Their team upon arrival.

Um, and um, for those that are watching on HTV or Facebook Live, uh, thank you for uh following the housing and affordability committee.

We also have staff from council member Jackson's office.

And before I move um throughout our agenda, I just a personal point of privilege.

I just want to shout out the housing and community development department's communications team.

Your social media is popping.

We thank you for uh uh making sure that your work is public-facing and that the general public is able to watch and consume the really good work that you do.

So you have one uh band following your work.

Um, today's agenda is pretty light.

We do have um a presentation from public services presented by uh director Mike Nichols and assistant director Melody Barr, multifamily uh by director, deputy assistant director Ryan Bibbs will have director's comments, and as of today, we do have two public comments, uh public speeches uh for comment, Dominique Mazoch and Doug Smith.

Each speaker will have three minutes.

At this time, I would like to introduce our director Mike Nichols for him to introduce his team.

Thank you so much.

And and director, before you get started, I I will say that I do have I have a hard stop at 10 54 and 11 a.m.

Um, and um, if we are going over at this time, I'll defer to our vice chair um upon his arrival.

And if not, I'll defer to Councilmember Ramirez to clear the remaining of the meeting.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

We'll continue to move forward on our public services, and we will uh and you'll hear some about the new programs and the implementation of the new programs.

Um I'll do a follow-up at the end after we do public services.

Again, the exciting things that are going on.

We're very close to filing our DR24 with uh with HUD.

And that will be uh bring on a many more decisions.

Um then we're hoping um Madam Chairman that we will have a presentation for a joint quality of life housing committee in early October on the homelessness issue.

Ms.

Barr.

All right.

So I will be presenting items two, Roman enroll two public services.

And we're gonna begin with item two A.

The department is presenting a subrecipient agreement with Access Care of Coastal Texas, ACCT to provide up to 1,276,825 for financing the operation and administration of services to a minimum of 149 low-income households affected by or living with AIDS.

Services provided include tenant-based rental assistance to 59 households, short-term rent mortgage and utility assistance to 70 households, and supportive services to all 149 households, which include permanent housing placement for 20 households, housing case management, nutritional and transportation services.

ACCT has received funding from the City of Houston since 2006.

The term of this agreement is anticipated to run from November 1st, 2025 through October 31st of 2026.

No findings or concerns during their last monitoring period.

And it should be noted that this program is located in Galveston, Texas.

And today we have Leslie Sumner, Chief Executive Officer, and Kristen Rowe, Chief Program Officer here in attendance.

Items 2B.

The department is presenting a second amendment to the subrecipient agreement with Catholic charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, providing up to an additional 150,000 in community development block grant funds for the operation and administration of an employment services program assisting 150 low to moderate income individuals in the Houston area.

The goal of this program is to help participants increase their stability and obtain the resources they need to successfully gain and maintain employment.

Employment services may include professional soft skills training to prepare for job search and readiness, resume writing, applying and interviewing.

The employment specialists work with clients to identify training, certification, and educational opportunities through partnerships, referrals, and financial assistance.

Along with employment services are the case management services, which include assisting clients' strengths and needs, identifying barriers, and developing a tailored service plan to guide each client towards their employment goal.

Case managers work with the clients to complete and provide all necessary paperwork, develop a service plan with individual goals and objectives, link them to other needed services, which may include housing, food pantries, mental health services, and engage in regular follow-up reassessments.

These reassessments happen at 30, 60, and 90 days.

Catholic charities has received funding through various agreements with the city of Houston since 2003.

This amendment will extend the term of the agreement from November 1st, 2023 through through October 31st of 2026.

The agency has surpassed its goal of serving 150 individuals last program year, and there were no findings or concerns during their last monitoring period.

Today we have Adrienne Ademi, the program vice president representing Catholic Charities, as well as Leticia Egeny, the job developer.

Item 2C.

The department is presenting a First Amendment to the subrecipient agreement with Wesley Community Center Incorporated, providing up to an additional $125,000 in CDBG funds for the administration and operation of an early childhood education and out of school time program for low to moderate income families.

This program will be operating out of the Wesley Day School and Kurtz Education Recreation Center, located in the near North Side.

