Nearly $20 million in Harris County’s previously earmarked American Rescue Plan Act funds are being reallocated towards three different community support initiatives, including at least $16 million towards rental assistance and homelessness.
The rerouting of federal funds comes as the June 17 housing report by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research found the number of cost-burdened households is increasing in the county, paired with challenges rising from extreme weather events.
“Those without means live in neighborhoods lacking the infrastructure and sturdy homes to be resilient against a disaster. When that disaster comes, it is the most vulnerable people who live in the most vulnerable places who are most impacted,” the report states.
How we got here
Harris County commissioners approved the motion, by a vote of 3-1 on June 12, to close out the Community Prosperity Program and all its contracts and reallocate remaining funds towards rental and unhoused assistance, as well as food and nutrition programs.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey casted the dissenting vote.
According to a June news release from Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, the breakdown of funds will be:
- $8 million for rental assistance to deter evictions
- $8 million for unhoused initiatives
- $2.5 million for food insecurity
“As the recent Kinder study revealed, the cost of living, food insecurity and housing/homelessness are three of the top challenges that Harris County faces, and these fund will go directly towards addressing those needs,” Garcia said. “Making life more affordable, reducing homelessness and keeping people from going hungry aren’t just the right things to do. Our work helps keep the county safe.”
The other side
The Community Prosperity Program was originally called Uplift Harris, a now-shuttered guaranteed income program. The original 2023 program was focused on assisting individuals from the county’s 10 highest-poverty ZIP codes, with $500 per month for 18 consecutive months, but faced continued legal challenges from the state. Last June, Harris County officials were ordered by the Supreme Court of Texas to prohibit payments for Uplift Harris.
Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, said at a March 18 meeting of the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs that guaranteed income programs, or what she called, “no-strings-attached handouts” are bad policy.
“It’s absolutely misguided, allowing local governments to mandate prying taxpayer dollars from Texans to then redistribute it with no strings attached,” Troxclair said.
Several bills intended to stop local governments from running guaranteed income programs in the state were introduced during the last Legislative session, including House Bill 530, from Troxclair.
Ben Thompson contributed to this report.
