City of Houston, Prairie View A&M launch Healthy Houston Initiative |
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Mayor Sylvester Turner and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) announced the Healthy Houston Initiative, a program designed to provide free services and amenities to underserved Houston communities.
The Healthy Houston Initiative aims to “promote a healthy lifestyle among underserved individuals and families through outreach, assessment, and non-formal educational programs,” Mayor Turner said.
The program aligns with Prairie View A&M University's mission to invest in programs and services that address issues and challenges affecting the state's diverse ethnic and socioeconomic population; and the Complete Communities mission to ensure that all Houstonians have access to consistent, quality services and amenities that improve their lives.
This program will benefit all Complete Communities neighborhoods: Alief-Westwood, Acres Homes, Fort Bend, Gulfton, Kashmere Gardens, Magnolia Park-Manchester, Near Northside, Second Ward, Sunnyside, and Third Ward.
Learn more about the Healthy Houston Initiative.
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Free Transportation for Voters |
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METRO is offering free round-trip service to polling places during early voting Monday-Thursday, Oct. 26-29, and on Election Day, Nov. 3.
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City, County invest in Homeless Respite and Rehabilitation Center |
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An estimated 15-25 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Harris County and the greater Houston area suffer from severe mental health issues, making it difficult for city, county and local partners to quickly assist and house them out of harm’s way.
Both the City of Houston and the Harris County Commissioners Court are each investing $5 million toward the new COVID-19 Homeless Respite and Rehabilitation Center to fill this need in our community. The new facility will be operated by The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.
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Mental Health Support is Only a Call Away |
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The Houston Health Department's COVID-19 Mental Health Helpline is open 7 days per week from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Dec. 24. People may call 713-999-9442 to reach a trained mental health professional who will provide appropriate intervention and follow-up. The program will also offer virtual support groups, toolkits, training, and other resources to support people’s mental and emotional needs.
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Video: Code Compliance Officers Keep Houston Safe and Healthy |
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The City of Houston joins communities across the country in the observance of National Code Compliance Month during October to recognize the important role city code enforcement officers play to help maintain safe communities. If you see one of these public servants in your community, take a moment to say thank you.
During the pandemic, Houston code enforcement teams continue their work as essential workers, deploying to locations throughout the city to inspect homes, apartments, commercial buildings, streets and sidewalks for the safety of Houstonians.
The City’s cadre of code enforcement officers work under several city departments, including the Department of Neighborhoods, the Houston Fire Department and Houston Public Works.
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The 2020 application period for the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program is open until Nov. 6. The program supports neighborhood beautification and improvement projects by providing dollar-for-dollar matching grant reimbursements ranging from $500 to $5,000. The program is designed to encourage civic activity among neighbors, promote volunteerism, and support projects that contribute towards building stronger communities. View application form and guidelines.
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Applications are now available for the Home Builders Institute (HBI) in the Gulfton area. The Program trains and prepares students for apprenticeship and entry-level careers in a variety of skilled trades including masonry, carpentry, electrical wiring, construction, landscaping, plumbing, painting, and HVAC. Participants can also get career counseling, on-the-job-training and life skills. For more information, visit www.hbi.org/pre-apprencticeship or email jjones@hbi.org.
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Video: Harris County Housing Survey is a Critical Community Tool |
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The Harris County Housing Survey is your opportunity to tell Harris County how to responsibly develop improvements for economic, environmental and social balance in your community. The Harris County Survey is being conducted by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University and will provide a picture of real estate needs in Harris County. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home — especially you. Take the survey at MyHomeIsHere.org.
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HCC Acres Homes Spring Registration Begins in November |
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Want to learn a new skill or start earning a degree? Houston Community College (HCC) is ready to register students for the upcoming Spring 2021 semester. Spring enrollment begins in November.
The college is working to provide more data for Acres Homes students enrolled in specialized programs across the college district like Allied Health in the medical center, culinary, and education that align with available jobs identified in the Acres Homes Complete Communities Action Plan.
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District F Youth-led Conference
Council Member Tiffany Thomas invites you to attend the inaugural District F Youth-led Conference: Our Communities. Our Public Safety on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This past May, local youth hosted a virtual conversation with police officers about public safety. That night, they collectively determined the need for a broader, varied conversation organized by youth and in partnership with frontline organizations and officers. Join CM Thomas and leaders from ACLU, NAACP, National Urban League Young Professionals, Texas Southern University, March for Our Lives, Black Lives Matter, Alief ISD, the Houston Police Department and many more.
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Working Group Meeting: Oct. 27
Join us for a virtual meeting for the Fort Bend Houston Neighborhood Support Team/Working Group on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 6:30-8 p.m.
At this meeting, we will provide updates on the planning process, highlight projects that are already underway and gather project ideas to begin the work.
The meeting link is below, along with the conference number to call in.
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Gulfton Pop-up Bike Lane Demonstration on Oct. 31 |
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Throw on a costume and grab Halloween by the handlebars. Join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 for a pop-up bike lane demonstration. Wear your Halloween costume and meet at the Benavidez Elementary School parking lot, 6262 Gulfton Street.
