[Quality of Life Committee on October 12, 2026.]
[00:00:15]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, MY NAME IS JULIAN RAMIREZ.
I'M CHAIR OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE JOINED BY VICE CHAIR, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AMY PECK, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S, OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER SELENA'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S OFFICE, UM, COUNT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER PANZELLA'S OFFICE.
SO WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU, YOU'RE WITH US.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, UM, THIS AFTERNOON FROM OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS.
AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.
THANK YOU FOR NO PROBLEM HAVING US.
UH, WE HAVE A, UH, SEVEN, I THINK, UH, ORDINANCES THAT WE'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH ALL IN PUBLIC SERVICES.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MELODY BARR AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, MELODY, YOU CAN PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.
ITEM TWO A, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $1,537,404 IN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS HOPWA FUNDS TO SERVE 108 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS SERVICES WILL INCLUDE TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR 58 HOUSEHOLDS, SHORT-TERM RENT, MORTGAGE, AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR 40 HOUSEHOLDS, AND PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT FOR 10 HOUSEHOLDS.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE HOUSING STABILITY AND ACCESS TO CARE AND RELATED SERVICES.
THE AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2027.
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BEGAN OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY EXTENDED THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2026.
AS OF JULY, 2026, CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS ACHIEVED 39, I'M SORRY, 93% OF ITS CLIENT GOAL THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED ON YOUR COVER SHEET.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT, UM, SMALLER THAN THAT AND EXPENDED 67% OF ITS FUNDING.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 2003 WITH NO FINDINGS IDENTIFIED IN ITS MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REVIEW.
AND TODAY WE HAVE OUR DEANNE ADEMI, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY STABILITY SERVICES, GEORGE BELLA GUNN HOPWA PROGRAMS, UM, SUPERVISOR AND MELANIE THORNTON, THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, UM, AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES ON THIS ITEM, LET ME, UH, BEFORE YOU GO ONTO THE NEXT ONE MM-HMM
WERE, WERE YOU FINISHED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE? YES.
AND, AND THANK YOU TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOR BEING PRESENT HERE IN CASE ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
BUT I DID WANT TO ASK YOU, UH, MELODY, UM, SLIDE FIVE I THINK IT IS.
SO THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT HAS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN FOR A LITTLE BIT WHAT, UH, PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT NUMBER THREE REPRESENTS? YEAH, SO PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT IS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN RENT FOR THE MONTH, BUT DOESN'T QUITE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE DEPOSIT OR THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT.
SOMETIMES MOVING COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT OR UTILITY DEPOSITS, AND THAT'S WHAT PHP PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT PAYS FOR.
AND YOU CAN GO ONTO THE NEXT ONE.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER, UH, ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
ALRIGHT, ITEM TWO B, THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH SEARCH, UM, HOMELESS SERVICES, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $143,000 IN HOPWA FUNDS TO CONTINUE ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THROUGH THE FHE FAMILY HOUSE OF TINY TREASURES.
THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 10 HOPWA ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS INCLUDING AT LEAST 16 CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
CHILDREN AGES TWO THROUGH FIVE WILL RECEIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION
[00:05:01]
AND COUNSELING WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING BARRIERS AND IMPROVING HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL STABILITY.THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BEGAN OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
SEARCH HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 1996.
THERE WERE NO FINDINGS OR CONCERNS WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REVIEW.
AND TODAY WE HAVE LARRY KRAUS, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS HERE, UM, AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES ON THIS ITEM.
AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, UH, SEARCH BEING HERE.
JUST A A QUICK QUESTION, MELODY.
UM, SO SMALL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WILL, UH, RECEIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES.
CAN YOU TELL US ANY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, SELECTION PROCESS OR, UM, HOW THAT WORKS? OKAY.
FOR, SO FOR SELECTION, I MIGHT NEED TO BRING LARRY UP ON THAT ONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? SAY YOUR NAME IN THERE.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF GRANTS AT SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, UM, USUALLY SOME CLIENTS COME FIND, UH, HOUSE OF COUNTY TREASURES ON THEIR OWN.
