, BUT IT'S ABOUT HELPING THEM BECOME STABLE.
IT'S ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES TOWARD PERMANENT HOUSING, HELPING THE PARENT TO FIND A JOB, MAKING SURE CHILDREN HAVE FOOD, AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE.
THAT IS HOW WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS.
ONE PERSON, ONE FAMILY, ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME.
BUT WE CANNOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT RESOURCES.
THE NEED CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO DO.
WHAM HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR OUR NEIGHBORS EVEN WHEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR OWN ARE DIFFICULT.
BUT COMPASSION COMMITMENT MUST BE MATCHED WITH FUNDS AND INVESTMENT.
WE NEED BUSINESSES, FOUNDATIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, VOLUNTEERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN SOLUTIONS.
BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST IN PEOPLE, WE STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO THE ENERGY CORRIDOR PARTNERSHIP SHOWS US WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE STOP WORKING IN SILOS AND WORK TOGETHER.
WHEN EVERYONE BRINGS THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR RESOURCES AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE TABLE, WE CAN CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BIGGER THAN ONE ORGANIZATION.
SO I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
HOMELESSNESS IS NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.
AND AT WHAM, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO ADVOCATE AND TO, UH, HELP OUR HELP PARTNER, HELP TO GIVE
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THEM TO STABILITY.THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE SAY AT MY CHURCH, HIGHER DIMENSION.
WE SAY WE CAN'T HELP EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN HELP SOMEBODY.
AND THE SOMEBODY THAT WE HELP IS THE WAY WE WISH WE COULD HELP EVERYBODY.
AND AS I WAS GROWING UP IN A LITTLE SMALL TOWN IN MISSISSIPPI, AND MY SWEET DAD, WHO ACTUALLY TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY, HE WOULD'VE BEEN NINE, SEVEN, TELL MY SISTER AND I, HE WAS SONYA, TANYA, Y'ALL GETTING HERE.
AND IT WASN'T PROPER ENGLISH, BUT IT MADE SENSE.
HE WOULD GET IN HERE AND WASH THESE DISHES AND CLEAN THIS KITCHEN, AND WE WOULD YELL BACK, WE FITTING TO DO IT.
YOU KEEP SAYING WHAT YOU FITTING TO DO, JUST COME AND DO IT.
SO THAT IS MY, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU WITH TODAY.
DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANNA DO AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
AS I MENTIONED, THIS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WHAM LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I, I THINK IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU A, A FULLER PERSPECTIVE OF JUST WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, WE'D LIKE TO ASK A WONDERFUL YOUNG LADY TO COME UP AND SHARE HER STORY WITH US.
UM, I GOT AMAZING HELP FROM THE RAM, ASSISTANT RAM PROGRAM.
UM, LAST YEAR IN JANUARY, I GOT EVICTED.
I HAD FOUND ANOTHER PLACE IN KATY, BUT IT ENDED UP NOT WORKING OUT.
AND I WAS LIVING ON A FRIEND'S COUCH.
I HAD GOTTEN FRAUD MONEY STOLEN FROM ME TRYING TO RENT A HOUSE.
AND I WAS CALLING EVERYONE AROUND, CALLING CONGRESSWOMAN, CALLING ANYBODY THAT I KNEW, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE PROGRAM.
THEY IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME, GOT ME INTO THE PROGRAM, THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND A PLACE, HELP ME WITH THE DEPOSIT AND RENT FOR A FEW MONTHS, SO THAT WAY I CAN GET BACK ON MY FEET.
MY NAME IS TERRY ALBRITTON, AND I'M YOUR PRECINCT FIVE CONSTABLE.
I WANNA THANK THE ENERGY CORRIDOR AND WHAM, FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR INCLUDING PRECINCT FIVE IN THIS MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM, TWO, OFTEN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS CAN FOCUS PRIMARILY ON JUST MOVING PEOPLE FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER.
THIS PROGRAM TAKES A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH, ONE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE AND CREATING A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE AS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS.
WHEN OUR DEPUTIES ENCOUNTER SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THEY TAKE THE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL, ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, AND DETERMINE WHETHER THEY MAY BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE PROGRAM.
THAT INVOLVES CONSIDERING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE FROM THERE, OUR DEPUTIES WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ENERGY CORRIDOR AND WITH WHAM, TO CONNECT THE INDIVIDUAL WITH TEMPORARY HOUSING AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BEGIN MOVING FORWARD.
