8 min 46 seconds of Silence

Judge Hidalgo George Floyd & COVID Message County News

I wish we could say that, because of the COVID crisis, we all get a break from worrying about the potential of a catastrophic storm making landfall this year. Unfortunately, the truth is that hurricane season doesn’t give us the courtesy of waiting until the COVID-19 crisis subsides, so the time to be ready is now.  We want you to know that even with the enormous amount of work we have been doing to contain the Coronavirus in Harris County, we have also been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for this hurricane season, which begins this week. We’ve achieved a lot of progress over the past year, moving full speed ahead on flood mitigation projects, tightening development and detention standards and working with first responder teams from across the region to prepare for and plan for the worst. But ultimately, preparing for hurricanes is a partnership among all of us. Including you. Here are three actions we urge you to take today to prepare:  1. Do an insurance checkup. Did you know that just 1 inch of water can cause $25,000 in damage to your home? Standard home insurance policies don’t cover flooding, so now is the time to check in with your insurance company and make sure you are covered. Keep in mind that new flood insurance policies take 30 days to take effect, so don’t wait.  2. Build a kit. Many of the items you need for a Hurricane Kit you already have at home, such as non-perishable food, batteries, and a radio. Make sure you have a plan to have any medications you need on hand and a plan and supplies for your pets too. Please see our disaster checklist of supplies on ReadyHarris.org. 3. Know your zone. Now is the time to find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, and if you do, plan where you would go and how you would get there. If you need to evacuate, do you know where you would go? A friend or a relative's house, for example? We have evacuation routes and zones on a map right now on ReadyHarris.org. We all know the sort of damage and loss of human life that a big storm can bring, but it doesn’t have to catch us unaware. Please join us in taking the time to prepare for whatever may come this hurricane season.  Abrazos,

Lina Hidalgo

County News

Justice for George Floyd Over the past week, Harris County Judge Hidalgo and Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have remained in close touch with Mayor Turner and the City of Houston regarding protests in Houston. Judge Hidalgo continues to urge peace and safety over violence, as well as meaningful reform to our criminal justice system as a way of honoring Floyd’s life. “Each and every member of our community, regardless of their race, background, or economic status deserves to be treated with dignity and respect during encounters with police. When we lost George Floyd we lost a fellow Houstonian and someone whose legacy will forever remind us of the work that remains to build a more just, equal society for the most vulnerable among us,” said Hidalgo.  “As we move forward, I want George Floyd’s friends and family here in Harris County to know that his life - and the life of so many others we’ve lost to injustice - will drive us to work ever more zealously to create a more equitable, fairer Harris County. As County Judge, I will continue to do everything in my power to drive forward meaningful criminal justice reform, hold all our institutions - including law enforcement - accountable, and work to dismantle the root sources of racism and inequity in our community. The work is long and hard but we will continue to drive forward alongside the community and with more resolve than ever.” Judge Hidalgo also reminds folks that the threat of COVID-19 continues in our community, and close contact with others can be potentially deadly and lead to an outbreak. “I urge those who join in demanding change to wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and mitigate potential exposure as much as possible or by participating virtually.”

Harris County $30 Million COVID-19 Relief Fund To Support Most Vulnerable Residents Last month, Harris County Commissioner’s Court passed a measure to establish the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Harris County residents most impacted by the global pandemic. The $30 million fund, which will be administered by Greater Houston Community Foundation, will serve a significant number of the most vulnerable people, in particular county residents who may not be eligible for other COVID-related funding and/or who cannot afford to wait for assistance. The Fund is expected to assist about 20,000 households to provide support with housing, electricity, food, childcare, and other essential needs. “Harris County on its own can’t unilaterally turn around the economic fallout from COVID-19, but we are committed to running the most impactful, targeted program to support the hardest-hit families in our community,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “If we want the entire community to get through this, it means helping the most vulnerable among us.” The Fund will be open to Harris County low-income residents, including those excluded by the CARES Act or immigrant households, adults listed as dependents, and people who may receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance but cannot afford to wait for months. Funds will be disbursed via community organizations who will identify and work with eligible individuals and families, and by inviting all eligible low-income residents to complete an application through a multilingual call center and/or website. The application process will become available in the next few weeks, and there will be a press effort to inform the community. Individuals will have ample time to apply. Given the incredible need, a fair, randomized process will be used to select eligible households to receive financial assistance. It will not be first come, first served. For detailed information, visit harriscountyrelief.org. Those in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to call the 211 Texas/United Way helpline to find an organization in your geographic region that can provide assistance.