This program will serve a minimum of 25 unduplicated children, with 13 being serviced through early childhood education programs for infants to four years of age, which evidence based curriculum.

Twelve school age children from kindergarten through age 12 will be provided services through the out of school time program.

This program operates after school, during the summer, and providing academic supports, healthy lifestyles, social and emotional learning, and enrichment activities such as music, dance, and art to name a few.

This amendment will extend the term of the agreement from November 26, 2024 through October 31st, 2026.

Wesley has received funding from the City of Houston since 2022 and has no findings.

As of June of this year, Wesley surpassed their annual goal of service for this project.

Today we have Emily Bahadi, Senior Director of Development, and Bonnie Albrich, Director of Children and Needs Services in the audience with us.

This is another second amendment to a sub-recipient agreement with Wesley Community Center, providing up to an additional $250,000 in CDBG funds for the operation and administration of employment services program, assisting 225 low to moderate income individuals in the Houston area.

The goal of this program is to help participants increase their stability and obtain the resources they need to successfully gain and maintain employment.

Employability and soft skill classes such as resume writing, interviewing, and professional conduct, as well as financial education, which include basic budgeting, savings, and credit building, and assisting enrolling in healthcare focused vocational training courses such as CNA, certified nursing assistants, patient care technician, medical billing and coding, as well as advanced bridge classes for health care career tracks like LVN medical assistance, sterile processing and pharmacy pharmacy tech.

This amendment will extend the term of this agreement from November 1st, 2023 through November 30th of 2026.

Wesley has received funding again since 2022.

Um, and as of June, they also surpass their annual goal for this project.

And again, we have Emily Bahari, Senior Director of Development, and Bonnie Albrich, the Director of Children and Youth Services in the audience.

Moving on to item 2E.

The department is presenting a sub-recipient agreement with El Centro de Corazon, providing up to $1,500,000 $1, and housing opportunities for persons with AIDS, funding a minimum of 93 low to moderate income households living with HIV or AIDS.

Housing assistance will be provided in the form of tenant-based rental assistance, which is a long-term rent subsidy as well as support services.

Those support services include housing case management, mental and behavioral health supports, and other services that will promote housing stability.

The term of this agreement will begin on the date of counter signature for the city controller until September 30th, 2026, with an option to renew at the city's discretion.

El Centro received funding from our department in 2007 and in 2011.

Please note that the clients served on this agreement are currently being served with the contract that we have with Bread of Life, and they will transition over to the supportive care of El Centro de Corazon.

Today, and I hope he's here.

We have Joe Fuentes, the chief integration officer.

Did he make it?

He's on his way, so he will be here and we'll have a chat then.

Um so he will be here to answer any questions soon.

And our last item that I'm presenting today is item DF.

Um, the department's presenting a second amendment to the sub-recipient agreement with the women's home, providing up to an additional 250,000 dollars in community development block grant funds for the operation and administration of programs serving approximately 480 women in the Houston area.

The program services will assist women participants by increasing stability and access to resources needed to successfully exit homelessness.

Services include health counseling, substance abuse services, and employment services, including vocational assessments, adult basic education, computer classes, job search training, and employment referrals to help clients obtain and maintain employment.

This amendment will extend the term of the agreement from November 1st, 2023 through October 31st, 2026.

The women's home has received funding from the city of Houston since 2000 and has no findings.

As of July of this year, the women's home has served 95% of their annual service goal for this project.

And we have Bethany Fields, Vice President of Grants and Evaluation here representing the women's home.

And that concludes my presentation for this part.

Yeah, but that's going to be at your comments.

One more that will be done out of comments.

At the direct we yeah, we'll be presenting one more project during director's comments.

Thank you.

We do have one council member in the queue.

And before we move to questions, I would like to acknowledge our vice chair in the chambers, councilmember Martinez.

Um, our mayor pro Tim is also watching on HTV.

Her chief of staff is in chambers, and we have representation from Councilmember Peck's office, District A.

Councilmember H Councilmember Castillo's office, District H.

Councilmember Flickinger's office, District E.

I think that's it.

Okay, we're good.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Ramirez.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Melody, thank you for the presentation.

Just had uh question on 2A and 2F.

Uh-huh.

So both of these are HOPA items and providing different levels of funding per household.

