Housing and Communty Development Department

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COVID-19 RESPONSE

To help Houstonians through the coronavirus crisis, HCDD will administer $45 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.

COVID-19 Resources

Funding Breakdown

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided Houston three emergency grants, which are detailed in the tables below. More information can also be found in our revised Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan.

Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV)
Project	Funding Amount	Funding Percentage
Public Services	$19,106,397	53.4%
Public Facilities	$8,509,627	23.8%
Housing Services	$1,022,224	2.8%
Planning and Administration	$7,159,561	20.0%
Total	$35,797,809	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
Emergency Shelter	$12,425,591	43.0%
Homeless Prevention	$1,707,000	5.9%
Rapid Re-Housing	$11,879,660	41.1%
Administration	$2,890,241	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.
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.
6/3 - Grant Executed for $23.3 M in CV Funding

City executes first CV grant agreements with HUD for $23.3M in CDGB-CV, HOPWA-CV, and ESG-CV funds.
9/18 - Grant Executed for additional $21M of ESG-CV Funding

City executes new grant agreement for an additional $21 million in ESG-CV funds.

COVID CARES Housing Plan

On July 1, 2020, the City of Houston announced a collaboration with Harris County, the Houston Housing Authority, and the Houston Coalition for the Homeless to provide resources to those experiencing homelessness, who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. A Request for Expression of Interest from Qualified Agencies (REI) was released and applications were accepted on a rolling basis through September 1, 2020. The REI application can be found on the Funding page. The budget for funds in the COVID CARES Housing Plan is a combination of sources from across jurisdictions. To see the full budget, you can download it here.

For details on applications, please attend or watch an archive of the Q&A on the REI held July 6, 2020, at 2pm-3:30pm.

The budget for funds in the COVID CARES Housing Plan is a combination of sources from across jurisdictions. To see the full budget, you can download it here .

COVID-19 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 $20M in rental assistance to qualified renters who needed help making missed rent payments. They are still accepting new tenant applications and new landlord applications: https://www.bakerripleyrenthelp.org .

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: HCDDComplaintsAppeal@houstontx.gov
Business Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

You may submit your complaint using the following form , or by phone or mail.

Please report any complaints and suspicions of fraud, waste or abuse you observe. All potential fraud reports involving the use of Federally funded Pandemic assistance programs will be investigated.

ERAP Complaints Form