ORDINANCE approving and authorizing first amendment to Subrecipient Grant Agreement between City of Houston and HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE to provide Hurricane Harvey Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Funds for the continuing administration and operation of Hurricane Harvey Public Services Activities to provide Career Readiness Training and Job Placement, Construction Skills Training and Case Management to low- to moderate-income persons - DISTRICT B - JACKSON

The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing a First Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and Home Builders Institute (HBI), to provide an additional $373,451.00 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery 2017 (CDBG-DR17) funds, to continue providing job training and education services to a revised total of approximately 105 low-to moderate- income individuals who were directly or indirectly impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

The goal of HBI’s Building Careers for Complete Communities Program (BCCC) is to increase education levels with construction education in carpentry and electrical skills training. Services include construction skills training; case management; career readiness, and job placement.

The initial term of this Agreement was July 20, 2020 – June 30, 2021, with a one-year administrative extension approved on May 26, 2021, extending the Agreement through June 30, 2022. This First Amendment will fund the extension period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. HBI has received funding from the City since July 2020.

As of August 2021, HBI has expended approximately 72% of their funds and achieved 33% of the client service goal. Client service outcomes were lower than anticipated due to impacts from COVID-19 and physical distancing requirements. As a result, the program had difficulty in recruiting, onboarding and providing in-person skills and job training that are integral to its program.

To improve performance, HBI proposes to only continue operations at the Gulfton location, onboard a local operations manager in October 2021, and reduce the overall budget to reflect the revised and more centralized training regimen. HBI has not been issued any findings as of their last compliance monitoring review.

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

This item was reviewed by the Housing and Community Affairs Committee on October 19, 2021.

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Keith W. Bynam, Interim Director

$373,451.00 Federal State Local – Pass Through (5030)

Roxanne Lawson

832-394-6307