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Starting January 12, 2024 at 9 a.m. Harris County residents could start applying for a new program that provides $500 per month to support their families.
You can apply on the Uplift Harris website or by calling 832-927-6060.
ELIGIBLE ZIP CODES
(1) You must be a Harris County resident residing within the top ten (10) high-poverty ZIP codes where residents have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding economic crises. The eligible ZIP codes are 77050, 77093, 77051, 77060, 77028, 77033, 77026, 77081, 77547, and 77091, AND(2) Your income falls below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line for your household size, AND(3) You are 18 years or older.
The program was scheduled to open earlier in the week, but the County Commissioners delayed the start to address legal issues.
The website is up and running, accepting applications, however there is a notice if you need assistance with your application.
The notice says, ‘Thank you for your interest in the Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot. Applications are open, however, technical support is limited January 13 - 15. If you encounter any application issues during this time, we’ll promptly assist beginning January 16. All applicants have until February 2 to complete the application. Your patience is appreciated.’
The program designed to help struggling families in the Houston area, passed in a vote of 4-1 in Harris County Commissioners Court last year but because the program is federally funded undocumented residents will not be eligible.
“For us, it’s unfortunate that people who live in fully undocumented households are not going to be able to receive this money, we would have liked to see that differently, but we are hopefully there is ways that people can apply that live in mixed status households, the problem is that there hasn’t been outreach at least in this community,” said Cesar Espinosa the Executive Director of FIEL, an immigrant led civil rights organizations.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee joined Owen Conflenti and Sofia Ojeda to discuss the application process.
WATCH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE:
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Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Judge Lina Hidalgo outlined details about the $20.5 million Uplift Harris program, aimed at helping low-income residents with rent, food costs, and other issues.
The initiative is a guaranteed income program, and officials are hoping it will reduce poverty. Uplift Harris would also help people with transportation, housing, utilities, and care.
Under the program, up to 1,500 families living below 200% of the federal poverty line – approximately $60,000 for a family of four – will receive $500 per month to support their household needs. Uplift Harris will run for 18 months, beginning this fall. It will be administered by a third-party agency and subjected to rigorous evaluation.
With that in mind, KPRC 2 reporter Bill Spencer asked Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo an important question.
“So, $20 million is a heck of a lot of money. How do you plan to vet these people to make sure that the people who really need the money will get it and not people trying to scam the system?”
Judge Hidalgo replied, “Yeah, so the program is designed so it goes to folks with a certain income level, so it’s below the poverty line for those zip codes where there are economic challenges for a lot of people.”
‘You like to interrupt women’: Judge Lina Hidalgo gets into heated dispute with Commissioner Garcia after telling him he “likes to interrupt women’ while they’re speaking.
Uplift Harris was spearheaded by Commissioner Ellis’ Office. The program, funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, is part of the county’s broader strategy to reduce poverty and deliver economic prosperity for everyone in Harris County.
“Decades of neglect, inequity, and discrimination have financially destabilized generations of Harris County families, perpetuated poverty, and created unfair barriers to prosperity,” Commissioner Ellis said. “Unchecked and ongoing inequality has created an economic divide that families can’t overcome on their own, and Harris County has an obligation to act.”
Similar programs have been launched in 45 cities across the country, including Austin, which has seen positive results so far.
According to a study by the Urban Institute, before the program was brought to Austin, 80% of families said they could not afford food. After six months of being in the program, the number dropped to 68%.
Also before the program, 77% of families in Austin said they couldn’t afford to serve balanced meals to their children. After six months of being a part of the program, that number dropped to 62%.
About 55% of families in Austin said they were behind on their rent before starting the program, and after six months, that number dropped to 33%.
For more information, visit this website: https://countiesforaguaranteedincome.org/.