Uh I understand the services offered maybe may be different for each, but could you walk us through why um uh the first item 2A is 8,500 per household, and uh the second one 2F is uh 16,000 per household.

Can you just kind of walk through?

So 2F, you mean um the women's home?

Yes.

Okay, so the women's home is the CDBG project, and that 250,000 is leveraged against uh uh 1.4 million dollars for the entire program.

So we don't fund the entire program.

Um and then item 2A with access care of coastal Texas, that is a HOPA program.

And so that's a little bit more expensive.

They're doing tenant-based rental assistance as well as short-term rent mortgage utility assistance.

So they offer direct rent to clients.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

No problem.

No other questions in the queue.

Um for you for public services, so we can move next to multifamily.

Let me add one thing with public services if I can.

Um as you see these numbers, what the there's magic to them.

The magic is that Melody barred her department.

No how to squeeze federal dollars and not leave anything on the table.

And again, some of the work that you saw where she was she was required to move some funding to El Centro de Corazon, is about not leaving a dollar on the table.

And it's very impressive.

And before we end public services, I do not want to be I want to make sure that this group knows that folks in HCD recognize the big problems that we face here.

There's a significant poverty problem that we all know about.

Um but when it's shown in the in the newspapers and in studies that we have 21% of the population is below of our populations below the poverty level.

That is a significant number.

Add that to the more than 40% of people in Harris County don't have $400 on an emergency.

Making sure every one of these federal dollars get to human beings is so important.

And the staff at HCD recognizes it, and we wish we could do more.

The days we feel like it's you know just drops on the sand, but it is helping a number of people, not all of it, but a number of people.

Now, director, thank you for your um uh commentary, and then also to the agencies that continue to partner with the department in the city to execute this work.

Um, thank you for your willingness to work with us.

And if I may just make a request on behalf of my colleagues, uh many times we have public meetings, vice chair has town halls throughout the city, councilmember Castillo has town halls, public session.

All of the work that you do is really helpful.

So if you can send those programs once they are, those contract extensions are approved by council so the council staff can have that, so we can make sure we can redirect um Houstonians to your front door to make sure they can take advantage of the job training, uh rental assistance, what have you.

Um, because these are a remarkable programs, and we want to make sure that they're highly utilized.

Thank you for that.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

If possible, we'll move on into multifamily.

Ryan Bills, who is uh will take this on.

Uh lots of interesting things are happening, and uh really dropping the bucket of what's going on happening over the next few months.

Good morning, Chair, Chair Thomas, co-chair, council members.

Uh, this next item.

Uh we are requesting um hit the red button.

Thank you.

Oh that's better.

Thank you.

Uh this next item.

We are requesting a loan agreement between the city of Houston and Ike Community Foundations.

Uh Ike Communities Foundation is a subsidiary of ITEX development construction and property management.

This agreement will provide four million in home partnership funds for the development of retreat at Esther, affordable housing for seniors.

This project is located in the Acres Home Area at the corner of Went Wheatley Street and Esther Drive at Houston, Texas, 77088 in Council District B.

Next slide, please.

This property will be a new construction of 103 units for seniors.

Uh this property will have mixed use income uh earnings such as 30 percent AMIs, 50 percent AMIs, and 60 percent area medium income.

Next slide.

This property will provide an added source of new affordable senior housing, which could potentially stimulate the local economy and contribute back to the ongoing revitalization efforts in Acres Homes.

Next slide, please.

Affordability period will be for 20 years.

After the completion of the construction, a one percent annual interest rate will apply to the outstanding principal balance.

Next slide.

This is uh chart of the funding stat for this project.

You can see the city of Houston's investment of four million dollars as well as other sources of funding.

Uh not just the fund uh city's funding uh involved, and for the total source of funding is 27 million as for the total project costs.

Next slide, please.

And here's a chart uh displaying the um unit mix.

You have one bedrooms, two bedrooms, and again, just really wanted to you know point out that uh 30 percent 30 percent AMI is gonna be 11 units for 30 percenters, 29 units for 50 percenters, and 63 units for 60 percenters on this project.

Uh this next slide is just uh a map just showing the location of the uh project, uh an acres home, just to give everyone a feel of what what region of town this this project will be located in.

Next slide.

