The Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing a Fourth Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (Coalition), providing up to $580,791.00 of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) funding for the continued operation of the Housing Navigation Center located at 2903 Jensen Drive, Houston, Texas 77026.
The City partnered with the Coalition to operate the Housing Navigation Center, which temporarily houses individuals living on the streets, including those from encampments selected for decommissioning, and assists placing them into permanent housing. Potential clients must be referred to and transported by homeless agencies and/or first responders to enter and utilize on-site services.
The Coalition, through a selected subrecipient, manages the operations, administration and reporting for the Housing Navigation Center. The facility provides bridge beds for 200 clients annually to stay during the housing process. “Bridging” is the time from housing assessment to placement into permanent housing. HHSP funding will support eligible shelter operations, such as but not limited to, food, supplies, staff costs and security services. Regulations pertaining to use of the previously approved Community Development Block Grant – CARES Act (CDBG-CV) funds for operations do not allow for the purchase of food. HHSP funding will assist in providing three meals a day to clients residing at the facility.
The current Agreement term expires on January 31, 2025, and is not being extended with this amendment. There were no findings during the last annual compliance monitoring and the agency has expended approximately 92% of allocated funds through August 2024. The Coalition has received funding through the City for various grants since 2005.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
This item was reviewed by the Housing and Affordability Committee on September 17, 2024.
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Michael Nichols, Director