Housing Affordability Committee Meeting - August 19, 2025
Housing Affordability Committee Meeting - August 19, 2025
The Housing Affordability Committee met on August 19, 2025, to discuss HOPWA funding for housing services for persons with HIV/AIDS, a flood mitigation project at Edgewood Park, and updates on disaster recovery programs. Public comments were heard, and committee members discussed data reporting and program evaluation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Donna Rickenbacker, developer of OST Lofts, expressed gratitude for the allocation of additional disaster funding toward housing and thanked Councilmembers Thomas and Plummer for their amendments. She invited the committee to the OST Lofts ribbon cutting on September 9, 2025, noting the project is 100% occupied and includes a standalone pre-kindergarten program operated by the Tejano Center.
- Doug (last name not provided) raised concerns about the allocation process for HOPWA funds, asking how the city decides which organizations receive funding and whether outcomes are tracked. He urged the city to require performance reports from grantees and questioned the impact of federal funding cuts. He expressed interest in seeing a report on provider evaluations at a future meeting.
Discussion Items
- HOPWA Subrecipient Agreements: Assistant Director Melody Bohr presented six subrecipient agreements (items 2A–2F) for HOPWA-funded housing and supportive services for low-income households living with HIV/AIDS. Organizations included: A Caring Safe Place, Brentwood Community Foundation, The Women's Home, Catholic Charities, Allies and Hope, and SERC Homeless Services. Two additional last-minute items were presented for Houston SRO Housing Corporation and Houston Help Inc. All agreements span from September/October 2025 to August/September 2026 with renewal options. Committee members asked about the number of people served (approximately 1,400 through HOPWA) and the formula allocation. Councilmember Ramirez requested a data presentation on HIV/AIDS prevalence and service statistics. Councilmember Flickinger asked about similar grants for other diseases. The Chair noted that HOPWA is a HUD formula grant for the region and that the department can provide a presentation on the formula and service data at the next committee meeting.
- Edgewood Park Detention Basin LOA: Deputy Assistant Director Ryan Bibbs presented a letter of agreement between the Housing and Community Development Department and Houston Public Works for $3,425,471 in CDBG-DR funding to construct a multi-use detention basin at Edgewood Park. The project will depress existing fields, a playground, and green spaces to hold floodwater, with upgrades including an upgraded football field, walking trails, pedestrian lighting, and trees. Total project budget is $4,611,000, with construction expected from February 2026 to September 2026. Councilmember Ramirez expressed support, noting the community's long-standing demand for park upgrades. No opposition was voiced.
- Disaster Recovery Updates: Deputy Director Tamika Jones reported on DR17 (Harvey) closeout: Amendment 4 with the GLO is executed, and the final payment request for the HOPE program (over $7.5 million) was approved. The HBAP 2.0 down payment assistance program had 12 approved applicants, with a pipeline of 272 additional applicants. For DR21 (winter storm), the single-family program has a pipeline of 215 homeowners, with 45 actively being worked on. The committee also received updates on the multifamily NOFA (approximately $11–12 million) to be released in September.
- Project Updates: Director Derek provided updates on several affordable housing developments: Rushmore (31% complete, 85 restricted units), New Hope Housing Avenue C (60% complete, 120 restricted units), OST Lofts (ribbon cutting September 9, 109 restricted units), Summit at Renaissance Park (nearly complete, 166 restricted units), Hay Center (ribbon cutting August 22, 40 restricted units for youth aging out of foster care), and Richmond Senior (100% complete, 100 restricted units for seniors). Community engagement events and social media channels for HCD were also highlighted.
Key Outcomes
- The committee received and discussed the HOPWA subrecipient agreements; no formal vote was recorded, but the items were presented for information. A presentation on HOPWA data and service statistics is expected at the next committee meeting.
- The Edgewood Park LOA was presented without opposition; the project is in the design phase.
- The DR17 HOPE program closeout is complete; HBAP 2.0 is progressing with a strong pipeline of applicants.
