Harris County families are still struggling to cover basic costs due to financial hardship stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the most basic ways to help them get back on their feet is by helping them stay in their homes. Last month, Harris County Commissioner’s Court approved an additional $42.9 million for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which supports tenants and landlords. The City of Houston will also be contributing additional funds, bringing the total to $86 million in new aid.

This summer, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo visited Houston to see the program first-hand, calling it “one of the nation’s strongest local Emergency Rental Assistance programs” and noting it is run by a “regional partnership through two high-capacity, culturally competent non-profit agencies.” Those two agencies, BakerRipley and Catholic Charities, have decades of experience with disaster response and are stalwart fixtures in our vulnerable communities. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and other leaders from the local program have also testified before Congress and spoken at White House round-tables about how the four-way collaboration (City, County, and both nonprofits) has cut red tape and sped up payments to landlords, keeping families from being evicted.

The fund now offers aid to cover up to 18 months of COVID-related overdue and future rent for tenants. People who received help early on can reapply to request aid for months that were not covered on their first application. Tenants are encouraged to visit HoustonHarrisHelp.org, where they can find the application, eligibility requirements, FAQs, a landlord directory, and a status checker. A phone line is available at 832-402-7568 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Women’s rights to receive reproductive healthcare are in danger. Senate Bill 8 was signed into law in September and essentially outlaws abortion altogether by banning the procedure six weeks after conception — before many women even know they are pregnant. It makes no exception for pregnancies that result from rape, sexual abuse, or incest, potentially forcing desperate, scared, and victimized women to seek the type of back-alley procedures that led to so many deaths before the supreme court made abortion a right. On top of these restrictions, the law pays a $10,000 bounty to any citizen who chases down someone who has facilitated an abortion, effectively incentivizing vigilantes to spy and stalk women seeking the procedure. Last month, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioners Court passed a resolution denouncing this law that casts a dark shadow over our community, pits neighbors against neighbors, sows disunity, and represents a danger to public safety.

The terrible and heartbreaking fall of the Afghan government and takeover by the Taliban has left many Afghan citizens that previously supported and worked for the United States in terrible danger. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has estimated that 400,000 Afghans have fled their homes this year in an effort to escape potential future persecution. In September, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner’s Court passed a resolution supporting Afghan refugees and expressing Harris County’s willingness to welcome them. Harris County is proud to resettle more refugees than any other metropolitan area in the United States, which makes our community more diverse and our economy stronger. Please join us in welcoming our Afghan allies to their new home.

Harris County’s diversity is vital to our region’s success — economically, culturally, and as one of the most diverse regions in the nation. Watch Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s video honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month, which ends on October 15th.

On October 27th, 2021, the Justice Administration Department (JAD) will host the next virtual O’Donnell Consent Decree Public Meeting. The meeting will include an overview and update on the County’s progress reforming bail practices for misdemeanor arrestees. Input and involvement of the residents of Harris County are essential to this process. O’Donnell Public Meetings occur every six months. To register, please use the link here.

As part of the County Judge’s Office initiative to make local government more transparent and accessible, we invite you to get involved by viewing Commissioners Court meetings. You can check here to see the meeting schedule, and watch the official close captioned livestream here or on the Judge’s homepage here.

Harris County never stops preparing for the next big storm. And while the 2018 Harris County Flood Control District Bond Program is in full swing, we continue to seek input from community members as we implement projects in watersheds across the County. If you have a comment about a particular project, we invite you to attend the corresponding virtual meeting and be part of the planning process. Learn more about upcoming 2018 Bond Program Community Engagement Meetings here.

Do you have unwanted household hazardous items? Properly dispose of them by making an appointment with the Household Hazardous Waste Collections facility at 6900 Hahl Road in Houston. Appointments are available each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and during the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Learn what items are accepted and make an appointment here.