THAT CONSISTENT INTERACTION HAS ALSO HELPED CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA.
INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE VIEWED LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THEIR ADVERSARY ARE BEGINNING TO SEE OUR DEPUTIES AS PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY WANT TO HELP.
THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM SO IMPACTFUL.
IT IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE LEAVE THE AREA WITH THE HOPES THEY WON'T RETURN.
IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES, OFFERING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STABILITY, AND HELPING THEM TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY WILL LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM AS A MODEL, A MODEL THEY CAN FOLLOW.
IF THEY DO, PRECINCT FIVE WILL GLADLY DO OUR PART TO HELP IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS, UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, AND CONNECT THEM WITH THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.
THIS PROGRAM IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, AND IT ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH ME TODAY IS OUR ENERGY CORRIDOR SUPERVISOR, SERGEANT ERIC LEWIS.
OVER THERE, Y'ALL CAN HEAR ABOUT HIM A LOT.
AND THE FACT WE WERE SPEAKING YESTERDAY, SOMEONE WHO SHOWED UP AND SAID, I'M HERE FOR THE SERGEANT LEWIS PROGRAM,
AND NEXT TO HIM IS BARBARA MCGINNIS.
SHE RUNS OUR VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE.
UH, FEEL FREE TO GET WITH THEM AND ASK THEM ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ALL IS PROVIDED.
AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE ENERGY COURT ORDER AND WHAM AND EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR ALLOWING PRECINCT FIVE TO BE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT EFFORT.
I, I HAD PREPARED INTRODUCTIONS FOR EACH OF MY SPEAKERS, BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
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BRIANNE, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SERVE AS YOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE WITH OUR WAM PARTNERS, WITH OUR ENERGY CORRIDOR PARTNERS, WITH OUR CITY OF HOUSTON PARTNERS, AND MY HARRIS COUNTY PARTNER, OUR HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE AL BRITAIN, A PRECINCT FIVE, AND THE TEAM, AND OF COURSE, MY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM.
SO WE KNOW THAT AFTER COVID HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE NATION SURGED OVER 30%.
AND WE KNOW THAT ON AN AVERAGE DAY, THERE'S OVER 3000 UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE INVESTED APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY ARE EXPERIENCING.
EVERYTHING RANGING FROM HOUSING INVESTMENTS TO EMPLOY, TO EMPOWER WHERE WE GIVE DAY WORK TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
AND I'M PROUD THAT PRECINCT FOUR IS VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE HIRING AND PUTTING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK, UM, EVICTION, LEGAL AID, HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND BEYOND.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE INVESTMENTS.
AND WE'RE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PIECE AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND WHEN OUR PARTNERS, WHAM, AND THE ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT CAME TO MY TEAM AND I AND ASKED IF WE WOULD BE OPEN TO PARTNERING IN THIS PILOT, WE WERE ALL IN.
AND WE WERE HAPPY THAT PRECINCT FOUR WAS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE $60,000 TO HELP.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS SHOWS WHAT THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP CAN DO WHEN WE HARNESS OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT AND PUT IT INTO ACTION AS OUR MADAM CEO SCOTT SAID, RIGHT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
AND WE KNOW THE IMPACTS ALREADY THAT OVER 61% OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE SECURED PERMANENT HOUSING.
HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED, AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR AND OUR CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE, AND ALL OF US ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR RESPECTIVE RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES TO DO MORE TOGETHER SO THAT WE'RE CREATING MORE PATHWAYS TO SAFETY, TO STABILITY, HOUSING.
AND THIS IS REALLY PERSONAL TO ME, BECAUSE WHEN I USED TO BE A TEACHER, MANY OF MY STUDENTS STRUGGLED WITH HOUSING INSTABILITY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND MANY OTHER CHALLENGES.
AND WE OWE IT AS A COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO DO MORE AND BE EVEN MORE STRATEGIC AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SPANISH LANGUAGE PARTNERS HERE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT AND IN VARIOUS PROGRAM ENERGY CORRIDOR.
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THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, AND THANK EVERYONE THAT'S HERE THIS MORNING.IT'S WHY YOU RUN FOR OFFICE, WHY YOU SERVE ON MANAGEMENT BOARD, WHY YOU PRACTICE YOUR FAITH.
HUMBLE IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, INVOLVES A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH, CERTAINLY ADDICTIONS, BUT IT ALSO INVOLVES SOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT JUST NEED A LIFT AT THAT MOMENT.
