Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Public Health Services for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for grant funds in the amount of $3,000,000, with no required match, for the Older Adults Home Modification Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Older Adults Home Modification Program provides funding to support home modifications and repair services for low-income seniors, to reduce fall risks and other home safety hazards that put older seniors at risk of injury or premature institutionalization. Harris County Public Health’s Environmental Public Health (EPH) Division protects the public’s health by ensuring a safe and secure environment in Harris County, including through home-based safety work such as lead hazard control and built environment programs. HCPH is seeking the court’s approval to apply for the Older Adults Home Modification Program funding, which would support EPH’s ongoing efforts to reduce hazards and help seniors age safely across Harris County.
Expected Impact:
If approved, this item will allow Harris County to provide safety and accessibility modifications, repairs, and renovations to 130 housing units for low-income residents 62 and older across the 33 municipalities outside the City of Houston, strengthening countywide efforts to help older adults age safely in place. These funds would support work already occurring through HCPH’s EPH Division, which plays a key role in protecting human health by reducing housing-related hazards and improving living conditions for Harris County residents. By leveraging federal grant funding with no local matching requirement, the program would help EPH deliver comprehensive, professionally assessed home modifications without requiring new general funds. Increased access to home modification services has long-term benefits that extend beyond individual households, including falls and fall-related hospitalizations, fewer premature transitions to nursing homes or assisted care facilities, and improved quality of life for older adults across the County. Participation in this program allows the County to maximize available federal resources while continuing to deliver preventative public health services that improve health and safety outcomes for residents countywide.
Alternative Options:
The court could choose not to approve HCPH’s request to apply for the funding. Doing so would impact EPH’s ability to receive new federal funding for home modification services offered to older adult residents of the county. It could limit the number of low-income households that receive safety and accessibility modifications each year, which could lead to increased fall-related injuries and hospitalizations among older adults who remain in homes with unaddressed hazards. It could also increase the likelihood that older adults are forced into premature transitions to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities, reducing their ability to safely and independently age in place.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 6. Help residents achieve housing stability.
County Strategic Plan Objective: U: Build and preserve affordable housing, particularly for low-income families.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Environmental Public Health |
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3 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$1,431,685.76 |
$1,568,314.24 |
$3,000,000 |
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Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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Anticipated Court Date: 9/17/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Scott Jeansonne, Environmental Public Health Division Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity, Grant Synopsis