COVID-19 Veteran Financial Assistance Available

The COVID-19 crisis has brought an astonishing effect to our country’s economy, and so quickly that many of us were caught off guard and unprepared. Harris County Veteran Services Department, in conjunction with the Texas Veterans Commission, has received limited funding to provide short-term financial assistance for impacted veterans and their families. This program will prioritize the most vulnerable and underserved in our communities; funding is limited, so apply now.  To qualify, veterans must reside in Harris County and provide proof of job loss or reduced income. Documentation required includes the applicant's identification, DD214, financial disclosure, vacate/eviction notice, utility bills indicating expense, and other documents as required. This funding does not include mortgage assistance. If a Veteran does not qualify for this specific program, the Department may provide referrals to other programs. To begin the application process, contact the Harris County Veteran Services Department at (281) 876-6600.

Hundreds of Projects Designed to Spare Thousands of Homes from Flooding Continue Make Progress through COVID-19

Throughout this difficult time, Harris County has never stopped preparing for the 2020 Hurricane Season, which begins today. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and Stay Home-Work Safe order, the Harris County Flood Control District has continued its work to complete engineering and planning projects arising from the $2.5 billion Bond Program. Notably, the Fairbanks-North Houston Stormwater detention basin, which adds 75 million gallons in stormwater capacity and increases the basin’s total capacity to 1.9 billion gallons, was completed last month. Since January, Harris County has awarded over $136 million in flood damage reduction projects and is on track to bid out over $500 million in construction this year.  “COVID-19 put the brakes on many aspects of life in Harris County, but it hasn’t slowed our flood control projects,” Judge Hidalgo said at the construction site. “This is a superhuman effort focused on major improvements, across all precincts, designed to spare homes from flooding.”  Virtual meetings and electronic document-sharing have enabled projects to move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-bid meetings are conducted via teleconference and bids are live-streamed on the Harris County website. For more detailed information on current projects, visit the Harris County Flood Control District webpage here. To learn more on how to prepare for the 2020 Hurricane Season, visit ReadyHarris.org.

Harris County Judge Announces Worker Protection Guidelines for Businesses, Manufacturing & Construction Reopening during Pandemic

On May 21, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced worker protection guidelines for retail businesses and manufacturing and construction sites as they reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommended guidelines intend to provide baseline safeguards to ensure employees and customers are protected as facilities open for business and construction activity increases. “It’s not enough to call essential workers our heroes – we need to show our appreciation by protecting them and creating an environment that supports safe and sustainable economic activity,” Judge Hidalgo said. “These guidelines serve as a bridge from policy to practice, creating a baseline expectation of safety whether you’re a construction worker stepping onto a job site, a custodian at a small business, or a senior citizen going to buy groceries.” Some of the minimum health protocols for both retail businesses and the construction workforce include the following: Employers should be flexible with hours and use staggered shifts to reduce the number of employees arriving and leaving at the same time Workers and contractors should be screened for symptoms before entering the building or job site, and any worker or contractor with a temperature above 100F should be sent home, with the employer notifying the health department and informing all workers who may have been in contact with the individual Workers should wear face coverings The full lists of steps retail and construction businesses should take are available here and here. Free COVID-19 testing is available for everyone, and workers are encouraged to complete an updated online self-assessment tool on ReadyHarris.org. Workers who do not have access to the online self-assessment tool can call 832-927-7575 to be scheduled for testing.

Harris County to Open Free COVID-19 Testing Sites in Pasadena and Cy-Fair

Last week, County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Harris County Department of Public Health announced the county’s two largest COVID-19 test sites will be moved to new locations. The testing sites will move to Pasadena and Cy-Fair from Baytown and Katy and will begin services tomorrow, June 2nd. Smaller mobile sites will continue to visit the Baytown and Katy area periodically.  Harris County operates a total of six testing sites throughout the county with the capacity to test up to 1,700 residents each day. The two new sites opening next month will be able to conduct 750 tests per day each, up from 500. To date, Harris County has offered testing at 29 locations across the county.  Harris County Public Health encourages any residents who believe they have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with the virus to get tested. To receive free testing, residents should use the self-assessment tool available at ReadyHarris.org or by calling 832-927-7575.

Upcoming Events

County Judge’s Office to Host Eight Virtual Conversations on Early Childhood in Harris County This June, the Harris County Judge’s Office is hosting a series of virtual conversations for families and caregivers to share their stories, hopes, and pressing needs around raising children ages zero to three that will support future early childhood policy development in Harris County. The 45 minute sessions are offered in Vietnamese, Arabic, and Spanish, as well as in English, with two sessions for fathers only. Each session is limited to five caregivers. If you are a parent or caregiver residing in Harris County and would like to attend, you can sign-up here. For more about Harris County’s Early Childhood Efforts, please visit HarrisCountyKids.com.

