The Director of the Houston Health Department (HHD) recommends City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the Director to apply, accept, and expend a grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) for the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program. The project period is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026. The total anticipated award amount is $999,960.00; HHD will provide an in-kind match of $31,122.00.
Specific Explanation:
HHD received notification from EPA of a funding opportunity soliciting projects that support and/or create model state, tribal, local, and territorial government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. This project will help transform disadvantaged and underserved communities into healthier, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced as well as current and future burdens.
HHD will implement the “Vulnerable to Vibrant: Strategies to Achieve Climate Resiliency in an Environmental Justice Community” project in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens communities, which have historically suffered a disproportionate burden of environmental degradation, economic disadvantage, high rates of poverty and lack of opportunity, leading to increased crime and adverse health conditions. The project will use a multi-pronged approach to address climate resiliency, environmental vulnerability and economic disadvantages experienced by the two communities. The department will partner and receive advise from three community-based environmental organizations. The project will provide the following key activities/outcomes: a) a local solar hub at a community-based organization’s center for use by the public, especially during emergencies such as power outages; b) a state-of-the-art flood alert system providing advance warning before inundation to allow time for people to move to safety; c) an air permit application warning system to inform the communities when and where an industry is proposing air pollution emission activities in their area and how to protest the permit; d) targeted native tree planting -- including fruit trees -- for heat, pollution and flooding mitigation; e) a hyper-local neighborhood resilience plan (i.e., locations for detention ponds, changes in pavement, solar trees); and f) funding for graduates of our work force program to work as interns and gain experience for permanent job placement in their own neighborhood. Additionally, the project will also establish a city-wide Houston Environmental Justice Advisory Council (HEJAC) to identify problems and solutions that include community voices.
HHD also requests City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments, and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant application and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to accept and expend all subsequent supplemental awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project for a period not to exceed 5 years.
Grant Source:
The funding for this project is from a federal government grant through the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR).
Fiscal Note:
No fiscal note is required on grant items.
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Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Director - Houston Health Department