Here's uh rendering uh of the project.

There's gonna be a four-story building, which will include a generator, which is great, uh, to maintain essential power and lighting.

Um just wanted to recap.

The developer ITEX group is a Houston and Port Arthur based real estate and management firm.

Uh they just completed a rehab for us uh called W Leo Daniels, it's a seniors hundred uh unit uh property, and previously they've they've built uh a project called Village at Pomp Center.

Uh we should have with us Samson Balboa representing ITEX in the audience with us today.

Uh no, he was parking, so he should be on on this way.

And that concludes my presentation for that that project.

Sure.

Can and we go back to page 37 on the um AMI breakdown.

Can you just clarify if our restricted units are we doing a restriction based on the total number of units or by the uh one bedroom, two bedroom?

We're restricting the total.

The total, okay, and then it's just a okay, a mix.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council member Ramirez, I'm sorry about that.

No, no worries.

Thank you, madam chair, and thank you, Ryan.

Um, thank you.

I missed the name of the development company.

Can you yeah, sure?

It's uh it's called ITEX.

ITEX.

Okay.

As we go through these, would you be kind enough to uh let us know the development company?

Sure.

Thank you.

I wouldn't.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Okay, all right.

Um the next two items, I was just gonna combine them, Chair, if that's okay.

Okay.

Um we have two projects requesting a resolution of no objection.

Um housing tax credit application.

Uh both of these projects are located in the ETJ extra territorial jurisdiction.

The uh first project is Lafayette Village Apartments.

It's gonna be a rehab of 250 units for families, it's closest to District E.

Councilmember Mr.

Flickinger.

Uh was built in 2006.

The next property is Idlewild Apartments.

It's a rehab as well of 250 units for families and is closest to District B, Councilmember uh Miss Ms.

Jackson, uh built in 2007.

Uh and both of these projects will be rehabbed by a company called Resolution Resolution Companies.

Um next slide, please.

The in order for the developer to move forward uh per the Texas government code section 2306 67071, the governing municipality of where this project is located, must hold a hearing.

Next slide.

Uh the housing community development department recommends a resolution of no objection for both projects that will preserve more affordable housing.

And uh H H C D recommends a motion to hold a public hearing on October the 15th, 2025 for the 4% housing tax credit resolution of no objection.

Next slide.

Um I wanted to just mention that this is a three-step process, and uh the first step will entail uh motion to request a hearing, which will happen on October the 8th.

Second step is to hold a hearing, which will happen on October 15th, and then the third step is to vote on the resolution uh for October 22nd.

Uh again, the developers is is uh resolution companies, that's the name of the developer founded by Steve Ford, who has over 40 years of multifamily experience.

Uh the company has developed over 10,000 multifamily units in Texas, and we have William Schultz with us today, uh representing resolution companies.

Thank you.

That concludes my presentation.

No other questions in the queue.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I wanted council member Martinez to uh be in the chamber, just to give a shout out to the multifamily team for the Tejano Center, that project that y'all had.

I know you'll talk about it, Director, but it was, I mean, it's a site to see.

So I I wanted to make sure he was in the room when you when y'all highlight that project.

Good morning.

I would like to give the committee just a very small DR 17 update as we are nearing the end of our program uh of our funding source, the DR17 grant, uh, with the exception of our HBAP 2.0.

If we can proceed to the next slide.

This just gives the if you can go back, please.

As presented last month, we would like to give the uh committee just an update of where we stand with our current contract amendment for, and then we are looking forward to a proposed amendment just to extend uh the deadlines and the close out deadlines for our economic development just for some closeout activities as well as for multifamily to ensure we can complete close out activities along with construction and then also for buyout along with the demolition and the closeout activities.

So those two um multifamily and buyout will extend into 2026.

Which projects in multifamily are are um in the requested extension.

How many do we have roughly?

Two, okay.

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Sure, sure, sure.

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.

One more time.

In the summit, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And so St.

Elizabeth's already up.

Right.

So we're just doing the close out on the compliance.

Yeah, the construction is done.

Is this sure?

Okay, good.

Because I'm like, I thought our portfolio was done.

Okay, this is good.

And then with buyout.

Um that we were doing the demolition.

I know a couple of those have already moved expeditiously with that contract.

