CITY OF HOUSTON / HARRIS COUNTY BEGIN RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM
December 20, 2006 -- Mayor Bill White's "Real Change, Not Spare Change" campaign has prompted Houstonians to fund housing for the chronically homeless through the Houston Rapid Re-Housing program, made possible with challenge grants from the Houston Housing Finance Corporation ($100,000) and Central Houston, Inc. ($25,000). The joint City/Harris County program begins this week with 20 individuals to be housed at the Northline SRO (Single Room Occupancy), formerly known as the SHED and originally funded by the City of Houston and Harris County, at 3939 North Freeway (I-45 @ Loop 610).
"Houstonians have shown their enthusiasm to make a real change by giving to programs such as the Coalition for the Homeless," said Mayor White. "This program is made possible through their generosity, and it will provide the services needed target the needs of homeless people and help them off the streets."
Rapid Re-Housing is one of the strategies of the Houston/Harris County Strategic Plan To Address Homelessness. The program is a "housing first" strategy in which funds are used for up front, 90-day rental assistance with plans for the individual to take over the lease and have a permanent place to live. While in the program, case managers assist persons with jobs to help connect them with disability benefits and/or Social Security and other services.
The mayor has worked with the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness, which includes the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, former City Councilmember Gordon Quan and Executive Director of the Houston Downtown Management District Bob Eury.
"We are now witnessing the first step in a multi-phased plan to end homelessness. We are determined to tackle this problem that has plagued Houston for much too long," said Quan.
The Rapid Re-Housing program aims to provide financial and social services-in addition to housing-to give chronically homeless persons the opportunity to get off the street and into permanent housing.
"We are hopeful about the potential positive outcomes of this effort," said Eury. "Houston's past rapid re-housing demonstration efforts found that a majority of individuals were able to remain housed after agreeing to leave the street for a room and work with a case manager to receive needed services."
The Task Force will be seeking funds from churches and foundations to expand the program in 2007. Information about the campaign is available at www.homelesshouston.org.