About Judge Hidalgo Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is the head of Harris County's governing body and Director of the Harris County's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Judge Hidalgo, alongside four County Precinct Commissioners, oversees a budget of approximately $5 billion that funds services and institutions for the third-largest county in the nation, home to nearly 5 million people. For more information about Harris County and the Office of the County Judge, click here.

How to Register to VOTE or CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS

https://www.hctax.net/Voter/Registration

https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp REGISTER ONLINE

https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrrequest/index.asp REQUEST A POSTAGE PAID FORM

FROM ANN HARRIS BENNETT

As COVID-19 continues to create barriers for our daily lives and for our 2020 elections, the Harris County Voter Registration office continues committed to you and the community, and wants to ensure everyone has an opportunity to register to vote and/or to update their voting information.

During these uncertain times, the office continues to process voter registration applications, and while in-person voter registration events have stopped to ensure safety, you can still help register people to vote.  

All you have to do is to encourage folks to use our online services. It is easy and fast.

Full College Scholarship Emerging Leaders for Young Men

Young men in the Greater Houston area may qualify for a very important, valuable scholarship to attend the College of Biblical Studies. The Emerging Leaders Scholarship will fully fund an associate degree, with the possibility of a funded bachelor’s degree if participants are successful!

The men selected must: (1) be under age 30, (2) have graduated from high school (or GED), (3) have grown up without an engaged/positive father in their home, (4) attend church and be referred/affirmed by their pastor (NOTE: this scholarship is intended for new students to CBS).

If you qualify or have a young man/men in mind for this, CLICK HERE for more information and to apply for the scholarship. Please do not delay – this scholarship is worth up to $40,000!

Questions? Contact Maggie Rodriguez: 832.252.4623; start-today@cbshouston.edu.

RALLY TODAY with the Family of George Floyd a Houstonian Yates Graduate

See Houston Chronicle for more details including Funeral Plans..
More Details at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/george-floyd-march-trae-the-truth-discovery-green-15308152.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HC_AfternoonReport&utm_term=news&utm_content=headlines Funeral info https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Funeral-information-for-George-Floyd-released-15308859.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HC_AfternoonReport&utm_term=news&utm_content=headlines

COVID TESTING SITES EXPANDING

CitizensNet: Houston Health Department, agency partners announce free COVID-19 test sites for week of June 1, 2020 | 06-01-2020
The Houston Health Department and its agency partners are announcing new sites offering free COVID-19 tests during first week of June.

Texas Division of Emergency Management

The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the department will open five drive-thru test sites:
Robinson Elementary, 12425 Woodforest Blvd., June 1 - 3
Herrera Elementary, 525 Bennington Street, June 4 – 6
Kashmere Gardens Elementary, 4901 Lockwood Dr., June 1 - 6
HCC-Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Dr., June 3 - 6
TDEM sites require appointments, available by calling 512-883-2400 or visiting txcovidtest.org. The sites will open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

United Memorial Medical Center

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) will open a new drive-thru and walk-up test site at the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star. UMMC will continue to offer drive-thru testing at its site at Houston Community College-Southeast, 6815 Rustic.

Each site will open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until reaching its daily capacity of 250 tests. The sites don’t require appointments.

Other UMMC sites opening weekdays are:
UMMC Tidwell, 510 W Tidwell Rd., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Forest Brook Middle School, 7525 Tidwell Rd, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cullen Middle School, 6900 Scott St., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Griggs School, 801 Regional Park Dr., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
People needing information about UMMC test sites can call 1-866-333-COVID or visit ummcscreening.com.

Houston Health Department Mobile Unit & Community-Based Sites

The department will set up its mobile unit at the Magnolia Multi-Service Center, 7037 Capitol, June 2 - 6.

Mobile unit testing is set for weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until reaching daily capacity of 100 tests. People don’t need an appointment to get a free COVID-19 test through the mobile unit, which offers drive-thru or walk-up options.

The department also operates two free drive-thru COVID-19 community-based testing sites open to anyone, regardless of symptoms. Each site has capacity for 500 tests per day.

New days of operation for the sites are Monday through Saturday. The sites will close on Sundays beginning May 31.

People can call the department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220 between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive an access code and directions to the nearest community-based site or get more information about the department’s mobile unit.

Federally Qualified Health Centers

The health department is providing test kits, lab access and equipment to four local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are:
Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565
El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880
Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027
Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200 and
Community Health Network, 281-816-3317.
FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance.