Yep.

I think we had one in K, two in J.

Am I accurate about that?

Yep, something like that.

Okay.

Good, good, good.

Thank you.

Okay.

And then on the next slide, just gives you a snapshot of where we stand with our draw standings.

And so this is as of yesterday.

So you can see we are moving quite along.

As I mentioned last month, um, the GLO has we have received um, we have received payment reimbursement for GLO for a lot of our prior contract costs that we have been negotiating with the GLO for our whole program related to personnel expenses.

So we have been successful in those personnel costs, so now we are just actively working with GLO for some pre-contract um administrative costs, and we hope to receive approval of those costs soon.

So we are actively working with the GLO, they have been a good partner of ours, and we are moving towards the finish line.

There is a light at the tunnel, it's getting brighter and brighter and brighter.

So we are excited about that.

Yes, we we will definitely celebrate at the conclusion of this grant.

And that is it.

Are there any questions?

Um, I know you y'all are prepared to bring an update on 2.0 next month.

Yes.

Which is great.

I know it's moving moving quick.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are you gonna do part?

Are you doing we have one other item that I can't that was not on the agenda?

Correct.

So we had another item that was not on the agenda.

It's the educational programs inspiring communities.

Sometimes things um occur, and um, we have been trying to move really fast to get this funding out.

So the department is going to just discuss about uh a second amendment to the agreement with educational programs inspiring communities.

This is to extend and provide an additional 250,000 dollars in community development block grant funds for the administration and operation of their housing entrepreneurship and readiness training, or as it's commonly referred to as the HART job training program.

And through this amendment, the HART job training program will provide services to 45 trainees with intellectual and or developmental disabilities, individuals will receive services through the vending machine concessions and retail job training programs through HARTS retail program, trainees receive classroom and hands-on training at an on-site mock CVS store, and work a six-week supervised internship at a local CVS store.

And this amendment will extend the agreement from September 1st, 2023 through August 31st of 2026.

Hart has received funding through the city of of Houston for various contracts since 2005, and there were no findings in our annual compliance and monitoring.

The term of this agreement will run through January 31st.

Oh, I'm sorry, that was an extra um alignment in here, but we have Janet Delion Young, who is the new executive director here in the audience.

She has been with HART for about one month.

And I will just say that I'm smiling because HART was the very first project I ever worked on at the city of Houston when I started here almost 20 years ago.

Thank you.

Councilmember Ramirez.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Melody, can you send uh each of the council members information on what you just presented?

Yes, I will send some notes and I will send um the cover sheet that would have been in your package.

Yeah, thank you.

Absolutely.

We appreciate your understanding.

All right, we are we are moving fast.

Thank you.

Any questions before?

No, it's up to you.

Thank you, Director.

Director, can you turn your mic on, please?

Thank you.

I can remember that top that just I will keep trying.

Uh let's talk about the uh uh HBAP program, just so we can give you a brief update.

Uh we are in full swing with the deployment of both our HPAP HBAP 2.0 program as well as the DR21 winter storm Uri Home Repair Program.

Um as of as most recently, our single family team has made significant headway with HBAP 2.0 applications and thank you.

Some numbers.

Let's add these numbers.

Come on.

Cedric Lussain, who has his buttons who has the most up-to-date numbers.

The one I have, Cedric, is that as of recently, um we have uh over 100 actively open uh files and a goal of 250 approvals.

But since you're the man who watches this every hour, I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you.

All right.

Um good morning, everyone.

Uh so as of right now, we have a pipeline of 108 that is in eligibility.

We have 318 files that have uh applications that are in the process.

There are 38 approvals from the GLO.

And uh we have two that are pending approval.

Uh currently there are if we want to break down for LMI, it's about 25 uh for LM uh LMI and uh the UN is for uh eight.

So we are we have a robust pipeline.

Um we look to have everybody approved uh by the end of this year.

25 LMI, which are you talking about?

A 80 percent AMI the phase one.

So okay, so that's our 60, and then phase two is like 80 percent.

And is this for repair or for reimbursement?

This is no, this is for HPAP 2.0, I'm sorry.

Oh, we're on 2.0.

Okay, I thought you were saying DR21.

I'm sorry.