SOME ARE REFERRALS FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS AND WE HAVE A CASE MANAGER WHO WILL MEET WITH THAT CLIENT AND DETERMINE THEIR NEEDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HOPA ELIGIBLE.
AND, AND THEN FROM THERE THEY DO A, A, WE DO A PLAN A, UM, WE ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND WE DO A, A, A PLAN WITH GOALS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION OR A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION? I'M JUST CURIOUS, THE NUMBER THAT, THAT ARE HELPED, DOES THAT REPRESENT, UH, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES OR DOES THAT PRETTY MUCH COVER THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO, UH, MIGHT BE, UH, WANTING THAT SERVICE? SURE.
WE'RE, WE'RE USUALLY ABLE TO, WHEN FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOPPER PROGRAM, OUR CAPACITY AT THE CENTER IS 64 CHILDREN.
AND OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, AT ANYTIME WE PROBABLY HAVE 10 TO 12 CHILDREN OR HOPWA ELIGIBLE.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO GENERALLY MEET, UM, AS LONG AS THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, THEY MEET BOTH THE HOPPER REQUIREMENTS, THEY HAVE TO BE HOMELESS, THERE'S SOME INCOME REQUIREMENTS.
UM, BUT WE ARE ABLE, I, I DON'T KNOW OF HAVING TO TURN ANYBODY DOWN WHO APPROACHES US.
YEAH, AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT TO BE HOPWA ELIGIBLE MEANS SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSEHOLD HAS A DI A POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS OF HIV.
UM, SO THE CHILDREN MIGHT NOT HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS, IT COULD BE THE CAREGIVER.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON HEALTH INCORPORATED, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $413,091 IN HOPWA FUNDS TO CONTINUE OPERATING A PERMANENT HOUSING COMMUNITY RESIDENCE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO A MINIMUM OF 50 VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE, WILL INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING FUNDING WILL ALSO SUPPORT OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BEGAN OCTOBER 17TH, 2025.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT AND PROVIDE FUNDING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
AS OF AUGUST, 2026, HOUSTON HEALTH HAS EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY 70% OF ITS ALLOCATED FUNDING AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 90% OF ITS CLIENT GOAL.
HOUSTON HEALTH HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY SINCE 1999 WITH NO FINDINGS IDENTIFIED IN ITS MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITOR AND REVIEW.
TODAY WE HAVE ORIENT HENSON CHIEF OP OPERATIONS OFFICER HERE REPRESENTING HOUSTON HEALTH AND JUST AS A NOTE, I DID WANNA PUT A COUPLE NUMBERS TO WHAT 50% OF THE A MI AND WHAT I SAID WAS VERY LOW INCOME.
SO VERY LOW INCOME, UM, IS 50% OF THE A MI AND FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT IS A TOTAL OF $52,000 A YEAR OF INCOME.
AND UH, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE HOUSTON HELP BEING HERE.
I I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE, UH, ANY ESTIMATES FOR HOW MANY PERSONS WITH AIDS ACTUALLY RESIDE IN IN THE CITY AT THIS TIME? UM, I'D HAVE TO CHECK OUR EPI DATA ON THAT ONE.
UM, SO I DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER.
[00:10:01]
I DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER.THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON SRO HOUSTON HOUSING CORPORATION, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $307,977 IN HOPWA FUNDS TO CONTINUE OPERATING A PERMANENT HOUSING COMMUNITY RESIDENCE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO A MINIMUM OF 33 VERY LOW INCOME SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING COUNSELING, REFERRALS FOR GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING FUNDING.
WILL ALSO SUPPORT OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE REPAIRS, AND PROPERTY INSURANCE.
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BEGAN OCTOBER 17TH, 2025.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT AND PROVIDE FUNDING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
AS OF AUGUST, 2026, HOUSTON SRO HAS EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY 70% OF ITS ALLOCATED FUNDING AND SERVED, UM, EXCEEDED ITS SERVICE GOAL, UM, BY 30%.
