Fort Bend County commissioners awarded $404,578 from Community Development Block Grant funds to seven nonprofit organizations in the county on April 12, as part of the fiscal year 2021-22 Consolidated Annual Action Plan approved by commissioners court in September.
The CDBG Entitlement Program is administered by the county’s community development department, and it develops programs and the fund's priorities, according to the county’s website.
The CDBG program’s objective is to develop viable urban communities to the benefit of low- and moderate-income persons. The national objectives are also to aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, and meet community development needs having a particular urgency, per the Fort Bend County website.
Per the same website, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated $3.45 million in CDBG Program funds, as well as $916,596 in HOME Investment Partnership Program funds and $282,488 in Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds for FY 2021-22.
The county is still in the process of developing its 2021 Action Plan for HUD, according to the website. The national agency requires Fort Bend County to create a single, consolidated submission for the planning and application aspects of the CDBG, ESG and HOME programs; the goal is to build and strengthen new partnerships with state and local governments, and the private sector.
The seven nonprofit organizations, the grant totals and the purpose for the awards are listed below.
- Fort Bend Seniors Citizens, Inc. received $65,000 for the administration of the home-delivered meals program.
- Child Advocates of Fort Bend County received $49,000 for a Forensic Interviewer/Children’s Services. The forensic interviewer is a specially trained professional for the Children’s Advocacy Center and will speak with children who are alleged victims of abuse in an “emotionally safe environment,” with coordinated efforts to reduce the number of times a child has to be interviewed and lessen the trauma to the child, according to the agency’s website.
- The Arc of Fort Bend County received $40,000 for the administration of social and recreational programs for disabled adults. Per their website, The Arc coordinates a range of activities, including dances, outings at sporting events, weekly bowling nights and various events at NRG Stadium, the Toyota Center and Constellation Field.
- The Fort Bend County Women’s Center received $65,000 for services for women and children, and survivors of domestic violence.
- The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County received $60,000 for the student and tutor match program.
- Fred & Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch received $80,578 for emergency shelter services. This organization’s shelter program is offered to youth ages 7-17 for up to 90 days, per the agency’s website.
- Brazos Bend Guardianship Services received $45,000 to provide care management to incapacitated and disabled adults and their families.
In addition to the CDBG grant funds, the Women’s Center received a $382,521 increase to its contract with the county that is funded by the Emergency Solutions COVID-19 Grant for a total of $1.15 million—extended through Aug. 31. This is to provide emergency shelter and rapid rehousing.
The Women’s Center was also awarded $88,914 from the ESG program to provide essential services and shelter operations to homeless families and individuals as another part of the fiscal year 2021-22 Consolidated Annual Action Plan.
