Department: Commissioner, Precinct 2
Department Head/Elected Official: Adrian Garcia
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval to consider and take appropriate action to establish a Harris County Latino Equity Initiative and direct the Office of County Administration (OCA) to coordinate the effort in collaboration with County departments and community partners.
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Background and Discussion:
The October 2023 Harris County Snapshot, published by the former Commissioners Court Analyst’s Office (now the Research and Analysis Division of the OCA), offers a detailed examination of Harris County’s current state and future direction through 47 data indicators. The data highlights that Latinos in Harris County continue to face disparities compared to non-Hispanic Whites in areas such as economic stability, social conditions, and health.
As of 2022, Latinos made up 44.6% of Harris County's estimated population of 4,780,913. This Latino population, exceeding 2.1 million, is diverse in terms of race, nationality, religion, immigrant status, and language.
In 2021, the latest year for which data is available, the median household income for Latinos in Harris County was $54,241, significantly lower than the $94,568 for non-Hispanic Whites. The poverty rate among Latinos stands at 19.6%, more than double the 8.3% rate for non-Hispanic Whites. Educational attainment for Latinos also trails behind that of non-Hispanic Whites, Asians, and Black or African American residents in achieving both high school diplomas and bachelor's degrees. Additionally, Latinos are more likely to be uninsured compared to other groups, except for American Indian and Alaska Native residents.
Harris County has launched various programs to tackle issues of equity, poverty, workforce development, quality childcare, immigration status, language access, environmental justice, and health disparities. However, these programs are often implemented in isolation, which limits their effectiveness. Coordinating these efforts more comprehensively will maximize resource utilization and impact.
Addressing the needs of the Latino population is crucial for the future of our community. The University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs reports that Hispanics make up 41.65% of the Houston labor force, with nearly 75% under the age of 45.
To enhance the County's alignment of efforts and resources, the creation of a Latino Equity Initiative with clear goals and a robust governance structure is essential. This initiative should be overseen by the County’s first Chief Equity Officer. The OCA should collaborate with Court offices, County departments, and stakeholder groups to:
1. Organize a summit to develop the initiative's goals, identify best practices, benchmark against other major urban counties, and establish performance indicators to monitor progress. The summit should also align public and private programs and funding opportunities aimed at improving Latino equity and bring together experts in public service and private organizations to support the initiative.
2. Use the summit’s findings and recommendations to prepare a report for the Commissioners Court, outlining the outcomes and a strategic roadmap for the Latino Equity Initiative.
3. Provide periodic updates to the Commissioners Court on the initiative’s progress and seek feedback on its direction.
Expected Impact:
Over time, the Latino Equity Initiative will reduce economic, health, and social inequities experienced by Harris County’s Latino population.
Alternative Options:
An alternative to a holistic approach is to continue with the current piecemeal approach.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
X Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
X Environment
X Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Anticipated Court Date: October 8, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Heather Cruise, Policy Director, Precinct 2
Attachments (if applicable): n/a