The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing a Second Amendment to extend an Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and Educational Programs Inspiring Communities, providing up to $200,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the Housing Entrepreneurial and Readiness Training (H.E.A.R.T.) program to support the administration and operation of a job training program for 30 developmentally disabled adults.
The CDBG funds will support a special education certified teacher, job training instructors, program manager, training facility, and administration costs of the program. H.E.A.R.T. will continue to provide special education, job training, transportation, and supportive services to 30 low- to moderate-income adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
The H.E.A.R.T. training program participants will receive a customized training curriculum consisting of life skills, social skills, job readiness, hands-on training, on-the-job training, classroom training, and community-based vocational instruction.
|
Category
|
Agreement Amount
|
Percentage
|
|
Program Administration
|
$22,000.00
|
11.0%
|
|
Program Services
|
$178,000.00
|
89.0%
|
|
Total
|
$200,000.00
|
100.0%
|
The initial agreement period for the First Amendment was February 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021, with a three-month, contractually authorized administrative extension through April 30, 2021. This Second Amendment agreement will provide funding from May 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022. H.E.A.R.T. has received CDBG funding through the City for various contracts since 2005.
Educational Programs Inspiring Communities plans to assist a minimum of 30 low-to moderate- income individuals with developmental disabilities; during the previous year, H.E.A.R.T. assisted at least 31 individuals.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
This item was reviewed by the Housing and Community Affairs Committee on February 23, 2021.
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Tom McCasland, Director