Houston City Council approved accepting nearly $1.69 million in state funding to support homelessness services, including over $409,000 that will help serve young adults experiencing homelessness.
The gist
The funding comes from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs through the fiscal year 2027 Homeless Housing and Services Program.
The award includes a $1.28 million general allocation for homelessness programs and a $409,258 youth allocation restricted to serving individuals ages 18-24.
The funding may be used for activities such as acquiring, constructing or rehabilitating housing for people experiencing homelessness, providing case management and other direct services and supporting additional homelessness-related programs approved by the state.
Council's approval authorizes the city to accept the grant funding and allows Housing and Community Development Department Director Michael Nichols to execute the grant agreements with the state.
The ordinance was approved without discussion, but during council member comments later in the meeting, council member Tiffany Thomas, who chairs the Housing and Affordability Committee, thanked state Sen. Borris Miles for helping connect residents with Department of Public Safety services to obtain identification cards.
Thomas said obtaining a state-issued ID is "one of the immediate barriers to start work" and "one of the immediate barriers to have housing," noting that access to identification can help remove obstacles for people experiencing homelessness.
One more thing
A separate ordinance allocating the funds to local nonprofit organizations is expected to come before City Council in the coming months, according to agenda documents.