The department and its agency partners may shift locations and schedules of test sites to better meet community needs. Houstonians can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for current Houston test sites and information about stopping the spread of the virus.

Information obtained through testing, treatment or services will not be used against immigrants in their public charge evaluation.


CitizensNet | City of Houston
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Subscribe to CitizensNet or manage your preferences here:
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Webinars - Various Important Topics thanks efamily member Janice Weaver for sharing!

Who is in the Texas Run-Off Election? Reminder-Register to Vote by June 15th

Here’s your Texas 2020 July runoff ballot - go to the TEXAS TRIBUNE WEBSITE for More information and details (portion of article pasted below)
https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2020/texas-runoff-election-ballot/
By Carla Astudillo June 1, 2020



Texas will hold its 2020 runoff elections July 14 to finalize which Democratic and Republican primary candidates will be on the ballot for the November general election. In more than 30 races in the March 3 primary, no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, bringing about runoff races between the candidates who came in first and second. Here are all of the candidates who will be on the ballot in the primary runoffs for statewide, congressional and legislative offices.
The 2020 primary runoffs were supposed to take place May 26 but were postponed to July 14 in response to the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Texas.
The pandemic has also sparked a legal fight over the expansion of voting through mail-in ballots. Here’s the latest on who is eligible to vote by mail in Texas for the runoffs.
Early voting runs from June 29 through July 10, doubling the length of the early voting period for the runoffs because of the coronavirus pandemic.
If you voted in a party primary in March, you can only vote in the same party’s runoff. You can check out the results of the March 3 primary here.

300 Jobs Available - City of Houston -- ALSO FEMA, NASA is Hiring

The City of Houston: 300 Jobs Available

Job Openings: Know anyone interested in helping with our COVID-19 response? We’re hiring 300 new temporary positions, including contact tracers, call center representatives, community involvement coordinators, epidemiologists, nurses and other roles. If you are interested, go to the City of Houston Careers page.The City of Houston: 300 Jobs Available

https://cts.vresp.com/c/?PoindexterDental/0a98877890/cae9804799/cf2d76fc34

Also check USAJOBS for internships and jobs with the federal government including NASA and FEMA. Also popular job sites like Indeed.Com for NASA contractor jobs - Hiring NOW.

Food, Rental and Utiliity Assistance Age 60 and older & their Caregivers Area Agency on Aging and More!

Good evening Faith/Community Leaders/EFamily,

The Harris County Area Agency on Aging (HCAAA) is part of a nationwide network of agencies coordinating supportive services for adults 60 years or older, as well as their caregivers. HCAAA is committed to continuing to serve the needs of older adults in Harris County through the COVID-19 crisis.

Our home-delivered meal program has expanded to provide food through our traditional program or through our partnership with the Houston Food Bank to seniors that are choosing to stay healthy at home. We are providing masks upon request as long as supplies are available. In addition to our traditional transportation support for seniors, we are offering transportation services to City of Houston COVID testing sites.

Also, HCAAA will provide temporary utility and rental assistance to older adults economically impacted by COVID-19. Our call center remains fully staffed to provide information, referrals and assistance; and our benefits counselors remain ready to assist with any questions you may have regarding Medicare and other benefits. We also continue to provide assistance in getting prescription medication, nutritional supplements and incontinent supplies.

We are working to assist seniors with many other basic need services during this unprecedented time. We are available if seniors are feeling alone, lonely or isolated to talk and connect them with resources that can help them remain safe, well and healthy!

If you are 60 or older, live in Harris County and in need of food or other services that we offer, call 832-393-4301.

**** If you have any questions related to COVID-19, contact the Houston Health Department’s COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220 or visit HoustonEmergency.org/COVID-19.

If you have further questions I have included Paula Johnson on the email if you have further questions. Also see her direct contact information before.

From: Johnson, Paula - HHD
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 6:00 PM


Please see the attached document for community distribution. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Paula D. Johnson
Bureau Chief, Harris County Area Agency on Aging
8000 N. Stadium, 3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77054
832-393-4619

Forgiveable Loans Apply for SBA-PPP LOANS NOW! Live Webinars - Efamily invited by Elwyn Lee

Friday, May 29, 2020

Dear Business Owners and Non-Profit Organizations:



Here is a solution to the frustration with the SBA-PPP loans. Contrary to reports there are still funds available and you can apply NOW!



Even if you have poor credit or have been denied before take this free training and consider the available One-on-One Loan Application Assistance available. The forgivable nature of the loans will also be explained.



Tune in to a very special series of Live Webinars sponsored by the UH Third Ward Initiative (TWI) and UH Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on how to successfully apply for SBA's federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These webinars will help you navigate the application process and provide you with PPP tips and resources.

