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: Contract - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC)
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 for approval of an amendment to an agreement with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to extend the administration of the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) to December 31, 2025.
end
Background and Discussion:
Reports of domestic violence increased locally during the COVID-19 pandemic and women of color and other marginalized populations have experienced disproportionate impacts. Harris County has a high turn-away rate for domestic violence shelters, with over 70% of callers unable to access emergency shelter bed space due to high demand. Of the 1,100 households assessed for domestic violence housing services each year, approximately 200 are housed. DVAF provides vital, flexible financial support to survivors of domestic violence by awarding funds to qualified community-based organizations. Recognized as a “life-saving” resource by both survivors and service providers, flexible funding enables survivors to meet critical basic needs that are essential for safely leaving abusive environments and establishing stability. Eligible uses of these funds include, but are not limited to, expenses for housing, transportation, childcare, utilities, and other urgent needs. This amendment will extend the contract up to 90-days beyond the expiration of the current agreement on September 30, 2025, to allow time for the County to complete the procurement process to procure a vendor for a new agreement for the Services. A portion of the 12 months of funding for FY26 will be available during the extended term. Specifically, funds will be allocated an approximate per-day rate for the number of days of service, for up to 90 days, in alignment with the terms of the Fourth Amendment.
Expected Impact:
This amendment will allow HCDVCC to continue operating the DVAF and provide flexible assistance to survivors of DV while the County makes a request for proposal to procure a vendor a new agreement.
Alternative Options:
If Commissioners Court chooses not to approve this program HCDVCC will be unable to provide direct service employees with essential training for managing programs assisting survivors of domestic violence and their families.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): A3: Increase resources available to families exposed to domestic violence.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):
Economy Initiative (Goal 3):
Health Initiative (Goal 4):
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5):
Housing Initiative (Goal 6):
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/25/2022 |
266 |
Approval to administer the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund. |
|
06/04/2024 |
10 |
Approval to increase the disbursement amounts for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and include training services as part of the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) administration. |
|
12/10/2024 |
26 |
Approval of an amendment with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to extend the administration of the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) to September 30, 2025 and increase program budget by $1,500,000. |
|
4/10/2025 |
19 |
Approval of an amendment to an agreement with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to transfer program ownership of the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) to Harris County Public Health (HCPH). |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
|
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|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
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|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: October 16, 2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 16, 2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Lupe M. Washington, Director & Dr. Larry D. Brown Jr, Associate Director, Community Health and Violence Prevention Services, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Fourth Amendment