HOUSTON, SRO HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY SINCE 1999 AND NO FINDINGS IDENTIFIED IN ITS MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REVIEW.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ORIN PENSON, THE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER REPRESENTING HOUSTON, SRO HERE.
ALRIGHT, THANKS TO HOUSTON SRO HOUSING FOR BEING HERE.
I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, SO, OKAY.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH BRENTWOOD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $875,000 IN HOPWA FUNDS TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO A MINIMUM OF 145 UNDUPLICATED ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS.
THE PROGRAM WILL OPERATE AN 18 UNIT TRANSITIONAL H HOUSING FACILITY FOR MEN LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO APPROXIMATELY 100 HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO 27 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS AND PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO SIX HOUSEHOLDS.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES MAY INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, HEALTH EDUCATION, AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION CLASSES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE EXISTING AGREEMENT BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2020 25, AND ADMINISTRATIVELY EXTENDED THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2026.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT TO NOVEMBER 30TH, 2027.
BRENTWOOD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM VARIOUS AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY SINCE 1995 WITH NO FINDINGS IDENTIFIED DURING ITS MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REVIEW.
TODAY WE HAVE GLENDA HOPKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND, AND SHARONDA WRIGHT, PROJECT DIRECTOR WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF BRENTWOOD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THIS ITEM, WELL, WE THANK BRENTWOOD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR BEING HERE.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION, UH, FROM SLIDE 20, UM, THE SLIDE READS TO A MINIMUM OF 133, UH, ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.
AND I, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY 1 45.
IS IT, UH, WHAT'S THE CORRECT TOTAL THERE? UM, SO IT'S A HUNDRED HOUSEHOLDS, UH, FOR RENTAL SUBSIDY, 27 HOUSEHOLDS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR, UM, TRANSITIONAL UNITS, WHICH IS 18 UNITS.
AND THOSE UNITS WILL, UM, UM, THEY, THEY DON'T STAY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME AND SO THEY DO TRANSITION OVER.
OKAY, OUR LAST ITEM IS ITEM TWO F.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH A CARING SAFE PLACE INCORPORATED, PROVIDING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $780,000 IN WITH FUNDS TO OPERATE A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FACILITIES ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES FOR A MINIMUM OF 35 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.
A CARING SAFE PLACE WILL OPERATE A 14 UNIT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY FOR MEN LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS OVERCOMING SUBSTANCE USE AND AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY WILL ALSO OPERATE A 14 UNIT PERMANENT HOUSING FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.
BOTH FACILITIES WILL OFFER CASE MANAGEMENT HEALTH AND NUTRITION SUPPORT AND OTHER GROUP SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HOUSING STABILITY AND IMPROVE
[00:15:01]
ACCESS TO CARE AND RELATED SERVICES.THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE AGREEMENT AND PROVIDE FUNDING THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2027.
A CARING SAFE PLACE HAS RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH VARIOUS AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY AND HAD NO FINDINGS IDENTIFIED DURING ITS MOST RECENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REVIEW.
TODAY WE HAVE STAN FIELDS'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPRESENTING A CARING SAFE PLACE FOR THIS ITEM.
AND THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WE APPRECIATE A CARING SAFE PLACE BEING HERE AS WELL.
UM, SO ALL OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA PERTAIN TO HOPWA PROGRAMS. YES.
IS THIS PRETTY MUCH, UM, ALL OF THE HOPWA PROGRAMS THAT THAT WILL BE THE CITY WILL, WILL HAVE OR WILL THERE BE ADDITIONAL ITEMS PRESENTED UH, AT ANOTHER TIME? SO THE CITY CURRENTLY FUNDS 14 DIFFERENT HOPWA AGENCIES, AND SO THIS IS JUST SIX OF THOSE AGENCIES.
SO, UM, WE'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT WE CALL OUR FIRST AMENDMENT.
