Thank you to everyone who came together in an all-hands-on-deck effort this last week, and hustled to deliver bottled water to District H's most vulnerable residents. District H was hard hit by the winter storm and many of our residents suffered greatly. To those who put their own needs aside and found time to help others, we greatly appreciate you.

All of the different ways water was distributed this week have been crucial in serving people: citywide mega sites, well known centralized locations, and other highly publicized events. But because so many District H residents do not have Internet connectivity, rather than broadly advertising across social media about where water would be available, it has also been important to work discretely and strategically on a more grassroots approach, to target our most at-risk populations and neighborhoods.

My focus has been on getting the resources made available to me, to underserved concentrated areas of poverty, and also to senior citizen facilities. I want to thank the volunteers, providers and site hosts in Eastex Jensen, Denver Harbor, Northline, Second Ward, Near Northside, Port Houston and Independence Heights for helping me reach the folks that needed help the most.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Houston Health Equity Response Task Force (H.E.R) and the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities, we've also been able to get bottled water to eight District H Senior Living Facilities, which combined, house over a 1,000 senior citizens.

Not everyone is back on their feet yet, and won't be for a while.

Please share information and links to resources in this newsletter, with those that still need help.

Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Hidalgo have established the Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund to provide relief efforts and recovery to support aid to the individuals, families, and communities affected by the impact of the 2021 Severe Winter Storm Emergency. The Fund is dedicated to filling the gaps that may not be met by other local and federal efforts.

Those impacted by the storm and needing help now can text HoustonFreeze to 898211, or for Spanish, text HoustonAyuda to 898211 (TXT211 on iPhone). When assistance is available, individuals will be contacted regarding eligibility requirements and information on how to apply. There will be a concerted effort to complement FEMA federal assistance, and we encourage impacted families to also apply to FEMA now.

If you are able to make a donation and help fellow Houstonians in need, please visit winterstormrelieffund.org to make your contribution. Every dollar helps!

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering on Disaster Assistance website or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY. More information here.

Beginning Thursday, 2/25/2021, the new Houston-Harris County Rental Assistance Program will launch and begin accepting applications for rental assistance.  The City of Houston and Harris County are working together to provide $159 million in rent and utilities assistance to families who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how to apply: https://houstonharrishelp.org/

The NRG waitlist is open to people 65 and older, and 60 and older with chronic health conditions. People with disabilities may also join the waitlist. You can sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine waitlist online, or by calling 832-393-4301. Please leave a voicemail with a name and phone number and calls will be returned. Visit here for more information.

Sign up for AlertHouston to learn about new vaccination opportunities through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notification by registering for the HoustonRecovers subscription of AlertHouston at AlertHouston.org

For homeowners in Second Ward and Independence Heights, Rebuilding Together is providing free repairs to low income neighbors in the wake of the Winter Storm. Call (713) 651-2511 during office hours Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5pm, or email intake@rebuldinghouston.org to apply.

These are emergency repairs at single family homes for plumbing only, to stop leaks and restore water service to the home, not complete repairs. Before work can begin, home ownership must be verified and two waivers must be signed.

SNAP customers can request a benefit replacement for food lost or destroyed due to the winter storm by dialing 2-1-1 and selecting option 2, or by sending in Form H1855. To limit exposure to COVID-19, recipients are encouraged to mail or fax the completed form to HHSC instead of visiting their local offices. Completed forms should be mailed to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, PO Box 149027, Austin, TX, 78714-9027, or faxed to 1-877-447-2839. More info here.

There are still openings left for District H residents to sign up and register for the remaining free spay/neuter events sponsored by Council Member Karla Cisneros. You must be a District H resident to apply.

Sign up today by visiting the Love Your Pet website.

Due to the Winter Storm, three of the Love Your Pet Month Pet Pantries have been rescheduled. Council Member Cisneros has partnered with the Houston Humane Society, Best Friends, PetSet, Big Fix, and Unity for a Solution to offer the pet pantries. Stop on by!

Council Member Cisneros is providing bottled water to BakerRipley's Drive-by Food Fair on Thursday, February 25th at 11:00am at Ripley House. Please remain in your car, and a volunteer will place the food in your trunk.

Ripley House: 4410 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77011

Visit the City of Houston's Free COVID-19 website for dates, times, and locations of this week's TESTING SITES, or call 832-393-4220 to reach the COVID-19 Call Center.

As part of the recently passed METRO BOND, on March 1st construction will begin on Phase One Bus Stop Improvements along the first route to receive a “BOOST” Corridor, Route 56 Airline/Montrose. The BOOST Network will provide a better ride with faster and more reliable service, and streamlined stops along the route.

Enhancements include: upgraded bus stop shelters, locations, improved accessibility, traffic signal improvements and digital real time bus arrival information. Construction will maintain traffic flow and minimize impacts to homes and businesses in the area. The project is expected to be completed in 9 months. More info here.

METRO is hosting an on-demand, self-guided, virtual public meeting to present info about the METRORapid Inner Katy Project. This is the stretch along I-10 between the NW Transit Center (at the junction of I-10 West and I-610) and Downtown Houston.

In partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, this self-guided tour will be available from Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 5:30pm until Friday, March 12, 2021. The meeting link will provide guided access through a virtual public meeting room with pre-recorded video presentations. More information here.

Mayor Turner and Council Member Cisneros want your input on park improvements for Nieto Park in Denver Harbor. The meeting will take place on March 2nd at 6:30pm. You must register in advance to participate. Register here.

Port Houston is launching their 2021 Community Grants Program in order to invest into meaningful projects and programs to enhance our local community and regions prosperity. Qualifying organizations can apply for funding through an open competitive application process. Port Houston is particularly interested in supporting programs/services that deal with environmental stewardship community improvements and beautification, economic & workforce development and or maritime commerce. They are hosting two public workshops on February 24th and March 4th from 2pm-3pm to present more information about the program. Sign up here.

Learn Skills to Get Job Ready for an In-Demand Career: Provided by AT&T Coursera Scholarships. The Interest Form is due March 1 and the program begins March 15th. More info here.

Free Training in Logistics and Forklift for East End Residents: Provided by HCC, you can find more information here.

Department Labor: Construction Trades Apprenticeship: Free training and opportunity for a paid position. Contact Dale Sanford at 832-429-1944 or dale@builtrite.work. More information here.

Free Tuition and Supplies for Healthcare Training! Provided by San Jacinto College, you can find more information and requirements here.

Learn Relevant Skills for In-Demand Jobs: Microsoft Learn and LinkedIn Learning offering free training, discounted certification test, and free job-seeking tools. Program closes March 31st. Start now!

*Please refer to the District H Resource page for more opportunities.*

Check out our District H Resources Page for links and more information about available resources. Resources are updated every week.

Download the 311 app to your Android or iPhone. When you see an issue in your neighborhood, use the app to report it. You can even include photos! If you prefer to talk directly to a representative about your issue, or want to request information about City resources, birth certificates, elections, and more, call 713-837-0311. Remember: Always call 911 in the case of an emergency!