Houston Complete Communities
Complete Communities Updates
News from your City of Houston
Planning & Development Department
City of Houston October 2017
Public Kick-off Meetings Rescheduled
The Complete Communities kick-off meetings for the five pilot neighborhoods, postponed last month due to Harvey, have been rescheduled! Join Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Planning & Development Department (P&D), and your neighbors at one of these meetings to share your ideas on what makes your neighborhood a complete community.  Various city departments and partnering agencies will be on hand to provide information regarding services and programs.

Acres Home Third Ward Near Northside Second Ward Gulfton
October 18
6 - 8 pm
Acres Home Multi-Service Center
6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
Houston, TX 77091
October 30
6 - 8 pm
Emancipation Park Cultural Center
3018 Emancipation Ave.
Houston, TX 77004
November 2
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Marshall Middle School
1115 Noble Street
Houston, TX 77009
November 6
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ripley House Neighborhood Center
4410 Navigation Blvd
Houston, TX 77011
Doors open at 6pm
November 9
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Southwest Multi-Service Center
6400 High Star Drive
Houston, TX 77074
Food will be served at each meeting.

The Complete Communities initiative will work with pilot neighborhoods to develop Action Plans. These are community-driven plans that will identify vision, goals and actions to address community priorities. Residents, business owners, non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and more, are invited to attend!
Complete Communities Updates

Complete Communities Advisory Committee
Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed an esteemed group of over twenyt-five individuals to serve on the Complete Communities Advisory Committee (CCAC) as ambassadors and a sounding board. Their advice and contributions have set the stage for the upcoming public meetings. Their role is unique yet complementary to the Neighborhood Support Teams for the five pilot neighborhoods.

P&D Director Pat Walsh addressing CCAC members at Emancipation Park

Acres Home
The City has purchased property to expand both Sylvester Turner Park and Highland Park. More information on these efforts will be coming soon.

Gulfton
Walk, run, or bike at Cigna Sunday Streets in Gulfton!
Come celebrate with us on November 5th as we take over the streets in Gulfton for the second Cigna Sunday Streets of the fall season! With no cars on the road, you'll be able to walk, run, dance bike or play in the streets with friends, family and neighbors. This mile long route extends  along Bellaire Blvd. from Hillcroft St. to Chimney Rock Rd.
Cigna Sunday Streets

Near Northside
Near Northside continues to roll out park improvements. Street lights were installed at Moody Park and playground equipment was installed in Burnett Street Park. Bring your kids out to play!

New LED light poles at Moody Park,  3725 Fulton St.

New playground equipment at Burnett Street Park, 500 Burnett St.

Second Ward
Repair Café is soliciting volunteers and participants for a great event at TX/RX Labs on October 28. Repair Cafés are free meeting places where a person can bring a small appliance or other items that need repair, and learn how to fix them. This community event encourages repair and reuse of goods rather than disposing them. Contact Steve Stelzer at Steve.Stelzer@houstontx.gov for more details.

Third Ward
Vendor Opportunity: Round 47 Opening + Free Market Square

The opening and market is Saturday, October 14, 2017
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Setup: 1:45-2:45)
$40/Artists | $50/Food | $0/Non-profit Info.

The seven artists row houses are opened to visiting artists to display their works October 14, 2017 - February 11, 2018. Row houses are open to the public Wednesday - Sunday from noon to 5pm.

The Free Market Square highlights entrepreneurs and performers throughout the year and host the Community Market in conjunction with the opening of Round 47. Free Market Square adds to the strength, vibrancy and self-determination of historical Third Ward with this free, family-friendly event. Local vendors, art activities for children and adults, and performances by established and up and coming performers in music and dance reignite the historical legacy of Third Ward.


City Departmental Highlights
The Complete Communities program engages people from all city departments, as well as service agencies and community partners. P&D works with these important partners to provide your community with meaningful information and resources.


BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions

BARC partners with Friends for Life, SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program), and Emancipet to reduce pet overpopulation and promote pet wellness in focus areas of Houston. 