Okay, this is good.

Um for winter storm uh urine, we have 215 applications that's in the pipeline.

Uh we are still having some challenges with title, so we are uh making some exceptions to work around title where uh homeowners can provide affidavits.

Uh we do have a process that we are working through uh to get more approved.

Yeah, I can and um when uh deputy director is talking about uh title, um he's talking about heirs.

So if you are living a generational home, if you in you know inherited your uncle's home, um HUD funding, particularly CDB GRDR funds, you are not eligible to uh participate in recovery programs.

So you may be living in grandma's house and you've paid the taxes, you've done all of that work, and then you know, disaster comes, you're not eligible, so the city uh locally is is moving forward um with the creating a pathway, which was done during Harvey as well.

Um I know a lot of that funding was cut when the administrative costs were cut, um and there's been a lot of work the department has done to create pathways for those with generational homes to participate in federal funding.

Um so thank you for highlighting that.

And then if there's any guidance you can provide to council offices, particularly around that, um, to help get that on the street so they can work those processes because I had a question, and I know our vice chair is in the is in the queue as well.

Um these are federal applications, which takes a lot of time.

Um it's a it's can be cumbersome.

Um if someone was to approach the office, do y'all have staff ready and available to walk them through?

Okay, absolutely.

Yeah, so I think if we can to to do that as someone that's had to do this for my daddy, uh I I if we can just make sure that if y'all have constituents that need access to these programs, get them to the housing department so they can work this through and so they can take advantage of this funding because it's only 50 million dollars for DR21, and that's gonna move just like that.

40 million.

Oh, it's four, that's right.

10 is for generate, I'm sorry.

It's only 40 million dollars.

And so um, but I'll move on.

Vice Chair Davis.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh appreciate the explanation because I think that's so necessary for a lot of people to hear the way that the process works and so that people get get clarity uh before the application process proceeds.

I just had one question.

You indicated GLO was approving how many?

So we have 38 that are approved.

That's for HBAP 2.0.

So that's for home buyers.

Right.

That's the 2.0.

Yes.

And they approved how many?

38 are approved.

So we have uh we have uh honed the process to where we are getting submissions.

Uh we submit every day um uh before four o'clock, and generally by the next day, uh by the afternoon, they are approved.

Okay.

And just to clarify, HBAP 2.0 is using DR 17 funds.

That's correct.

And for that reason, right?

GLO is involved.

Okay, good.

That's correct.

Very good.

Thank you.

Council Member Martinez.

Thank you, Chair, and I appreciate you explaining the you know where that confusion can sometimes happen.

Um historically, uh from my experience, it was, you know, folks had a lean on their property, and so they're scared, right?

And so um I think it's important that you know this horseshoe definitely has a really good understanding, but then also um, as we're speaking out to the community, there's always if there's staff that can also speak to it from uh housing.

Uh there's several folks that just they were so confused and they were scared that they just decided not to participate, which was uh unfortunate.

So um definitely want to just elevate that conversation a bit more.

Great.

So one of the things I would ask is that all the council members, if they could put it out in their newsletters that go out, uh to let homeowners know that we are working with them uh that may potentially have title issues.

Um we have a robust staff that we are helping in any way that we can to get them through the process.

Yeah, and yeah, and whatever guidance and a language so we don't have to make it up, and whatever we can hyperlink and attach, allow us to do that so we're all on the same page, and I will add that the real test, um, they actually receive some grant funding to do title clearance.

And so I think that's a really good thing to make sure that all of us have access to that as well.

They have the attorneys, they have all of that.

So any documents, any pre-application stuff that they need to do, if you get that to the offices or the committee and we'll blitz it out because there's so many people who are under the impression because we we cash their check when it's time for property taxes, right?

We we do all of that, right?

We charge them on the water bill, we all of that, but then when it's time for them to take advantage of the funding that we push out, they can't.

And um, sometimes the applications can be cumbersome.

So any way that we can get this to the street and support the work that y'all are doing at the department allow us the opportunity to do so.

Sure.

Uh also any elderly or disabled homeowners that are out there for winter storm Ure, we will send a uh intake counselor out to help them with the process.

So don't let that deter them from applying for the program.

Thank you.

We are we are deeply appreciative.