The event is part of the Planning and Development Department’s efforts to educate the public about traffic management solutions. Support for the demonstration was provided in part by an AARP Community Challenge Grant. The event is hosted by PD, Complete Communities, Bike Houston and AARP. See full event details and sponsors at https://www.letstalkhouston.org/gulfton.
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Volunteer at Big Inspiration Garden Work Day in Kashmere Gardens |
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Join Tim Hammond, Big City Gardener, and Domini Bryant, Inspired Learning Institute, for a community garden work day at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood Drive, on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 2-5 p.m. Future work days include Nov. 5 and Nov. 17, Dec. 2 and
Dec. 8.
Gardening activities will consist of weeding, filling new beds with dirt, fertilizing, painting new beds and more. Wear a mask and bring water.
If you enjoy tea, learn about harvesting fresh herbs and edible flowers. Guests are invited to taste tea fresh-brewed from the herbs in the garden.
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Grab and Go Kids' Meals Available on Tuesdays |
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Be a Champion, Inc. is partnering with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (CRC) to provide free packaged meals to all children 18 years of age and younger.
The meals are distributed at the Fifth Ward CRC location, 4300 Lyons Avenue every Tuesday from 3-5 p.m.
For more information call 281-833-3129 or email info@beachamp.org. Select to RSVP for different dates.
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Mobile Produce Market Visits Dunn Health Center Monthly |
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To address food insecurity and provide healthy, affordable food, El Centro de Corazón is partnering with Urban Harvest to bring a Mobile Market to the Dunn Health Center, 7635 Canal St.
Portions of the Magnolia Park neighborhood are considered to be in a food desert due to the lack of access to fresh produce. This mobile market will help increase access to fresh produce in alignment with the Complete Communities Action Plan project "Develop healthy corner stores and “pop-up” or mobile markets." The prices on the food are reduced, and can still be 50% off if the shopper has SNAP/EBT.
The market will be available every third Wednesday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Upcoming mobile market visits will be Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17 and March 17.
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Draft Action Plan and Implementation Meeting Oct. 28 |
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We are working on finalizing the Action Plan for Magnolia Park-Manchester. In the meantime, we will be meeting with community members to discuss implementation of the projects in the plan.
Come join us Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. for our first virtual meeting on implementation for Magnolia Park-Manchester. To join the meeting click Join Microsoft Teams Meeting or dial in using +1 936-755-1521 and Conference ID: 468 381 516#.
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North Highway Improvement Project Update |
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The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), and it is available online for review. You can review the Final EIS at www.ih45northandmore.com.
The Final EIS identifies the preferred alternative for the project. This project is from US 59/I-69 at Spur 527 to I-45 at Beltway 8 North.
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Second Ward Super Neighborhood #63 Meetings Resume
Get Out and Vote
Visit https://www.harrisvotes.com/ to learn more about early voting and Election Day voting centers. Second Ward has a voting center located at BakerRipley Ripley House Campus – Gym, 4410 Navigation Blvd.
Need Rental Assistance?
Funding is still available for the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. Landlords and tenants can still sign up by going to the BakerRipley portal. Even if the landlord is not signed up, a tenant can still register and the City will try to help. To apply, visit the COVID Rental Assistance website.
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Sunnyside Solar Project Virtual Town Hall
The City of Houston, Green Houston, Complete Communities, Solar United Neighbors and Sunnyside Energy Trust will host a Virtual Town Hall event on Thursday, Oct. 29 for an update and conversation about community solar at Sunnyside. Project progress, next steps and community questions will be addressed. The event will address progress, next steps and community questions about the project, which aims to convert a 240-acre former landfill into one of the largest urban solar farms in Texas. Register for the Virtual Town Hall.
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Brighter Bites Brings Fresh Produce to Third Ward Families |
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Fresh healthy foods will soon be provided to Third Ward families. The Rice Management Company and Brighter Bites have entered a three-year partnership to provide 100,000 pounds of fresh produce to students at Blackshear Elementary and nearby families. A Third Ward Needs Assessment, conducted by Baker Institute and Sankofa Research Institute, stated that Third Ward residents experience food insecurity and face barriers to accessing fresh produce.
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Third Ward’s Unity Bank Partners with Bank of America |
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Lending, housing, neighborhood revitalization and other banking services will soon improve in Third Ward. Bank of American has acquired 5% of Unity National Bank’s common equity.
The investment is part of Bank of America’s pledge to direct equity investments in Minority Depository Institutions as part of a broader $1 billion, four-year commitment to address the racial and economic inequalities that have been exacerbated by the cornoavirus pandemic. Additionally, Bank of America recently allocated $300 million to Black businesses and Black banks. Unity National Bank is the only Black-owned bank in Texas.
“We remain committed to helping support further lending to Black, Latino, and other communities of color," said Hong Ogle, Houston Market President of Bank of America.
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Complete Communities is a collaborative effort involving the community and all City of Houston Departments and Divisions with City leadership from:
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Sign-up to receive updates on activities taking place in your Complete Communities neighborhood!
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