The County Connection: Register to Vote by October 5th

Across the nation, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in domestic violence and strained many services available to domestic violence survivors in Harris County. Currently, shelters for those seeking assistance are at capacity and experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, as well as operating at lower availability due to social distancing and isolation needs. Agencies that provide lifesaving services serve as a vital lifeline for survivors of domestic violence during this pandemic, and it is the County’s duty to support them financially. In mid-September, Harris County Commissioners Court approved $2,178,550 to support survivors of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will establish a Harris County COVID-19 Domestic Violence Assistance program to help in providing an array of services including childcare, food, transportation, and housing.

“This pandemic has laid bare the struggle so many survivors of domestic violence and their caregivers face each and every day in our community,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “We cannot afford to let anyone in Harris County fall through the cracks during this pandemic, and that includes those who deserve protection, care, and support as a result of domestic violence. I want to thank everyone who continues to advocate on behalf of survivors including the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for their work on this vital initiative.”

The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC), an organization created to bring together community stakeholders to end domestic violence, will administer the program. More information on the application process and criteria will be available in the coming weeks.

With schools having closed in March under the hovering threat of COVID-19, children and their parents have been hit particularly hard by the epidemic. On September 29, Harris County Commissioners Court approved $4,715,100 for a new COVID-19 Childcare Assistance Program that will provide funding for virtual learning, after school care, early childhood learning, and early childhood care. The funding will enable local non-profits the YMCA, Collaborative for Children, and the United Way to serve an estimated 4,375 children of essential workers in need of financial support for eight to twelve weeks. Stay tuned for more information on how to apply.

Last month, Judge Hidalgo led an effort to pass a resolution recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Cancer Institute, childhood cancers and associated treatments require unique research needs and funding. Each year, over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States, with approximately 40,000 on active treatment at any given time. Additionally, the overall incidence of childhood cancers have increased by 24% over the past 40 years.

As one of the leading causes of death in our county, we’ve all been touched in some way or another by cancer,” said Judge Hidalgo. But we must also recognize that not all cancers are the same, and that childhood cancer requires its own investment, research, and treatments. Let’s stand together this September to raise public awareness about this devastating disease and march toward saving young lives.”

The resolution acknowledges the need for increased awareness and funding for research and treatment of childhood cancer. To learn more about what you can do to help, visit the Faris Foundation at LetThereBeGOLD.org

When COVID-19 hit Harris County last spring, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility was forced to shut down, forcing many responsible residents to stockpile hazardous waste such as pesticides, batteries, pool chemicals, and propane cylinders. These and other hazardous waste items can contaminate our landfills and leak into our groundwater when not disposed of properly. The facility, which shut down the third week of March, reopened to the public in mid-September with new COVID-19 safety measures and protocols for dropoff.

To use this county service, residents and customers must now sign up for an appointment ahead of time and stay in their car during the drop-off, with limited contact from staff (similar to how curbside logistics would work at a grocery store). Facility employees will also be monitoring the number of residents served each day and using Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and hygiene procedures.

Appointment slots for hazardous waste drop-off are filling up fast, so book your appointment far ahead of time. To make an appointment, visit the Household Hazardous Waste webpage here. For a list of acceptable materials for drop-off, click here.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is conducting a study to identify issues and potential solutions for improving the Gulf Freeway from downtown to Beltway 8 South. Community ideas are key to this study and we would like to invite Harris County residents to take a few minutes to participate. The innovative survey feels more like playing a video game that asks survey-takers to pinpoint problem areas and prioritize possible fixes. You can provide your input by completing the survey here until October 11.

Learn more about Harris County’s transportation planning, future projects, programs, policies, and advocacy for all of unincorporated Harris County through 2040 during an upcoming virtual meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2020, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register and learn more about the Harris County Transportation Planning Series by visiting HarrisVisionZero.org.

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.