Committee reviews $6.5 million in subrecipient agreements for homelessness diversion, shelter and wraparound services

The Houston City Council Quality of Life Committee on the morning of the continuation hearing reviewed eight proposed subrecipient agreements and amendments that would direct roughly $6.5 million in federal and local funds toward homelessness diversion, shelter operations, street medicine and housing assistance programs.

Committee Chair Council Member Julian Ramirez, Houston City Council member at-large, said the session would complete housing items left over from the previous meeting and turned the floor to Melody Barr, assistant director in the Housing and Community Development Department, who summarized the round of subrecipient agreements tied to the city’s and Harris County’s Way Home initiative.

Barr said five of the agenda items come from a joint rolling REI (request for expressions of interest) released Jan. 31, 2025, and described eligible activities including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, prevention/diversion, outreach, case management, expanded shelter capacity and supportive services. “Diversion asks, ‘what do you need and what do you want?’” Barr said. “It is intended to ensure that the homeless experience is as brief as possible.”

Agency presentations and questions

- Beacon of Downtown Houston (item 3a): Melody Barr described a proposed subrecipient agreement of up to $480,922 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for homeless diversion services serving a minimum of 50 households over the contract term (Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2027). Stephanie Truong, chief program officer at Beacon, said the agency plans to hire two case managers, a part-time compliance manager and administrative support, and to reserve roughly $150,000 for direct client assistance paid to third parties (landlords, vendors). Truong described use of HMIS for client and service reporting and said follow-ups would occur at 90 days post-exit.

- Northwest Assistance Ministries (item 3b): The committee considered a proposed agreement of up to $1,153,870 in HOME/HOME-ARP/CDBG funding for diversion services serving a minimum of 65 households annually (term Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026, with one-year renewal option). Allison Booker Brooks, chief operating officer, said NAM would hire two case managers (one housing, one workforce), track clients in HMIS and an internal ClientTrack system, and could combine contract funds with private donations for higher-cost items (for example, training that costs several thousand dollars).

- Westlake/Wesley Community Center (item 3c): A proposed $580,264 award drawn from HOME-ARP and CDBG would fund diversion and rental assistance serving about 75 individuals (36 households annually) with a Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026 term and a one-year renewal option. Wesley representatives said they use HMIS and an internal database (Apricot) to produce aggregate and client-level reports and that their programming connects clients to job training and other onsite services.

- Salvation Army amendment (item 3d): Staff presented a fourth amendment to an existing subrecipient agreement to use remaining CDBG-CV (CARES Act) funds, adding approximately $622,432.91 to support diversion services for a minimum of 266 households and extending the agreement term through April 30, 2026. Salvation Army representatives said the funding would maintain a staffing pattern of six case managers and that the organization submits monthly and quarterly HMIS-based reports to the city.

- Covenant House Texas (item 3e): The committee considered a second amendment adding $200,000 in HHSP (state homeless housing services program youth) funds to continue operations for unaccompanied young adults (ages 18–24) at Covenant House’s expanded campus. Felicia Broussard, chief development officer, said the funds would help operations, security and utilities and that Covenant House tracks youth cases using both a CRM (Efforts to Outcomes) and HMIS.

- Healthcare for the Homeless Houston (item 3f): The department presented a proposed $700,000 HOME-ARP/CDBG award to expand a street medicine program that staff said would serve at least 200 households annually and perform at least 48 clinic days serving encampments and unsheltered individuals across Houston (term Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026). Catherine Rogers, executive vice president, said Healthcare for the Homeless uses EPIC as its electronic health record in addition to HMIS and tracks unduplicated patients, clinical encounters and referrals into benefits programs.

- Bread of Life (item 3g): A second amendment was presented to provide up to $575,630 in HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) funds to support 107 low- to moderate-income households living with HIV/AIDS (78 households supported with long-term tenant-based rental assistance; 5 short-term rent/mortgage/utility assistance; 5 permanent housing placement; and supportive services). Bread of Life staff said they track clients by contract, use HMIS and internal spreadsheets, and perform a 30-day post-exit check for housing stability.

- Montrose Center (item 3h): The department presented a proposed subrecipient agreement of up to $1,791,845 in HOPWA funds to serve a minimum of 248 households living with HIV/AIDS (78 TBRA; 150 short-term emergency assistance; 20 permanent housing placement; plus supportive services). Jamie Quiroz, chief program officer at Montrose Center, said the organization uses HMIS, internal EHR tools and 30- and 60-day follow-ups to assess housing stability.

Tracking, reporting and funding decisions

Department staff explained that agencies track clients and services per contract and funding source (HMIS plus internal systems) and produce monthly and quarterly reports that list services, client counts and financial assistance provided. Several agencies noted they do not provide cash directly to clients but pay vendors or landlords.

When asked how award amounts were determined across agencies, Melody Barr said applicants submit budgets during the REI/NOFA process; the department rates proposals, compares budgets and staffing, checks federal and local funding line-item caps (for programs such as HOPWA) and funds from the highest-rated proposals down until available dollars are allocated. Barr noted agreements are reimbursable, which requires organizations to have upfront capacity (bank balances or lines of credit) to draw against while awaiting reimbursement.

Outcome and next steps

These items were presented for committee consideration and agency representatives answered committee questions. The transcript does not record any committee vote on the items during this session. Several agreements and amendments will be brought forward to City Council within coming weeks for formal approval as required by city procurement and grant acceptance procedures.

Quotes

“Diversion asks, ‘what do you need and what do you want?’” Melody Barr, assistant director, Housing and Community Development Department.

“We anticipate hiring on two case managers… and $150,000 of those dollars will be also going towards direct client assistance,” Stephanie Truong, chief program officer, Beacon of Downtown Houston, describing the Beacon diversion proposal.

“Health stability is a key and very necessary component for housing stability,” Catherine Rogers, executive vice president, Healthcare for the Homeless Houston.

Ending

Department staff said additional REI/NOFA-funded projects will be presented to the committee in the coming months. Any of the presented subrecipient agreements or amendments that receive committee approval would still require the city’s formal contract execution and, for some awards, subsequent monitoring reports described by agencies during the hearing.