AND SO, UM, MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, I COME AND I, I TELL YOU ABOUT THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AWARDS OR FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
AND SO WHEN WE DO OUR NOFA S OUR NOFA S INCLUDE FOR A 12 MONTH, UM, PERIOD, INITIAL PERIOD, AND THEN A 12 MONTH RENEWAL.
SO WE ARE NOW IN THE RENEWAL PROCESS, SO THERE WILL BE MORE COMING.
UM, ME, DID YOU HAVE THE TOTAL DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED IN A YEAR ONTO HOPWA? SO I BELIEVE LAST YEAR RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER $11 MILLION FROM HUD FOR HOPWA.
THIS COMING YEAR WE'RE RECEIVING ABOUT $13 MILLION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE OF THE THINGS AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS IS TO, UH, NOTICE YOU ASKED THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH AIDS, ALTHOUGH IS IT IS NOT SUCH A, UM, A, A AREA THAT PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT, LIKE THEY DID DO IN THE NINETIES.
IT DOES AFFECT A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN POVERTY.
UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS WHILE OTHER HOUSING SUBSIDY PROGRAMS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND, AND, UM, AND NOT AS POPULAR IN CONGRESS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOPWA PROGRAM IS STILL A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.
THE GOOD NEWS IN HOUSTON IS, AND I GIVE MELODY AND HER TEAM A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT FOR THAT AND THE NONPROFITS WHO ARE HERE, IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO USE THIS MONEY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE'RE VERY EFFECTIVE IN THAT AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE EVERY DOLLAR IS USED TO KEEP SOMEBODY IN A VERY LOW INCOME OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
YEAH, I, I'LL JUST ADD THAT WHEN, WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT OUR EMSA IS, WHICH IS OUR ELIGIBLE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.
IT IS A NINE COUNTY REGION, SO IT'S NOT JUST HOUSTON.
WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE LARGER PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV.
THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT STRANDS.
AND SO WE DO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
THERE IS EPI DATA, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, DOES, UH, RELEASE THAT INFORMATION SO WE CAN GET THAT.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ON AVERAGE FOR OUR PROGRAM, WE TYPICALLY SEE ABOUT 1400 PEOPLE A YEAR.
AND I'M, AND I'M GIVING YOU AVERAGES, WE JUST FINISHED OUR CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PLANNING AND EVALUATION REPORT.
OUR CAPER FOR HUD, WE JUST SUBMITTED IT WITH ZERO ERRORS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS WE GOT ZERO ERRORS.
UH, SO VERY PROUD OF MY TEAM FOR DOING THAT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.
UM, ONCE WE GET IT BACK FROM HUD, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THAT REPORT TO THIS COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THE LANDSCAPE IN, UM, IN HOUSTON LOOKS LIKE.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THE DISEASE ITSELF, UM, HIV HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS KNOWN IN THE 1990S OF A VERY SHORT LIFESPAN TO WE HAVING, HAVING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THE, UM, WITH THE DIAGNOSIS FROM MORE THAN 30, 40 YEARS.
AND SO THERE IS AN AGING POPULATION AND UM, I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE TIME THAT I SERVED UNDER RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE MEDICAL SIDE OF HIV HOPWA IS THE HOUSING SIDE.
AND THEY ASK THE QUESTION, CAN WE PAY FOR HEARING AIDS? AND SO THEY HAD TO CALL THE STATE AND ASK, IS THIS AN ELIGIBLE COST? WELL, IT WAS NEVER SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH WITH HIV TO USE HEARING AIDS.
SO WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS.
UM, LIVING WITH HIV OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO GET TO ZERO.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT HOUSING IS THE FIRST STEP TO MEDICATION.
IF WE CAN GET VIRAL LOADS DOWN, THEN WE CAN STOP THE SPREAD.
AND SO GETTING TO ZERO IS OUR GOAL.
AND NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE, UH, NUMBER OF HOMELESS IN THIS CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
MELODY, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO DIRECTOR COMMENTS.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY PREPARED COMMENTS.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE
[00:20:01]
HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, ON QUALITY OF LIFE.UM, JUST TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR FALL COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, IN CASTEX, TATUMS COUNCILWOMAN, TEXAS CASTEX TATUMS DIS DISTRICT.
