Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Affordability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HCD pitches housing trust fund, warns countywide eviction counsel would cost millions
Summary
HCD Director Tau Costas proposed a housing trust fund and outlined use of HUD and disaster recovery dollars; expanding an eviction legal‑aid operator to all 16 Justice of the Peace courts would cost at least double the current ~$1M-per-year operator cost.
Tau Costas, executive director of Housing & Community Development, told Commissioners Court that Harris County faces an affordability crisis—eviction filings ranked among the top three U.S. counties—and presented FY2027 budget priorities that include a housing affordability strategy, disaster recovery work, and the design of a housing trust fund to support single‑family and multifamily development.
Costas said HCD receives roughly $25,000,000 annually in HUD entitlement funds and leverages disaster recovery/ARPA funds for large projects. “Housing trust fund can support single family initiatives and ownership,” she said, noting the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation has pledged an initial $2,000,000 seed. Costas said the plan was to aim for at least $5,000,000 in a first‑year target to make the fund meaningful as a revolving resource.
Precincts pressed HCD on eviction legal aid: a Justice Court operator (HEAC) currently costs about $1,000,000 a year where it operates; expanding coverage to all 16 JP courts would likely cost at least double. Costas said some ARPA funds and program income could help scale services but that sustained county or philanthropic contributions would be required to cover broader expansion.
Costas also detailed disaster recovery and mitigation staffing needs and pay‑equity impacts on departmental personnel, and she said HCD’s FY2027 planning budget is around $156,000,000 with roughly $20.7M proposed from the general fund. Commissioners did not take immediate action; HCD’s enhancements and the housing trust fund proposal will be considered during budget deliberations.
