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COVID-19 RESPONSE

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To help Houstonians through the coronavirus crisis, HCDD will administer $23.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This funding will be used to support the work of nonprofit organizations who are providing immediate relief in the form of rent and utility assistance programs, emergency shelter maintenance, and other activities.

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Funding Breakdown

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided Houston three emergency grants, which can be explored in more detail in the tables below. Proposed spending has also been documented in our revised Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan.

Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV)
Project Funding Amount Funding Percentage
Public Services $10,968,993 75.5%
Housing Services $650,000 4.5%
Planning and Administration $2,904,748 20.0%
Total $14,523,741 100.0%

Within this allocation, the Public Services funding will be used to boost the work of nonprofit organizations who provide health, housing, or other services to Houstonians. The Housing Services funding will support a HOME funded rental assistance program.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant - CV
Project Funding Amount Funding Percentage
Supportive Services $261,018 17.4%
Project or Tenant-based Rental Assistance (TBRA) $200,000 13.3%
Short-Term, Rent, Mortgage & Utility Assistance $800,000 53.3%
Grantee Administration $90,072 6.0%
Sponsor Administration $150,121 10.0%
Total $1,501,211 100.0%

The HOPWA-CV funding will assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families through supportive services, rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and utility assistance.

Emergency Solutions Grant - CV
Project Funding Amount Funding Percentage
Street Outreach $127,297 1.8%
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) $100,000 1.4%
Emergency Shelter $4,000,000 55.2%
Homeless Prevention $2,000,000 27.6%
Rapid Re-Housing $300,000 4.1%
Administration $725,255 10.0%
Total $7,252,552 100.0%

The ESG-CV funding will assist extremely low-income persons and families through street outreach, emergency shelters, homeless prevention, and rapid-rehousing programs. The Homeless Management Information System for Houston is administered by the Coalition for the Homeless.

Timeline of COVID-19 Relief

  • 3/27

    CARES Act Passed

    U.S. Congress passes Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act (CARES Act), granting $9.1B to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

  • 4/3

    HUD Notifies Cities

    HUD notifies the City of Houston that it will receive $23.3M for its CARES Act allocation. City begins amending 2019 Annual Action Plan to include this funding.

  • 4/20 - 4/25

    Public Comment Period

    The Draft Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan is available for public comment.

  • 5/6

    City Council Approval

    Houston City Council approves Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan, including activities proposed for the $23.3M of CARES Act funding.

  • 5/7

    Additional Application Materials

    HUD notifies City of additional application materials required to receive funding.

  • 5/14

    Grant Application Submitted

    City submits grant application materials and Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan to HUD.

May 2020 Rental Assistance Program

In addition to the grants HCDD will administer, the City has received additional funding through the CARES Act. The City partnered with BakerRipley, a local non-profit, to provide a total of $15M in rental assistance to qualified renters who needed help making missed April and May rent payments.

Applications for tenants opened at 10am on May 13, 2020, and funds were pledged on a first-come, first-serve basis. Within the first two hours, all $15M had been pledged to nearly 12,000 applicants. For more information on the program, please refer to our recent press release.

Complaints & Feedback

The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) welcomes feedback and complaints from any member of the public. Complaints are accepted in writing or over the telephone. Complaints will be responded to in writing within 15 business days, when possible.

Complaints of fraud, waste or abuse must be immediately escalated to the City of Houston Office of Inspector General, or Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General regardless of whether the complaint is informal or formal.

Mailing Address

City of Houston
Housing and Community Development Department
2100 Travis Street, 9th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
ATTN: Planning and Grants Management

Phone: 832.394.6200
Email: HCDDComplaintsAppeals@houstontx.gov"
Business Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

State and Local Information Sources

Houston Health Department Harris County Public Health Texas Department of Health and Human Services CDC WHO