Thank uh Madam Chairwoman, thank you for the comments about social media, but we really rely on council and staff to get these programs out.

Um this week, I believe we sent some material on a uh uh uh uh rehab NOFA.

Um but again, it's so important that you get this material and then get it out to the right constituents, and we deeply appreciate your work.

We know it's uh an extra effort, but it's deeply appreciated.

All right, so I'll let do the last overview, which uh let's go to the slide that reads OST Lofts, I think.

And last Tuesday, September 9th, the City of Houston and its partners celebrate the river cutting ribbon cutting of the Old Spanish Trail South Union community.

Uh the grand opening entailed not one but two ribbon cuttings, one for the apartments and another for the own site RYSS Academy pre-kindergarten school.

The city invested 19.3 million dollars of CDBG disaster 17 funds, and that community is a hundred percent occupied.

Um it's it's it's uh it is a great facility.

Um it's a great work.

And again, I want to shout out to our partners um who really make this happen, uh TDHCA on the state level, uh, often working with the county housing department, uh often working with the Houston Housing Finance Corporation.

Uh it is a joint effort to get something like this built.

So thank you.

To bring you an update.

Oh, hold on, Director.

I I want to a pause for Councilmember Martinez.

I wanted to make sure that he uh was able to talk about uh what I was cheering on social media about Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Um yeah, no, uh this is just a great project.

We appreciate uh this administration picking up where we left off last administration.

Uh this was uh personal to me because I was on the board for the Hano Center.

Uh and so to be able to see this fully occupied, see RISE, uh the early childhood uh center also flourishing.

Uh we got to talk to the young kids, it was it was great.

And so I just appreciate everybody, Derek, you know, um, everybody that that's been a part of this uh just just to make sure that we fulfilled our our uh commitment to the communities of that east and southeast part of Houston.

Um and then also just uh quick plug, just want to make sure that we continue the same uh format with uh the uh Andover Loves, which is a similar format.

We we are looking at a meeting with uh Harris County Housing as well.

They're interested in trying to identify some of that gap funding.

So just want to say thank you to, of course, this body for continuing to support uh affordable housing, um, workforce housing, and then also to your team director for all the work y'all continue to do.

Thank you.

I would do wish the public would understand that when you do a project like this and it goes through multiple mayoral administrations, council members, um, it is it says something great about your city employees who stick with these projects and get them through, and it's not about the heroics, it's about getting human beings in units.

Yeah.

And I wish the public would understand that is remarkable.

Yeah, for sure.

And and just if I can just add my nickel and dime, we've seen the evolution of our nine percents, right?

There's just no longer these traditional multifamily projects, but now we're adding the educational piece.

We're really intentional about seniors.

I think it speaks to the innovation in the department, the demand of council members bringing that perspective to the table, and then developers who are willing and nonprofits who are willing to partner with developers who have a pulse in the district who know exactly what their community needs.

And you know, when you have a strong developer and then a nonprofit like the Tejano Center in community, you know, that's like the best mix.

And so I just thank the the department for listening to council members saying we need to do more this way and actually providing options for us to um you know unanimously vote on in success, and then to see that I saw it on social media, and I was go, go, go.

It was great.

Um so kudos to everyone involved for sure.

Uh to to just uh um tell you about one event this week before I go on.

Um I had a dream come true this week where the administration set up meetings with the major hospitals in town to talk about housing.

And I'm a big believer that housing health care is housing, and it's just it's you cannot separate it.

And to have those hospitals in one room, all the government relations people, all the people who are looking at efficiencies in the hospital, and begin explaining this concept and talk and begin thinking about how the hospitals can move their dollars from the expensive emergency room into housing is very exciting.

How can it happen if it's gonna happen?

But we certainly had a big start in doing that.

So that's very exciting.

Uh, just to move through quickly of the other projects that are in uh in updating um the Rushmore apartments uh on highway six, and that's right out, I think it's outside of District G.

Um, it's 34 percent completed, and we look forward to that being completed.

Uh the next one is the excuse me.

Um Avenue C.

Uh again, 60 percent completed with our partners in New Hope, and again, heavily uh weighted toward 30 to 60 percent AMI.

We're excited about this coming online.

Uh uh the OST Lofts um we talked about earlier.

