Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Housing and Community Development
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Renewal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Career and Recovery Resources, Inc.
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): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of a discretionary exemption renewal option with Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for providing economic stability for participants through the Employ2Empower Program for Housing and Community Development for the period of October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027, at a cost of $1,518,000.
end
Background and Discussion:
On May 10, 2022, Commissioners Court approved an 18-month Agreement between Harris County and Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for the Employ2Empower Program to employ unsheltered individuals living in encampments and provide them with employment, skills development, vocational training support, job placement support, transportation, referrals to healthcare providers, and a steady source of food until housing health, and safety were established and maintained using $1,612,874.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF).
On October 31, 2023, Commissioners Court approved a 12-month Agreement between Harris County and Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for the Employ2Empower Program for the continued provision of the services mentioned above to individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as those recently housed using $1,508,381.00 in General Funds
On October 8, 2024, Commissioners Court approved an Agreement between Harris County and Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for the Employ2Empower Program using a total of $1,518,000.00 in General Funds to continue the employment of homeless and formerly homeless persons and the provision of case management, wrap around services, and workforce development training to assist the participants in achieving economic stability.
On January 9, 2025, Commissioners Court approved a First Amendment to the Agreement between Harris County and Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for the Employ2Empower Program, revising the budget. The General Fund project allocation remained at $1,518,000.00.
On October 16, 2025, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a Second Amendment to the Agreement to add renewal options and update the budget with no increase to the General Fund allocation of $1,518,000.00.
The request for the second renewal of Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. for the Employ2Empower program will allow for the continued provision of employment, case management, wrap around services, and workforce development training to assist homeless and recently housed persons with economic stability for the project term October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027.
Expected Impact:
The project costs will be fully supported and remain with $1,518,000.00 in General funds.
Alternative Options:
There are no alternative options
County Strategic Plan Goal: 3. Make our economy more inclusive.
County Strategic Plan Objective: L: Foster more living-wage jobs that ensure worker safety, benefits, and stability across all educational levels.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): K3: Increase reskilling and upskilling opportunities by leveraging community colleges, nonprofits, and other training and resource providers.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
05/10/2022 |
22-2939 |
Approval of 18-month Agreement |
|
10/31/2023 |
23-6569 |
Approval of 12-month Agreement |
|
10/08/2024 |
24-6179 |
Request for approval of an Agreement |
|
01/09/2025 |
25-0345 |
Request for approval of a First Amendment |
|
10/16/2025 |
25-6547 |
Request for approval of a Second Amendment |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Homelessness Response |
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|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$1,518,000 |
$1,518,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$1,518,000 |
$1,518,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$1,518,000 |
$1,518,000 |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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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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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 6/11/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 6/11/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Amanda Rocha, HCD Director of Policy and Partnerships; Jessica Barelas, Contract Manager, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter