Dear Friends,
This week we are grateful that Harris County was spared the direct impact of Hurricane Laura, and our thoughts are with our neighbors in East Texas and on the Louisiana coast. Precinct One stands ready to provide whatever mutual aid support we can. Please remain vigilant and keep your family prepared as we are entering the peak weeks of Hurricane development in the Gulf. Stay#PrecinctOnePrepared by downloading our Get Ready, Stay Ready flyers in English and Spanish. As we enter month six of this COVID-19 pandemic, we must also remain vigilant against the virus. We cannot let up when it comes to helping the members of our community most effected by the economic fallout of this disaster. And while we wait for Congress to come together to pass another relief bill, Harris County is stepping up to do what we can to help keep people housed and able to meet their basic needs.
This week at Commissioners Court we approved the following measures to help residents: -
 An additional $15M allocation to emergency direct assistance for Harris County residents (proposed by Commissioner Ellis), bringing the total to $70M including the first round of the program. Direct assistance has proven to be an effective way to help low-income families meet their needs. The program, which has already provided relief to over 20,000 households, will provide an additional $1,200 to another 30,000 eligible households. Although this falls far short of the 500,000 households who applied for the first Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund, I am committed to doing everything within my power to find solutions to help families weather this pandemic and economic crisis. We will share details about how to apply as soon as they are available.
- A $5M investment in the Harris County Homeless Task Force's Respite, Rehabilitation and Re-Entry Center, which will support recommendations by the Harris County Homeless Task Force, was also approved this week. The program is designed to allow those experiencing homelessness to have access to temporary housing while they are recovering from various health issues to allow for a safe and full recovery. During their stay, program participants will work with program staff to develop the best exit strategy, including transitioning into Permanent Supportive Housing.
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| | Read Harris County Public Health's COVID-19 Equitable Testing Strategy here. |
- As our public health system continues to combat the spread of COVID-19, we must ensure that resources are concentrated where there is the most need. At my request, Harris County Public Health developed the Harris County Public Health's COVID-19 Equitable Testing Strategy, which is a four-part testing strategy that is designed to prioritize people and places with the highest risk for contracting COVID-19.
The strategy will increase Harris County Public Health's capacity for equitable testing by focusing testing efforts in ZIP codes with higher infection rates; expanding testing capacity through non-Harris County testing centers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers; increasing community-level outreach and education with the help of faith-based organizations and other frequently visited community partners; and expanding linkage to other resources within the community.
New Census Deadline: September 30 Have you completed the Census?
 The deadline to complete the 2020 Census has been moved to September 30. This week Court approved a $1M surge in funding for census outreach. Previous estimates projected that the Harris County response rate will only reach 62% by the revised deadline. Such a significant under-count could lead to billions of dollars in lost federal funding as well as the loss of a Congressional seat -- despite the significant growth in the Harris County population. The County is dedicating the resources necessary to get everyone counted safely during this pandemic. www.census2020.gov S.A.F.E. Elections Plan  The November General Election is less than 70 days away and early voting in Harris County begins on October 13th. Protecting every person's right to vote means ensuring that everyone can vote safely without risking their health. The Harris County Clerk's S.A.F.E. Elections plan will go a long way toward making the 2020 General Election safe, accessible, fair and efficient for all. The S.A.F.E. Elections plan provides additional funding for 23 initiatives, including vote-by-mail outreach and support, expanding voting locations during Early Vote and on Election Day, drive-through voting options at some polling locations, PPE for election workers and voters, as well as a call center for voters who have questions or concerns about how to cast their ballots. Although we are working with limited funding, I am proud of our efforts to provide relief to communities as we face some of the most challenging times our country has seen. But you can rest assured that Precinct One is ready to help our community confront these challenges head on. Today's threat of COVID-19 may be new, but many these challenges are old. Our team -- together with community groups and advocates -- have been focused on finding solutions to economic inequality, housing instability, as well as strengthening our elections and will continue to do so in the future. We can meet this moment and create those solutions together. Sincerely,  Rodney Ellis
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