Vol. 8, Issue 18 — August 21, 2026 |
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Friends, I can’t believe school has already started for much of our area. Summer has swiftly passed us by, even though the heat clearly has not. Read below for several important updates and highlights happening throughout the District. HOMELESS INTERVENTION PILOT In 2025, the Energy Corridor Management District, West Houston Assistance Ministries, and Harris County Constable Precinct 5 came together to launch a pilot program to support individuals on the verge of or experiencing homelessness. The program was initially introduced in 2025. On Thursday, August 20, we publicly announced what we have been quietly working on to respond to the growth of homelessness on the westside. More details are included in the newsletter and in the various news articles below, but I want you to be confident that our local partners are working together to address a difficult and nuanced issue. Special thanks to Agape Christian Fellowship for its $45,000 investment in cash and in-kind support, and Church Without Walls for its $10,000 investment to support outreach throughout the District and case management through our westside mobile outreach initiative. HOME REPAIR PROGRAM Applications for the $50M CDBG-DR24 Home Repair Program go live Monday, August 24. Do not miss this opportunity if your home sustained damage from the 2024 Derecho or Hurricane Beryl. Qualified homeowners may be eligible for rehabilitation assistance of up to $100,000 or reconstruction of up to $300,000. Click here to apply. APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE As you are aware, the City Council passed an ordinance to address apartment properties in violation of habitability standards. A public dashboard is now in development that will allow residents to track the status of inspections, repairs, and resolutions. Please stay tuned. We will share the dashboard as soon as it becomes available. 3138 ASHLOCK The current order expires on August 26, 2026. Once Houston Public Works verifies on August 27 that the violations remain, the structure will be scheduled to appear before Building Official Shannahan for demolition approval. Once approved, the assigned representative can begin moving the case toward demolition, including disconnecting utilities and securing the required historical clearance. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the required process. I also appreciate everyone who continues to participate during public comment, especially Ms. Susan, who first raised the flag about this property and has remained engaged. SAVE-THE-DATE - September 15th – National Voter Registration Day
- October 5th – Last Day to Register to Vote for the November General Election
- October 6th – National Night Out. Register here.
- October 10th – 3rd Annual Faith & Affordable Housing
- October 27th – Special Town Hall Discussion on the Bissonnet & Kirkwood Development
THOUGHTS & PRAYERS The City of Houston lost two amazing employees this week: Attorney Randy Zamora in City Legal and Ms. Monica Burnom, Staff Analyst in the Housing and Community Development. They were more than employees; they were public servants and will be deeply missed. I also want to acknowledge the passing of Billie “Skip” Jackson, long-time district f resident. Life is swift. Be kind to one another, as we do not know the time or the hour.
Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas |
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| We still have a number of bricks up for grabs from the former Alief-Hennington Library. If you’d like to pick one up, whether or not you previously signed up, contact our office at (832) 393-3002 or [email protected] to schedule a time for pickup. |
| LABOR DAY SOLID WASTE SERVICE SCHEDULE |
| In observance of Labor Day, all Houston Public Works Solid Waste Management facilities and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. Please see modified schedule below: Wednesday, September 9 - Tuesday’s garbage and recycling will be collected.
Thursday, September 10 - Normal collection schedules resume.
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| JUNE CRIME UPDATE IN DISTRICT F |
| Houston Police Department’s Quarterly Immigration Report |
Total Work Orders: 33
Hotspot of the week: Dairy Ashford at High Star Bridge
Total Man Hours Worked: 96/week
Tree Waste: 1,200 lbs.
Mattresses: 2
Furniture Waste: 14 pieces
Tires: 9
Trash Debris: 1,300 lbs.