WHEN WE OPEN OUR WARMING CENTERS IN THE WINTER, I VISIT THEM AND YOU VISIT WITH A FAMILY, WHAT GOT YOU TO THE HOMELESS CENTER? OFTEN IT'S AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP AND ALL THEY NEED IS TEMPORARY HOUSING.
OFTEN THEY NEED BUS OR AIRFARE TO GET BACK WITH A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY.
YOU CAN JUST HELP THEM WITH A HUNDRED, $200 TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR FAMILY.
CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
IT IS A TOP PRIORITY OF MY ADMINISTRATION AND MY PARTNERS THAT ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY IN THEIR DISTRICTS CITYWIDE.
THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, PARTICULARLY COUNCIL PERSON.
TIFFANY THOMAS ALWAYS IN THE HORSESHOE SPEAKS UP FOR WEST HOUSTON, AND IT'S VERY NOTICEABLE.
THE HOMELESS CHALLENGE IS CITYWIDE.
IN FACT, WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, THE HOMELESS COALITION, OUR NEW SITE, EMANCIPATION DOWNSTAIRS AND HOUSTON CENTER, HARRIS HEALTH, WE ARE ABOUT TO DENOUNCE THAT.
DOES ANYONE EVER NOTICE THAT PASADENA DOESN'T HAVE A HOMELESS ISSUE OR MAYBE SUGAR LAND OR KATY OR TOMBALL? I CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN A REGION.
WE'RE GLAD THAT THEY ARE IN OUR REGION.
700,000 PEOPLE COME TO HOUSTON EACH DAY TO WORK OR ATTEND TO EVENTS.
BUT THE WORD'S OUT HOUSTON IS ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.
WHAM, YOU'RE ATTRACTING MORE CLIENTS,
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY PUBLICLY DISCUSSED.
COMMISSIONER, AND THANK YOU TO OUR CONSTABLE.
IN FACT, ONE FOOD SERVICE DOWNTOWN IS CALLED THE BEACON.
BUT WE ARE REALLY THE BEACON FOR HOLISTIC APPROACH.
AND THERE'S SO MANY OF THE SPEAKERS WILL SAY IT'S ABOUT RESOURCES.
WE'VE GOTTA REACH OUT TO OUR STATE PARTNERS AND QUITE FRANKLY, HUD AND LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE'RE ON A ROLL.
WE'VE GOT THE LEADERSHIP IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES.
MIKE NICHOLS CAME OUTTA RETIREMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOMELESS COALITION RUNS MY HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE ALL MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AS I SAID WHEN I GOT UP HERE, THIS, THIS WHY WE WERE CALLED TO DUTY.
SO LET'S CELEBRATE TODAY, BUT LEAVE HERE FIRED UP, RECOGNIZING WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
UH, ALLOW ME TO PERSONALLY WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE WEST SIDE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THE BEST SIDE.
UH, BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT ALL OF US, UH, SHARE IN SERVICE AND IN COMMITMENT.
UH, AND WE ARE, WE DEEPLY ARE COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CONSTABLE, TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU IN THE ROOM WHO ARE JOINING US FOR, UH, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, IT IS NO SECRET THAT I AM A HANDS-ON COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, IT IS NO SECRET, UH, THAT MY STAFF SHARES THAT SAME COMMITMENT.
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISTRICT F TEAM IS WELL FOR LIFTING UP A VERY LARGE VISION.
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IT TAKES A LOT TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS INSPIRED ALL THE TIME, UM, FOR VARIOUS THINGS.UM, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE SET A STANDARD OF SERVICE, UM, ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON PROVIDING, UM, INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY THE LEAST OF THESE, WHAT THEY PARTICULAR LEVEL OF SERVICE.
SO IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO SAY YES TO THE ENERGY CORRIDOR WHEN I ATTENDED THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING.
UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ZACH MILLER TALK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, UH, PLEASE DO.
I WILL SAY YOU HAVE A FUTURE PREACHING, BECAUSE AFTER HE, UH, PITCHED THE PROGRAM, I FELT LIKE IT WAS A CALL FOR THE OFFERING.
AND I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE DISTRICT F PIGGY BANK AND MY COLLEAGUES JOINED ME, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL.
