This has been so hard on District H neighborhoods. I continue to advocate on behalf of District H residents who have been without power for much of the week and have suffered and struggled to survive the bitter cold inside their homes. The situation is finally improving somewhat and more residents have power this morning. With warming weather predicted this weekend, the end is mercifully in sight.

Regarding water pressure and the boil notice, Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock reports that water pressure all over the City is significantly better today than yesterday, and improving greatly.

The Mayor will have a press conference today at 11am announcing an initiative to distribute bottled water to centralized locations throughout the City, that would serve our most desperate residents. In addition, beginning at noon today, water will be delivered to Senior Citizen facilities throughout Houston. Please tune in to the press conference for more details.

If you see downed tree limbs or power lines, please CALL 311 to report weather related problems. Houston Public Works will address the issues. After you have reported the issue, if things are not happening, call the District H Office at 832-393-3003, or email us at DistrictH@houstontx.gov.

Stay cautious and be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning when using an unconventional heat or power source. A gas stove, a grill, a generator, or a vehicle running inside of a garage can produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide. Warning signs can be subtle, especially if someone is sleeping. If you or someone you're with may have carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately and seek emergency medical attention.

Below is a list of warming and charging center locations.

Garbage collection will occur today, Thursday February 18. Today’s collection will include the resumption of the remainder of Monday’s garbage and the beginning collection of Tuesday’s garbage. However, all recycling, yard waste and junk waste collection services continue to be suspended.

Additionally, due to continued impacts of this week’s inclement winter weather conditions in the City of Houston, on Thursday February 18, 2021 the Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Centers, Westpark Recycling Center, Environmental Service Center, Reuse Warehouse will be closed.

Single-Stream B-Week Recycling collection and all yard waste collection services will be suspended for the remainder of the week. Yard waste will be collected the following week while B-Week recycling will be collected the week of March 1-5, 2021.

Council Member Cisneros has dedicated $20,000 to provide this free service to District H residents.

Sign up today by visiting the Love Your Pet website.

In celebration of LOVE YOUR PET Month, Council Member Cisneros has partnered with the Houston Humane Society, Best Friends, PetSet, Big Fix, and Unity for a Solution to offer 4 PET FOOD PANTRIES in the month of February. Stop on by!

Stay vigilant and continue to mask-up. Protect yourself and those around you.

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.

New Houston Health Department vaccination appointments are not being scheduled at this time. When supply increases, the department will open the appointment portal and post the link on their webpage.

For the latest announcements and links to information on appointments, vaccine providers and distribution sites, visit the City's COVID-19 Vaccine webpage. You can also sign up for alerts by subscribing to AlertHouston to receive push notifications regarding new appointment opportunities.

The Harris County Public Health portal allows individuals to be placed on a waitlist and contacted once vaccines and appointments are available. Learn more here: Vaccination Portal.

Friday, February 19th at 10 AM, Living Waters International Apostolic Ministry at 7802 Jensen will host a food and water distribution. The event is first come, first served.

The Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and UP Art Studio invite Texas Artists to apply to the Mini Murals Program Artist Registry 2021. The program has paid local artists over $300,000 over the past five years, and it has many upcoming opportunities for commissions in 2021. Applications will now be accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly, allowing artists to apply anytime.

More info here.

Children under the age of 6 who live in 43 delivery zip codes are eligible for a Kids Meal Inc.'s free meals delivery program. Meals will also be provided for older siblings when school is out. More info on how to apply can be found here or by calling 713-695-5437 with any questions. The application is here in English or Spanish.

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $1 million dollars of grants to hundreds of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses in Houston. The application period is March 1-14th. Grant winners will be announced at the end of April 2021. More info here.

Families with special needs children are eligible for $1,500 from the state of Texas. Each family must fill out the online application. The money is there and available now with no obligation. Questions should be directed to the Governor’s Press Office: 512-463-1829. More info here.

Be An Angel (BAA) provides funding for adaptive equipment when not covered by insurance and the parents cannot afford it. Here is a blank BAA application. Email the completed application and supporting documents to angel@beanangel.org. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the BAA office at 281-219-3313.

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: 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!