Spay and Neuter Services
Healthy Pets Healthy Streets (HPHS) is an ongoing series of spray/neuter services for pet owners in Houston neighborhoods with a large number of stray animals.  More information about upcoming HPHS events can be found at their website:
    • Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 at Sylvester Turner Park - 2800 W. Little York Rd.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 7 2017 at Sharpstown Park - 6855 Harbor Town Dr.
    • Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Eastwood Community Center - 5020 Harrisburg Blvd

GO Healthy Houston

Double SNAP Benefits
The annual Get Moving Houston Farmer's Market has been extended until mid-November. Anyone using SNAP or D-SNAP benefits at these markets will receive double the amount of produce. For example, if someone buys $10 worth of produce, they will receive an additional $10 to spend on goods. Visit the Farmer's Market webpage for the current season schedule.


Housing & Community Development

Active programs can be accessed via www.houstontx.gov/housing, including:

    • For eligible low-to-moderate income families, an approved applicant can get assistance with down payment, closing costs, and principal buydown.
    • Applicant must be a first-time home buyer or not have owned a home within the last three years.
    • Eligible applicant at or below 70 percent AMI may receive $25,000 in assistance.
    • Eligible applicant at or below 80 percent AMI, but above 70 percent AMI, may receive $15,000 in assistance.
    • For information in Spanish, click here
Emergency Roof Repairs 
    • The Blue Tarp program targets homes of households earning 120 percent or less of Houston's Area Median Income (AMI).
    • The city has been partnering with Rebuild Together Houston, a non-profit agency, to carry out the roof repairs.
    • Call 832-394-6200 while funds are still available.

Houston Public Library

Free Internet Access
The Houston Public Library is piloting a hotspot and notebook/tablet lending program at the following libraries:
    • Shephard-Acres Home Library
    • HPL Express Southwest Library
    • Flores Library
    • Smith Library
    • Carnegie Library
Mobile Library Services
HPL Express Mobile Unit continues to make visits and provide services in each of the five Complete Communities, bringing access to technology and programs. Services include literacy programs, after school programs, English as Second Language classes, computer, and workforce development training.

October Classes

Need Help Finding a Job? 
Upcoming job labs for workforce assistance:
    • Shephard-Acres Homes Library - Every Wednesday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
    • Carnegie Library - Every Tuesday from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm
    • Smith Library - Every Tuesday from 4 pm to 7 pm
    • Stanaker Library - Every Wednesday from 10 am to noon
Computer Classes
    • Shephard-Acres Homes Library - Every Tuesday from noon to 1 pm and 6 pm to 7 pm (Spanish version)
    • HPL Express Southwest - October 24 and 31 from noon to 1:30 pm
    • Carnegie Library - Every Friday from 1 pm to 2:45 pm and Saturday from 10:30 am to noon, Every Wednesday from 1 pm to 2:45 pm (Spanish version)
    • Stanaker Library - Every Tuesday from 5 pm to 7 pm (Spanish version)
Citizenship Classes
    • HPL Express Southwest - October 19 and 26 from 6 pm to 7 pm
    • Carnegie Library - October 28 from 10 AM to noon
English as a Second Language
    • Carnegie Library - Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 pm to 5 pm


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Tips from the Toolbox

Bike Rack Program: Did you know that there are over 500 miles of bike trails, bike lanes and shared lanes in the city? To support bicycling access, safety and physical activity, Go Healthy Houston is distributing free bike racks to eligible applicants located within Houston city limits. Visit www.gohealthyhouston.org for information.

Affordable Housing: The City's Housing and Community Development Department has a Say Yes! program underway, to raise awareness and solutions for the provision of affordable housing. Visit www.houstontx.gov/housing/SayYes, and take the survey to give your views on affordable homes in Houston.

HoustonRecovers.org: City of Houston website for Harvey disaster recovery information.

Harvey by the Numbers: A new component of HoustonRecovers.org, the website provides statistics that captures some key information about what happened, and how we're responding.

City of Houston
Complete Communities
Committed to providing programs & services
designed to improve Houston neighborhoods