Primary Department: Housing and Community Development
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Housing and Community Development for approval to execute a settlement agreement with The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in the amount of $180,000 in ARPA funds for services performed in providing safe and supported transitional housing for certain individuals through the extended term of November 30, 2025.
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Background and Discussion:
On December 10, 2024 Harris County entered into an agreement with The Harris Center with an award sum of $886,572.00 to provide safe and supported transitional housing for homeless individuals with a history of mental health treatment. This agreement expired August 31, 2025 and The Harris Center had not received the full award and continued to provide services.
The Independent Living Program provides safe and supported transitional housing for previously unhoused individuals with a history of severe mental health problems, evidenced and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing 24/7 staff availability on-site to reduce the likelihood of residents going into a psychiatric crisis episodes and/or substance use relapses by focusing on proactive case management and housing navigation services, including addressing physical health, behavioral health, employment...
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