The Housing and Affordability Committee of the Houston City Council met on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in chambers. The meeting focused on single-family housing programs, including updates to the Home Buyer Assistance Program (HAP), new disaster recovery guidelines for the 2024 Derecho and Hurricane Barrel, and progress reports on the DR21 Winter Storm program, the Navigation Center, and the 419 Emancipation Center. Five members of the public provided comments. No votes were taken; items discussed are scheduled for Council action on May 27, 2026.
Call to Order & Attendance: Chairwoman called the meeting to order. Present: Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex Tatum, Councilmember Ramirez, Vice Chair Davis, and staff representatives from Districts B, H, I, At-Large 3, and At-Large 5.
Presentation on Single-Family Programs (Assistant Director Cedric Lassain)
DR24 Multifamily NOFA Update
Navigation Center NOFA Update
HCD Progress Reports
419 Emancipation Center (Homeless Resource Center)
Finance Update (Tamika Jones)
All right, good morning, everyone. Today is Tuesday, May 26, 2026. I officially call the Housing and Affordability Committee to order in chambers. We have staff representation from Councilmember Jackson in District B, staff representation from Councilmember Castillo's office, district H, staff representation from District I, Councilmember Merc Tinez. In chambers, we have Mayor Pro Tim, Martha Castex Tatum, Councilmember Ramirez, and staff from Council Member Carter at large three, Councilmember Alcorn out at large five. And Vice Chair Davis is in chambers as well. Today our agenda is solely focused on single family. We'll hear presentation by assistant director Cedric Lassain. And we'll hear directors' comments and of course our standing presentation of finance. And we have two individuals currently signed up. No three. I see Doug, it wouldn't be right if Doug wouldn't on the agenda. Then we it wouldn't be right. So we have three um public speakers, and so at any point in the meeting, if you wish to speak, you just sign up and we'll give space to you. Each speaker will have three minutes. So good morning director, the floor is yours. Thank you for having me. And again, this is we're we're this is the beginning of our moving fast from the DR21 DR24s, and we're excited about that. And today we're focused on single family, which of course is a significant priority of you as chairwoman and of the mayor to make sure that we um improve our stock of single family homes and improve the lives of those who live in them. We'll start with the uh Cedric Lussain, who runs our single family program, and we'll go to the next slide. Good morning. Hi is everybody. Good morning. Uh good morning, madam chairwoman, vice chair, members of the committee. I am presenting items 2A through 2D on behalf of the housing and community development department. Items A and items B are together, uh, the same item. Uh so we are recommending council approval for an ordinance authorizing the Eighth Amendment to the amended and restated home buyer assistance program, also known as HAP guidelines to increase the maximum subsidy from 50,000 to 75,000 to decrease the length of time for a participant to find a home from 120 days to 90 days, and incorporate the standard eligibility criteria that's across all single family programs, and this will affect all districts. You want me to go on to item B? We have item B. HCD recommends council approval of an amendment to the homebuyer closing documents for the home buyer assistance program to align with the eighth amendment of the amended restated home buyer assistance program guidelines. The homebuyer closing documents include the second lien deed of trust, the notice of occupancy restrictions, deferred payment loan note, and the terms and conditions, which affects all districts. Okay. All right. Um, gonna go on to the question on A, uh, just from the can you just explain the reduction of the 120 to the 90 days? Sure. Um, so what we're seeing in uh the HBAP 2.0 program, uh, that length of time that's letting it hang out there. Uh we're not getting the money spent. So we're decreasing that time down to 90 days to go ahead and push that buyer to go and start looking for a home. Sure. Um we have homes that are available through our NHDP program, through our partners that uh with our affordable home development program. So there are homes that are available and just trying to get those buyers a little bit of a more of a push to get out there and do it. Um I also want to point out the assistance that's being provided under the HAP program is for 80% and below buyers. Um, and that's gonna go up to eight-year affordability period. Ah, okay. Uh, and we're also gonna maintain the 33 and 45 percent ratios, so just to make sure that they're only using 33 percent of their income for housing. Yep. Uh, it's still gonna focus on the home buyers uh that have not owned a home or that have not owned a home in the last three years. Um, so is it three-year cycle and not a seven-year? It's a three-year, so they must not have owned a home in the last three years. Sure.