Department: Community Services
Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis, Interim Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental 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):
title
Request by Community Services for approval of essential operating procedures related to the Single Family New Construction Program to allow for expedited disposition of single-family homes to eligible applicants.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Project Recovery Single Family New Construction Program (SFNC) was approved on February 12, 2019, in response to Hurricane Harvey. SFNC intends to acquire and construct single-family homes for Harris County residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey, so as to recoup losses to the housing stock from the disaster. SFNC requires a number of activities requiring signatures and payments issued within a tight window of time in order to accomplish its goals. Furthermore, deadlines set by the Texas General Land Office to close-out the program augment the necessity to move documents quickly.
This item establishes essential operating procedures that relate to, but are not limited to, the following: executing agreements in contemplation of a sale to an eligible applicant, determinations regarding price at which completed homes would be sold to an eligible applicant, and payments of finalized costs in order to allow for funding and document preparation in anticipation of an upcoming closing. The guidelines outline that Harris County Community Services Department (HCCSD) has the discretion to make decisions related to implementation of SFNC, so long as those decisions are consistent with and strictly comply with Commissioners Court-approved guidelines. The Executive Director is also authorized, through this item, to execute certain documents necessary to further the program, so long as those documents are consistent with and strictly comply with existing guidelines and agreements and are necessary to effectuate the acquisition or disposition of single-family homes. Commissioners Court may issue an order to terminate these essential procedures at any time for any or no reason. The County Judge may also place a hold on those essential procedures to consider possible termination or modification of the procedures.
Expected Impact:
These essential procedures are expected to increase the speed at which certain documents are executed, thereby improving program efficiency and increasing the likelihood of completing the program by established deadlines. These procedures should not impact the quality of work, as all decisions must be consistent with and strictly comply with already-established program guidelines. No fiscal impact to the County is anticipated.
Alternative Options:
Not improving these guidelines would keep program progress at its current pace, slowing down the delivery of homes to residents and jeopardizing the completion of the program by established deadlines.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
X Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
X Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
2/12/2019 |
8.d. |
Approval of SFNC |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
Service Name |
|
|
FY 23 |
FY 24 |
Next 3 FYs |
Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Non-Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Incremental Expenditures |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
Existing Budget |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Additional Budget Requested |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Additional Budget Requested |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
Additional Positions Requested |
- |
- |
- |
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: May 16, 2023
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Disaster Recovery related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: David Chang, Assistant Director, HCCSD
Attachments (if applicable): Order, Essential Operating Procedures