The following topics will be covered followed by a Question & Answer session:

Eligibility Requirements
Required Paperwork
General Rules Around Loan Forgiveness
Tips for Spending PPP Loan and Maximizing Loan Forgiveness
Sponsoring Banks: Amegy Bank, TDECU and Unity Bank
No Required Credit Checks
SBDC's No-Cost Business Advising Services
Please see the attached flyer to register for the training by clicking on Register Here for Free PPP Loan Webinar. In the alternative you can register for the webinar of your choice by clicking on the following link https://www.sbdc.uh.edu/sbdc/PPP-Loan-Forgiveness-Webinars.asp . If after the training you still need assistance please request One-on-One guidance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or bank advisors.



For additional information or questions contact me directly using the contact information provided below.





Very truly yours,





Dr. Elwyn C. Lee

Vice President for Neighborhood & Strategic Initiatives



Y O U A R E T H E P R I D E

4302 University Drive • 212 E Cullen Building • Houston, TX 77204-2018 • Location: Room 223

Office: 832.842.5090 • Fax: 713.743.1996 • eclee@uh.edu • www.uh.edu/third-ward





SBDC Logo



APPLY FOR YOUR SBA PPP LOAN NOW!!!

Small Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations

Especially those in Third Ward are invited to:



FREE Virtual Training Sessions on How to Successfully Apply for Loans through the Federal Payroll, Protection, Program (PPP)

Get All of your PPP questions Answered!

Are you confused about SBA loans? Do you not have a bank to help with a loan? Do you have credit issues that might be barriers to a loan? Do you need help filling out the loan application? Do you know that you may not be required to repay part of the SBA loan? Would you like one-on-one support for the loan process? Do you know that a 1099 business can still get a loan? Get your answers with this webinar.


June 3, 2020 @ 8:00 a.m. & Noon | June 4, 2020 @ 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Register Here for Free PPP Loan Webinar


Personal one-on-one counseling available from SBDC Advisors & the following sponsoring financial institutions:







Apply Now

Apply Now

Apply Now

Contact: Jevaughn Sterling

Phone Number: 713-232-2389

Jevaughn.sterling@amegybank.com

Contact: Lending Department
Phone Number: 281-835-2419

sbappp@unitybanktexas.com

Contact Name: Matt Wolf

Phone Number: 281-475-5486

mwolf@tdecu.org


Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of the CARES Act, will provide money to small businesses to help them meet their short-term ongoing expenses, including payroll costs and other costs as specified in the CARES Act. PPP borrowers will not be required to repay the portion of the loan that is used for the purposes specifically allowed by the CARES Act.

President of U of H Statement on the Death of George Floyd

Dear Cougar Community,

The sad and senseless death of George Floyd hits close to home for the University of Houston. He grew up in the Third Ward, our neighborhood, and graduated from nearby Jack Yates High School, where he is remembered as “Big Floyd,” tall in stature but gentle and friendly in nature. Mr. Floyd later became of member of DJ Screw’s inner circle, a group that had an immeasurable influence on Houston music and culture in the 1990s. Mr. Floyd was a member of our community, and we join hundreds of other universities and millions of Americans in condemning this brutal event and the larger failing in our culture that allows such atrocities to continue. We share in the tremendous pain our community and nation are experiencing.

Only those who have experienced systemic racism and inequity can truly understand the pain, frustration and sorrow that is being felt in the Black community right now. It has driven many to protest— most are doing so with peace and civility, but that should not be an end in itself. As a licensed clinical psychologist, UH Professor Rheeda Walker has studied the impact of racial tension on well-being and observed, “Being paralyzed with fear and sadness is not an option even for those who need it. During the pandemic, grieving and angry people have to go to work, take care of children, and pretend to move on despite the images of George Floyd’s death.”

Obviously, we don’t have all the answers. But what we can – and will do – is commit to asking the important questions: What is keeping us from doing what is right? When we know what is right, what is keeping us from taking appropriate action to address systemic racism, and social injustice that, too often, result in tragedies like George Floyd’s death? What must be done to address the great inequities that continue to exist? Universities are institutions devoted to learning and these are things that our society desperately needs to learn.

Beyond being an institution, the University of Houston is a diverse community. Our University’s diversity and our acceptance of differing viewpoints are among our greatest strengths. However, at this pivotal time, it is not enough for us to rest on diversity alone and believe we have met any sort of responsibility. Our mission as an institution and our responsibility as human beings compel us to take a stand. To those who are horrified and in serious distress: we stand with you.

Sincerely,

Renu Khator

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