The Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing a Second Amendment to the Subrecipient Agreement (Agreement) between the City of Houston (City) and West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM), extending the term of the Agreement to continue to provide rapid rehousing case management and housing navigation services to a minimum of 56 unduplicated households as they exit from the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP). No additional funding is being provided.  

CCHP – Phase 2 was developed to continue supporting Houston’s most vulnerable residents impacted by COVID-19, people experiencing homelessness. As part of Phase 2, WHAM will provide rapid rehousing case management, navigation services, transportation assistance, and referrals to community resources. 

The Way Home, a collaborative partnership between the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County (Coalition), developed CCHP to specifically respond to COVID-19’s impacts on the homeless. For CCHP Phase 2, a joint Request for Expression of Interest from qualified agencies was released in March 2022 by the Coalition. WHAM was one of the qualified agencies selected to receive funding for rapid rehousing case management and housing navigation services.  

The initial Agreement term was from October 19, 2022, through September 30, 2023, which was administratively extended to September 30, 2024, then amended to add funding. This Second Amendment will extend the term of the agreement through January 31, 2025, with no additional funding. 

As of May 1, 2024, WHAM achieved 101.79% of its goal and expended approximately 58.62% of funding. WHAM began receiving funding through the City of Houston in 2022 and there were no findings on their annual compliance monitoring review. 

This item was reviewed by the Housing and Affordability Committee on August 26, 2024. 

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Michael Nichols, Director