The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) recommends Council approve a Contract between the City of Houston and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) accepting a $1,241,808 Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) grant.
Per the TDHCA, the funding must be used by the City on activities eliminating and/or preventing homelessness. Specifically, allowable activities include construction, development, or procurement of housing for homeless persons; rehabilitation of structures targeted to serving homeless persons or persons at-risk of homelessness; provision of direct services and case management to homeless persons or persons at-risk of homelessness; or other homelessness-related activity as approved by the TDHCA.
HHSP was established by the 81st Texas Legislature through an appropriations rider and codified during the 82nd Texas legislative session. Through HHSP, the state provides funding to the eight largest cities in support of services to homeless individuals and families including services such as case management and housing placement and retention. The Texas Legislature has, through the enactment of House Bill 1 (85th Legislature, 1st called session), provided General Revenue funds of $9,800,000 million over the biennium to be allocated for these activities. For State Fiscal Year 2018, the State will issue no less than $4.9 million in HHSP funds.
This item is a procedural, administrative matter required by the State for the City to receive the funds it was previously awarded. An Ordinance allocating the accepted HHSP funds for use by local nonprofit organizations will be presented to Council for consideration within the coming weeks/months.
The Housing and Community Affairs Committee reviewed this item on September 19, 2017.
____________________________________________
Tom McCasland, Director