Primary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 4
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Lesley Briones, Commissioner
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): n/a
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): n/a
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 for Harris County Public Health to prepare a countywide strategy to address food insecurity.
end
Background and Discussion:
Since 2020, Harris County has invested substantial funding to support families who cannot reliably access food. These efforts now support more than 4,000 households every week and have reached over 400,000 households since their inception.
Nearly 40% of Harris County households experience food insecurity, more than twice the national average according to the Greater Houston Community Panel survey. Furthermore, the survey revealed disparities in access to healthy food, with more than half of Black households and nearly half of Hispanic households reporting food insecurity, reflecting persistent racial and economic disparities.
Addressing food insecurity is a critical public health intervention that prevents avoidable illness and strengthens community well-being. It has been linked to chronic disease, poor maternal health outcomes, and developmental delays in children. If left unaddressed, food insecurity compounds existing health disparities, resulting in preventable disease and increased health-care costs.
To guide future investments, Harris County Public Health shall develop a comprehensive countywide food insecurity strategy. At a minimum, the report shall:
1. Identify the populations and geographic areas most impacted;
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of current County investments;
3. Review national and emerging best practices; AND
4. Provide recommendations for a long-term strategy.
All recommendations should be informed by the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Steering Committee and other relevant stakeholders. Harris County Public Health shall report its findings and recommendations to Commissioners Court by January 29, 2026.
Expected Impact: Decrease the rate of food insecurity and improve child health outcomes.
Alternative Options: n/a
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N2: Increase food/nutrition education and access to healthier food.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: P1: Develop a strategy for holistic child health
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 12/11/2025
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: Anne Sung, Chief Policy & Innovation Officer, Commissioner Precinct 4
Attachments (if applicable): N/A