That's the one that's 100 percent completed.

Uh the summit at Renaissance Park in Greens Point, something we've been waiting and waiting and waiting on.

It is 96 percent completed.

I'd like to be at that party also.

Um again, 166 units, 30 to 60 percent AMI, a great need for that community.

Uh Richmond Senior Village, that that is also completed 125 units, uh 30 to 80 percent AMI.

Uh that was 15 million dollars of DR 17.

Um again, it takes a long time to get this done, maybe too long.

There's a lot of frustration in that, but uh we appreciate your working with us and the public having the patience because when these facilities open and the human beings in there and they have a safe place to call home, it's really important work that we do.

We just have to do a lot more of it and do a lot more quickly.

Um again, we hope we appreciate the connection in the community, and we continue to have our office hours every Wednesday from one to four.

Um this department relies heavily on you in this room to work with us to get to understand, to ask hard questions, and we are deeply appreciative of all of your efforts.

Thank you, Director.

We have no other uh questions or comments in the queue.

Vice Chair, you ready to close us out?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um before we have joined, I just want to recommend um remind everyone that our next housing and affordability committee will be meeting on October the 21st at 10 a.m.

Uh the district F office, our chair uh will be sending out additional information.

And uh again, we uh that would uh at that point join us.

Yeah, well, yes, and um vice chair, uh I'm sorry, we do have Doug Smith in the audience for public comments, and we know that it would not be a housing committee meeting without Doug Doug.

Doug.

Forgive me, my friend.

Apologize, colleagues.

Good morning, everybody.

Uh you weren't here last month, uh, but we had a discussion, and I one of the reasons I came today because I thought we might have a special report.

Uh when you look at all of the various uh uh organizations that they uh allocate money to, and there were probably eight of them today, and last week or last month there were 15, I think.

And uh I suggested maybe it would be and they said they had uh they were gonna do a report, but these organizations, some of them do the same thing.

And I think it would be very good to have an evaluation of the work they do so that perhaps money from one organization that doesn't do as well as one of the others can be moved to the one that really does the good work.

And uh we didn't have a report this month, but I think they are prepared to do one, and I would just like to ask uh to possibly see that soon.

Thank you, Doug.

Um thank you for bringing it up.

And um I I'm although there may not be a report right now.

I know in practice the department does that.

Um periodically, there's been times where agencies have met challenges internally, um, and the department has had to pivot those contracts to agencies that had capacity for a variety of reasons.

Um and they've done that, and those items have come back to council and committee through um a new amendments or a new authorization.

Sometimes they're presented at count at the committee, sometimes it makes it just to the council.

So as a practice, the the department does do that.

Um as noted in their compliance when they do that type of work with uh compliance and and making sure, but I do think it's a good exercise to kind of perhaps document their SOP on how they do that, so um the public has better information on when an agency is unable to meet our threshold, how the department pivots so we can become efficient and not interrupt services.

So I will definitely make a note uh to circle back so we can get you that special report.

Okay.

The other comment that I thought about, we're talking about a lot of government funds, and I wondered if there's any discussion about those.

I mean, we hear a lot of government funds being cut.

Are there concerns about that happening to all of these programs that we're dealing with?

Absolutely, and I believe the director a couple of months ago mentioned our HUD annual action plan and that allotment we have not received um any additional funds.

Um, but I would like to highlight to your point um assistant director Bibbs mentioned those four percents and those home fund investments.

There is conversation um from the federal administration of either reducing or zeroing out home funds, which is critical to how we invest in those type of rehab and affordability projects in the city, which is really um how we're able to do that.

Um so I I do believe that um the department is working with um their government relations team and their legislative partners to see how they're able to pivot in the future, and they'll present that information once they have additional guidance.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doug.

Councilmember Ramirez.

I thought we would see now we got to be able to do that.

Almost done, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

And Doug, thank you for bringing that point up.

We do uh we do fear a loss of funding from the federal government, which made for Trump have Councilmember Thomas's amendment on the DR24 funding all the more important.

And so I'm glad you brought that up.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Okay.

Vice Chair, if you want to close us out again, or just remind everybody we're done.

I guess it we done.

That's it.

Thank you.

All we'll see you next month.

Thank you.