Houston City Council extends two contracts related to homelessness services, transportation

Houston City Council passed two ordinances during its Feb. 23 meeting to extend contracts in efforts to continue helping the homeless.

The first ordinance passed extends a third amendment for a contract between the city and Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston, giving the program an additional $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.

According to the ordinance, the additional funds will go to the Project Access homelessness transportation program, a service that helps homeless Houstonians travel to and from health care appointments, facilities for meals, shelters and social services. The contract extension will benefit 1,800 more riders, according to information submitted to the city.

Project Access transports riders using a 40-passenger, wheelchair-accessible bus that runs on weekdays from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. According to the ordinance, funding will also support a health care worker who serves as a resource for the riders while also serving as the face of the program.

The contract was set to end Feb. 28 but will now continue until Dec. 31.

The second ordinance approves a third amendment between the city and Search Homeless Services to extend a contract for the Homeless Services Program. According to the SEARCH Homeless website, the program offers services such as interventions, on-the-spot assistance, assessments, referrals, food, water, clothing and blankets.

Included in the ordinance is a Mobile Outreach/Welcome Center and housing case management services, both of which will be funded using $500,000 in Texas Homeless Housing Services Program funds.

The housing care management services program provides long-term housing and supportive services to help others in “achieving housing stability,” on-the-spot assistance, referrals for medical and mental health services, substance use disorder services, and access to food programs and stamps, according to the ordinance.

The contract was set to end Feb. 28, but it will now extend until Feb. 28, 2023.