- The next Housing Affordability Committee meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Ready to start our meeting on today for the Housing Affordability Committee, August 19, 2025. And we certainly want to welcome all of that are present with us. And we'd like to identify all of the council members and staff attendance to our August meeting. And we also have our council member Fred Flickinger present with us from District E. And we also have the council member representative from District H. And also we have a council member representative from K, District K, and also we have at large Councilmember Junior Ramirez from At Large One, and also ELF staff from Councilmember Thomas Chair Office District L. So we are ready to begin. Again, today we are going to hear from the housing and community development for many of the know. Um Councilman Willie Davis, Vice Chair, and we are happy to have those of you here with us. We will start off and then those of you who want to speak. We have a sign-in sheet. We hope you sign in at the there at the door, and we'll hear from you. We do have a three-minute limit on the speakers from the uh public, but we certainly want to hear from all the ones that are present. So with that, um, we are going to um begin uh with uh our public services, uh presented by director Michael Miguel's and assistant director Melanie Barr. Good morning. Uh, we're happy to be here this morning. First up, we're gonna have our public service items uh delivered by assistant director uh Melody Bohr. Good morning. Today I'm excited to share with you the projects that will be supported through housing opportunities for persons with AIDS funding, better known as HOPWA. At the heart of every strong community, safe, stable housing, and today we're talking about how HOPA funding is making that possible for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Our housing and community development department invited nonprofit organizations with 501c3 status to apply for funding to provide vital services, such as housing case management, financial assistance, supportive programs, and operating support for housing projects, all focused on helping low-income individuals and families living with or affected by HIV or AIDS. We received 14 applications in total, and I'm pleased to report that every one of them was given an opportunity for funding. Today, 12 organizations are officially moving forward, while two chose to withdraw. What you're gonna see today is the first set of those projects, with the others to be presented in the coming months. Each represents an important step towards strengthening housing stability and support for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. So we'll begin with item two A. The department is presenting a subrecipient agreement with a Caring Safe Place Incorporated, providing up to 1,19,313 in HOPWA funds, serving a minimum of 50 low to moderate income households living with AIDS through two programs. The first program is a 14-unit transitional housing facility for men overcoming substance use and at risk for homelessness. The second program is a 14-unit permanent housing facility prioritized for individuals with a history of substance use. Both programs offer supportive services, which include case management, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, 12-step programming, and other services that promote housing stability. The term of the agreement will run from September 1st, 2025, or counter signature date, whichever is first, through August 31st, 2026, with an option to renew at the city's discretion. A caring safe place has received funding from the city since 1999 and had no findings in the last monitoring review. Oh, there he is. Perfect. Would you like me to pause for questions or would you like me to continue? Discontinue. Okay. Item 2B, the department is presenting a sub-recipient agreement with Brentwood Community Foundation, providing up to 740,343. And HOPWA funds serving a minimum of 145 low to moderate income households living with HIV or AIDS through two programs. The first program is an 18-unit transitional housing facility for men at risk of homelessness. The second is an emergency housing assistance program serving a minimum of 100 households supported with short short-term rent mortgage utility assistance, commonly referred to as strumium. Both programs offer supportive services, which include case management, mental health counseling, health education, and nutritional education classes, and other services that promote housing stability. In addition to those served under Brentwood's housing programs, 25 additional clients will be served with supportive services only. The term of this agreement is from September 1st, 2025 or countersignature date to August 31st, 2026, with an option to renew at the city's discretion. Brentwood Community Foundation has received funding from the city since 1995 and no findings on their last monitoring review. Today we have Glenda Hopkins, the Chief Executive Officer, and Sharonda Wright, the program director in the audience. Good. Thank you. Item 2C, the department is presenting a subrecipient agreement with the women's home, providing up to 321,888.41 cents in Hopwa funds, serving a minimum of 70 low to moderate income households living with HIV or AIDS through the Whole Life Collaborative Program. The Whole Life Collaborative Program enhances the wellness and stability of vulnerable families through a holistic approach by working collectively, offering programs and services at their Maybe Whole Life Service Center.
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