UH, THE REASON WHY I SAID YES TO THIS WHY IT WAS SO EASY IS BECAUSE ONCE THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED HIS INITIATIVE ON REDUCING STREET HOMELESSNESS, I KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO GET TO WORK ON THE WEST SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT TO BE A REALITY FOR US.
UM, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL ANCHOR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN TANDEM, UM, SINCE THAT MOMENT.
I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.
THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN CASH AND IN KIND SO FAR IS UPWARDS OF $45,000.
UM, SO FOR IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OR AFFILIATED WITH THEM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SOWING INTO GOOD SEED, GOOD SOIL, UH, THERE.
'CAUSE IT IS REAPING IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY HOUSTONIANS.
HE'S A SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR, UM, REPRESENTING SENIOR PASTOR RALPH DOUGLAS WEST, A SENIOR WHO COULD NOT BE HERE, DO HE.
THEY HAVE COMMITTED A $10,000 DONATION TO SUPPORT.
SO WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
WEST SIDE, HPD, MIDWEST HPDS HOT TEAM.
UM, EASTER WEEKEND, UH, WE HOSTED OUR VERY FIRST WEST SIDE MOBILE DAYCARE, UM, AT THE ELDRIDGE LOCATION AT CHURCH WITH THOUGHT WALLS, WHERE WE HAD 133 IMPRESSIONS.
WE VISITED 17 ENCAMPMENTS ON THE WEST SIDE.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THINGS SUCH AS HAIRCUTS, CASE MANAGEMENT ON THE SITE.
MAYOR, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, MIKE NICHOLS, OUR DIRECTORS HERE, NICK FROM HIS TEAM WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HMIS, INPUTTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE SYSTEM SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE CASED AND ACTUALLY RECEIVE SERVICES AND STAND IN THAT VERY LONG WAIT LINE FOR HOUSING.
UM, SO WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AS WELL.
WE HAD A TARGETED OUTREACH FOR THREE ENCAMPMENTS WHERE WE TOUCHED 50, 50 INDIVIDUALS WHERE ONLY FIVE WERE REPEAT PARTICIPANTS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE WORK IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT.
SO AS I SAID, BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE WERE ALREADY DOING, SAYING YES TO THE ENERGY CORRIDOR AND WHAM AND THE CONSTABLES OFFICE AND THEIR PROGRAM WAS AN EASY YES, I AM DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY WHO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING THIS CITY WITH THEM, UM, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, UM, THEIR COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST THEIR DISTRICT, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SHOWING AS WELL HERE.
AND I KNOW I CLAIM THE WEST SIDE, BUT WE DO SHARE THAT.
AND WHEN I SAY THE WEST SIDE, I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE AREA, MAKING SURE, UM, THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES.
AND, AND BEFORE I TAKE MY SEAT AND MY COLLEAGUES JOIN, I, I WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE WINTER FREEZE OF 2021.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I WERE, UH, SERVING AT THAT TIME, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A WARMING CENTER.
I THINK AT THE TIME WE HAD A MORE, MUCH MORE CENTRALIZED RESPONSE IN THE CITY OF GETTING EVERYONE TO GEORGIA R BROWN.
UM, AND WE WERE BOTH WITH LIMITED BATTERY SERVICE ASKING EACH OTHER LIKE, WELL, HOW, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SO BASED ON THAT, REALLY THE GENESIS OF THE WORK IS THAT WE LEARNED LESSONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT ON THE WEST SIDE WHERE PEOPLE MAY BE RESISTANT TO GOING DOWNTOWN, THEY MAY BE RESISTANT, UM, TO GOING TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN, UM, THAT WE CAN OPEN UP AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND WE HAVE DONE SO FROM DISASTER RECOVERY AND NOW EXPANDING THAT WORK TO HOMELESSNESS.
SO, UM, IT IS A GREAT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MORE PORTLAND.
IT'S A GREAT DAY, UM, ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND I WANNA, UM, ALSO JUST, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR AILEY FIVE D BOARD, TRUSTEE DARLENE BRO.
UM, EARL, LAST YEAR WE HOSTED A STAKEHOLDER BREAKFAST AT THE WEST CHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ASKING WHAT MUST WE DO TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS ON THE WEST SIDE.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THAT CONVERSATION, UH, WHERE WE HAVE UPWARDS OF 1100, UH, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THAT DISTRICT ALONE.
SO WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO, UM, FROM FOUR 19 ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN, ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST SIDE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE BOARD LEADERSHIP FOR SAYING YES AND, AND PUTTING YOUR MONEY NEXT TO THE MISSION.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
UM, BISHOP, FIRST LADY, UM, HEADS UP HOUSTON, THE DISTRICT F STAFF.
