The Chief of Police of the Houston Police Department recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the electronic application for, and acceptance of, grant funds through the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division (CJD), for the FY26 General Victim Assistance Grant Program. The grant period will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Office of the Governor will provide $216,884.33 in grant funding. Although the Grantor requires a Cash Match, In-Kind contributions may be used to meet this obligation. HPD will allocate a portion of employee salaries to satisfy this requirement. This will be the City’s fifth award under this program.
The FY26 General Victim Assistance Grant funds will support HPD’s Victim Services Division in providing advocacy to victims of violent crimes, including aggravated assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, homicide, human trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, and stalking. The Victim Services Division delivers critical services and support to victims, assisting them in recovery and guiding them through the criminal justice process. This project will continue to positively impact survivors across the City of Houston by offering personal advocacy, emotional support, and referrals to essential services.
The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Note:
Funding for this item is included in the FY26 adopted budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
______________________
J. Noe Diaz, Jr.
Chief of Police