Shopping Carts: 3
Bandit Signs: 113
Landscaping: Dairy Ashford at High Star Bridge walkway (resident mobility) |
| Old Katy and Cook Road Lift Stations Project The Old Katy and Cook Road Lift Stations Project, an essential infrastructure modernization effort designed to strengthen local wastewater networks across Council Districts F, G, and A. The $22,598,000 project is currently in the design phase, and construction is expected to begin in Fall 2026 and be completed in Spring 2028. Upgrades will replace aging force mains along Dairy Ashford Road and Cook Road to modernize the wastewater network, prevent service disruptions, and support ongoing community growth. For questions or to provide feedback, residents can reach out directly via email at [email protected] or by calling 311. |
| Energy Corridor District Press Conference on Homelessness Initiative Council Member Thomas on Thursday morning joined Mayor John Whitmire, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, and fellow council members in supporting an innovative homelessness partnership led by the Energy Corridor District. The program, launched in 2025, connects law enforcement outreach with intensive case management from West Houston Assistance Ministries to provide temporary housing, identification support, employment resources, and a pathway to long‑term stability. Council Member Thomas has allocated $30,000 to expand this initiative into District F, building on our office’s ongoing homelessness efforts. These include Westside Mobile Care Day, a partnership with Agape Christian Fellowship Church, Church Without Walls Eldridge, and Heads Up Houston, and First Fridays, which provide direct services, ID assistance, health resources, and targeted outreach to residents experiencing housing instability. Watch the full press conference here on HTV. |
| Council Member Thomas Presents at National League of Cities Housing Supply Accelerator Council Member Thomas traveled to Bellevue, Washington this week to participate in the National League of Cities Housing Supply Accelerator convening. During the two‑day working session, she presented on how the City of Houston is addressing its housing supply challenges through construction and targeted policy strategies. Her contributions helped showcase Houston’s approach to increasing housing availability and supporting community‑driven development solutions. |
| Unlocking Faith-Based Land for Housing Opportunity On August 13, Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas served as a panelist in the Fireside Chat + Policy Discussion on YIGBY (Yes In God’s Backyard) Legislation at the Smart Growth America and Houston Land Bank convening. The conversation explored how YIGBY policy and faith‑based development can expand housing access, support smart growth, and strengthen health equity across communities. This timely discussion comes as our office prepares for the 3rd Annual Faith & Affordable Housing Summit, where these themes of policy, partnership, and practical implementation will continue to be front and center. |
| Gauging Progress at Dashwood Trails On August 13th, Council Member Thomas toured the construction site of Dashwood Trails in Alief alongside Trinity Housing Development. Financed through a 9% Housing Tax Credit allocation, the development has made steady progress since breaking ground in December 2025 to bring much-needed affordable housing options to our community. |
| Safe Homes, Strong Neighborhoods: Summer of Safety Fire Outreach |
| Honoring the Old Alief‑Hennington Library: Memories Preserved in Every Brick |
| Engaging with Alief’s AARP Chapter 3264 Members On August 6, Council Member Thomas attended the AARP meeting at the Salvation Army Church to provide updates on several key District F and city-wide initiatives. She discussed the backlog of Council District Service Fund infrastructure projects, the new solid waste administrative fee, and the distribution of bricks our office salvaged from the former Alief‑Hennington Library. CM Thomas also highlighted the availability of free smoke detectors through the Houston Fire Department for residents in Catalina Square and Huntington Village, shared updates on homelessness response efforts on the Westside, and reviewed the latest crime statistics. |
Council Member Thomas Speaks at State of Black Philanthropy Event On August 5, Council Member Thomas joined the Bayou Collective for its State of Black Philanthropy panel, offering insights on why collective giving is essential to protecting and strengthening Black communities. She emphasized how intentional, community‑driven philanthropy can help safeguard heirs property, expand housing opportunities, and preserve generational wealth, particularly for Black and Brown families. Council Member Thomas highlighted the urgent need for heirs property education and underscored the powerful role Black Houston can play in investing in itself to prevent future loss of land, legacy, and community stability. |
| Another Successful Future Founders program The Office of Business Opportunity concluded another successful Future Founders Program in July. This initiative equips youth with essential skills in entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership, while fostering creativity, responsibility, and community engagement through guided business‑building activities. The Future Founders Program is a partnership between the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, District F (Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas), the Houston Public Library, and the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce—all committed to developing the next generation of Houston’s innovators and community leaders. |
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| Keegan Bayou Trail Study Our office attended the Alief Trails Community Night hosted by the Houston Parks Board at Cummings Elementary School on Thursday evening. More than 70 residents participated, sharing valuable input on the Keegans Bayou Trail connection, reviewing design updates for the Alief Trail, and helping shape a more connected community. See the map below for greater context on the proposed trail routes. |
| CELEBRATING OUR DISTRICT F PARTNERS |
| Congratulations to our outstanding District F partners, Agape Christian Fellowship Church and Kevin Kebede of Heads Up Houston, on being nominated for the Spirit of Excellence Award and the Visionary Leadership Award at the Harris County Department of Education’s Spirit of Excellence Awards & PLAY Conference—selected from more than 300 nominees statewide. We’re proud of your leadership and impact. You’re all winners in our book. |
| UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & INFORMATION |
National Night Out 2026
It’s that time of year again.National Night Out is coming up on October 6. Check out this recap from last year and register your subdivision here by September 18. |
| The Permit Activity Report provides activity information regarding any new construction, remodeling, or change-of-use permits by zip-code in an effort to inform citizens of activity in their neighborhoods. Obtain additional information about permits by contacting Houston Public Works (HPW) via 311, or by visiting their Permitting Center website at www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. If you have further questions about any permits, please contact the Code Enforcement Group at 832-394-9494. Additionally, the Plat Activity Report contains biweekly information from PlatTracker about plats, replats, public hearings, variances, and special exceptions to plats that will be considered at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting. The report provides application information for each agenda item; compiled by the City of Houston Planning and Development Department. The excel format can be sorted based on particular data, such as location or council district. The new PlatTracker is now available online. To access the portal, please visit https://plattracker.powerappsportals.us For questions or additional information contact the Development Services Planner of the Day at (832) 393-6624. |
| CONTACT THE DISTRICT F TEAM |
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