IT IS A COMBINED MEETING WITH COUNCILMAN UH, DAVIS TO REALLY BRING THE COMMUNITY IN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FROM THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON SATURDAY.
COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS HELD THE, UM, FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETING.
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE THERE ALONG WITH CONGRESSMAN MENIFEE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, DIGNITARIES.
IT WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE MEETING.
UM, AND SO WE'RE GLAD TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DOING OUR, DOING THIS WORK.
MIKE, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO OVER THERE.
UM, WE GOT GOOD NEWS LAST WEEK WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR, FOR HOMELESSNESS.
UM, AND WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT ARE, ARE YOU ABLE TO, UH, EXPAND ON ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID LAST WEEKEND OR WOULD YOU CARE OR LAST WEEK, WOULD YOU CARE TO DO THAT OR? WELL, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HOUSTON'S PHILANTHROPIC COMM COMMUNITY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO FUND A THREE YEAR $48 MILLION PROGRAM.
UM, THIS IS, THIS WAS A LONG TIME INCOMING.
IT WAS, UM, I GUESS WE BEGAN, UM, WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB WITH, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN TALKING TO PHILANTHROPY.
AND THE NUMBERS AT THAT TIME WERE SOMEWHAT SMALLER.
SO WE'RE REALLY VERY PLEASED WITH THIS.
UH, THEIR FOCUS AND THE FOCUS THAT THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO RIGHT NOW IS NOT ON PERMANENT HOUSING SUBSIDY.
THEY REALLY WANNA MAKE THAT QUICKER IMPACT ON HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS, PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NEWLY HOMELESS.
AND THE REALITY IS THAT IF WE CAN MOVE SOMEBODY OFF THE STREET MORE QUICKLY, UM, THAT MEANS THEY DEAL WITH MUCH LESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, MUCH LESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ISSUES, AND IT'S A WINNER FOR EVERYBODY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON HELPING THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO TRANSITION AT A FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION OUT OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER TO SOME KIND OF STABLE HOUSING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR, OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS.
I SAID Y UH, LAST WEEK, I'M STILL, I GET A STOMACH ACHE EVERY MORNING WHEN I DRIVE DOWN FAMINE AND MAINE.
AND EVERY NIGHT WHEN I GO HOME, UH, YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE, UH, FREEWAY SOUTH OF HOUSTON AND THERE SIX 10 SOUTH AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE STRIDES, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE A REAL EFFORT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE THAT WE'RE DOING AND LIKE THAT THIS PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENCE WILL DO IS MOVE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS ACUTE INTO SOME KIND OF STABILITY SO THEY CAN GO TO WORK AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
AND SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
UM, THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO DO AND THE RESOURCES ARE SLIM.
WE HAD A VERY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT LAST, UM, ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK THAT I THINK WILL BE MORE PUBLIC IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WHICH IS A $9 MILLION GRANT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UH, TO HELP FUND THE HEALTHCARE PART OF HOMELESSNESS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL WHO NEED A LITTLE LONGER TERM CARE.
UH, DR. TRAN HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB BRINGING IN THOSE DOLLARS AND DEVELOPING A PROGRAM THAT, I'LL BE HONEST, I I WAS DREAMING ABOUT SINCE 2018 AND HERE IT IS COMING TO EXISTENCE TODAY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO, UM, EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING THEY DO TO HELP ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND MANY OTHER THINGS IN THE CITY.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THOSE RECENTLY HOMELESS.
SO HOW WILL THAT GUIDE HOW, UH, THE MONEY IS DIRECTED IN YOUR VIEW? I, I THINK WHEN WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE IT DONE.
IT'S NOT COMPLETED YET, BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE, UM, SOME DOLLARS GOING INTO THE REENTRY PROGRAM, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF BOTH HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, BECAUSE THAT IS A TERRIBLE GATEWAY INTO HOMELESSNESS AND WE'LL TRY TO END IT THERE.
AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED A EA SHORTER TERM SUPPORT, UH, THOSE DOLLARS WILL GO THERE.
I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN WE HAVE GREAT NONPROFITS WHO END UP USING THOSE
[00:25:01]
DOLLARS AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT SEEING HOW THEY'LL BE USED, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST FOCUS.AGAIN, NOT FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM HOUSING SUBSIDY.
UM, THEY PHILANTHROPY'S BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY EXPECT GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP ON THAT, BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO STEP FORWARD ON THAT.
AND DURING THIS THREE YEAR PERIOD, WE'LL BE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.
AND AGAIN, I URGE BOTH THE CITIZENS AND THE PUBLIC TO TALK TO THE STATE AND TALK TO YOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT THE LONGER TERM HOUSING.
UM, WE'RE EXCITED THAT THE, UM, COURTS HAVE FINALLY APPROVED THAT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING CAN GO FORWARD.
AND I THINK HOUSTON UNDER THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HAS A REALLY GREAT APPLICATION THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BRING IN THE SAME KIND OF DOLLARS AS HE DONE IN THE PAST ABOUT $70 MILLION A YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, EXPLANATION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE AT THIS POINT, UM, DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS LINED UP TO SPEAK.
SO WE WILL HEAR FROM NICOLE STELLA IF YOU ARE HERE.
NICOLE, STELLA? NO, UH, DOMINIC MAZA, YOU WANT TO COME UP? YOU'RE HERE.
ONE THING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED SOME SORT OF SOCIAL OUTREACH ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
I'M NOT TRYING TO EVANGELIZE HERE, BUT IT'S HISTORICAL FACT.
MY QUESTION IS, BY GIVING THIS MONEY TO, UM, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF GALVESTON HOUSTON, THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE CITY, AGAIN, GOING AFOUL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.
NUMBER TWO, AND I THINK NEXT MONTH THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO BRING SOME PEOPLE IN FROM METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE LAST FRIDAY THEY PUT IN A MOBILE COMMAND CENTER AT MOODY PARK.
AND THE IDEA IS THAT WAS ONE AREA OF THE RED LINE THAT WAS REALLY GETTING HIT BY HOMELESSNESS, UH, PEOPLE STAYING ON THE PLATFORM, NOT PAYING THE THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
THE QUESTION I'M SEEING IS I, I PASSED BY A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND THIS MORNING AND THERE'S HARDLY ANY HOMELESS OR ANYBODY OF MEANING THAT SORT OF NEED BETWEEN THE NORTH LOOP AND EQUIPMENT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE THE HOMELESS.
THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY WRONG.
BUT ARE WE, AND SOMETHING I TOLD THE MAYOR LAST WEEK, I SAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SUCH A THING, IT'S NOT CRIMES TO BE POOR, BUT YOU CANNOT USE BEING POOR AS AN EXCUSE TO COMMIT A CRIME.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE, UH, ARE THEY SCARED OF THE POLICE OF UH, YOU KNOW, METRO HAS A CHA YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A SOFTER APPROACH TO TO THINGS.
BUT I, I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF THIS IS PART OF THE MENTALITY OF, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT REFUSE.
'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I'M HEARING THEY DON'T WANNA GO INTO STRUCTURED, INTO A STRUCTURED SITUATION AND MAYBE THAT'S IT.
THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THEM NOT WANTING TO BE IN A STRUCTURED SITUATION 'CAUSE THEY'RE SCARED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS THIS GOES ON.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.
I'M SENDING IT BACK TO YOU DEARLY.
OKAY, DOMINIC, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
SO THO THOSE ARE ALL THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IF ANYONE IS HERE WHO HASN'T SIGNED UP AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD.
SEEING NO ONE, WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR MEETING AND WE WILL, UM, CLOSE THE MEETING.
AND, UH, OUR NEXT QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING SHOULD BE,
[00:30:01]
UH, THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.SO, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.