UH, THE THANK YOUS ARE UNLIMITED.
UH, AND THIS IS HARD WORK FOR A HARD POPULATION.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO DO THE HARD THINGS, RIGHT? UM, AND, AND I OFTEN WALK AWAY
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FROM OUR EVENTS, MAYOR, AND I SAY THAT I'M PROBABLY MORE TRANSFORMED THAN THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVING.UM, WHEN I WALK AWAY WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UM, TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH, UM, AND THE FACT THAT I GET TO RETURN BACK TO SECURITY, I GET TO RETURN BACK TO STABILITY.
UM, AND SO, UH, LET US ALL BE TRANSFORMED AND AS OUR, UH, CEO SAID, UM, DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FINNA DO, JUST DO IT.
I'M COUNCILWOMAN MARY ANNE HUFFMAN.
AND LIKE OUR MAYOR SAID, HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, BUT AT ITS HEART, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE AND IT'S ABOUT THE KIND OF CITY THAT WE WANNA BE.
THIS INITIATIVE REALLY DOES COMBINE COMPASSION WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND CREATES A PATHWAY FORWARD AND TOWARDS STABILITY.
SO I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND JOIN ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT A.
IT IS AN HONOR TO GET TO REPRESENT SOME OF THE ENERGY CORRIDOR IN DISTRICT A, UM, TO THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, TO WHAM TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS AS, AS WE'VE HEARD, IS NOT JUST A CHALLENGE FOR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES COMPASSION, COORDINATION AND REAL SOLUTIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE TO CONNECT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED, WHILE ALSO KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND WELCOMING.
SO I APPRECIATE THE ENERGY CORRIDOR FOR STEPPING UP AND BRINGING ALL OF THESE PARTNERS TOGETHER AND WILLING TO BE, UM, A, A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, I AM TWILA CARTER, AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE POSITION THREE.
ALL THAT MEANS IS I CLAIM THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, A, B, C, ALL THE WAY TO SEE.
BUT, UH, HONESTLY, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR, FOR GIVING YOUR TESTIMONY BECAUSE YOU'RE WHAT MATTERS.
YOU ARE, YOU ARE WHY WE DO THE WORK WE DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN, UH, WHEN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR CAME TO ME, THEY SAID TWO THINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO IT WAS, UH, WHILE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS A FRIEND, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS WHAT GOT MY ATTENTION.
AND I SAID, YES, COUNCIL, UH, AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T HAVE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, BUT I SAID, I'LL FIND MONEY.
AND SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO WHAM TO BENEFIT A LOT OF THE WORK I DO EVERY DAY, WHICH IS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UM, I, I WILL GIVE YOU A FEW FACTS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT REALLY, I THINK WHEN I TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THE INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT 70% OF ALL CALLS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE FAMILY VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 70%, NOT SEVEN, NOT 17 70%.
NOTE THAT ONE IN THREE CASES, SORRY, ONE IN THREE INDIVIDUALS EITHER HAVE BEEN OR KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THREE IN FIVE CASES GO UNREPORTED.
SO WHEN YOU DO THE MATH, IF WE SPLIT THIS ROOM UP, IT'D BE EVERYONE, RIGHT? THERE'S SOME TOUCHPOINT.
SO IT'S AN HONOR A PRIVILEGE I'VE ALREADY SCROUNGING TO GET FUNDS FOR YOU ALL TO CON CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
THE WORK WE DO COLLECTIVELY, COLLABORATION IS KEY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE DIFFERENCE.
EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE FOR TODAY, WE ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.
UH, AS SOON AS WE CONCLUDE HERE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME TOURS AVAILABLE SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT'S DONE HERE AT WAM.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE MYSELF, WE HAVE STAFF FROM WAM, WE HAVE SERGEANT LEWIS.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AVAILABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
SO PRESS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STICK AROUND AND IF WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO SO.
LET ME JUST CLOSE AND SAY THAT I, I, I THINK THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE HAPPENED UPON IS IT'S WORKING, IT'S COST EFFECTIVE AND IT'S HIGHLY REPLICABLE.
SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OR LEARNING MORE TO REACH OUT TO US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FILL IN ANY BLANKS.
THAT CONCLUDES THIS MORNING'S PRESS CONFERENCE.