HOUSING

by lindsey.williams,

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Please provide comments at the bottom once you have reviewed the action items

Well-Maintained Housing

Sources: SNP, CC

Connect vulnerable households to home repair assistance

(HIGH Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Advocate and organize to develop a local home repair program, or expand the capacity and funding for existing citywide programs, to assist elderly, disabled, or other vulnerable residents to maintain, and/or make accessibility improvements to their homes, including roofs and foundations; Develop an outreach campaign to connect homeowners in need of repair or disaster recovery assistance to resources, including providing education on eligibility, processes, and timelines; Ensure timely assistance that does not create additional economic stress for those receiving assistance

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Outreach
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Advocate, Implement
Community Connectors: Driven Work Solutions, Area Churches, Area Civic Organizations, Rebuilding Together Houston | Role: Advocate, Support, Implement

Identify and address substandard conditions in multi-family housing developments

(MEDIUM Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Develop an outreach campaign to encourage residents to report unsafe and substandard housing, including units with mold, unsafe conditions, or unresponsive property management; Advocate and prioritize necessary repairs

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Outreach
City: Department of Neighborhoods, Inspections and Public Services, Houston Health Department | Role: Support, Implement
Community Connectors: Area Tenants, Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas Housers | Role: Support

Assess neighborhood housing conditions

(MEDIUM Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Advocate for, and identify a partner to, conduct a comprehensive assessment of neighborhood housing conditions; Based on the analysis identify and prioritize rehabilitation programs for both single and multi-family housing; Identify partners and funding mechanisms for implementation

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Organize
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Rebuilding Together Houston, Habitat for Humanity, TIRZ #26 | Role: Support

Advocate for a local home repair loan pool

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Advocate for the development of a Sunnyside home repair loan pool and connect homeowners in need to this resource

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Organize
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Unity is Wealth, Community Loan Center of Greater Houston, Area Banks | Role: Support, Implement

Expand and Secure Homeownership and Stabilize Renters

Sources: SNP, CC

Expand homeowner education programs

(MEDIUM Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Develop an outreach campaign to connect area homeowners and their families to existing workshops on property taxes, appraisals, wills, inheritance planning, predatory lending practices, and exemptions

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Outreach
City: Department of Neighborhoods, Mayor’s Citizens Assistance Office | Role: Outreach, Support
Community Connectors: Neighborhood Recovery CDC, TSU, Unity is Wealth, Harris County Appraisal District | Role: Support, Implement

Connect residents to new homebuyer and homeownership classes

(MEDIUM Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Develop an outreach campaign to connect interested residents and families to homebuyer and homeowner education classes, including information on the City of Houston’s down payment assistance programs, and other resources for first time home buyers; Advocate for the provision of locally available classes

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Outreach
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Neighborhood Recovery CDC, Houston Community Land Trust, TSU, Unity is Wealth, Harris County Appraisal District | Role: Support, Implement

Establish a Sunnyside Homestead Preservation District

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Explore using a Homestead Preservation District (HPD) to increase homeownership, provide affordable housing, and prevent involuntary loss of homesteads owned by low-income and moderate-income homeowners

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support, Advocate
Community Connectors: Elected Officials (State and County Level), Harris County Appraisal District | Role: Support, Advocate

Connect renters to assistance programs and housing services

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Identify strategies and partners to advocate for the prevention of eviction and the safeguarding of renters (particularly seniors) by connecting them to housing relocation services, legal services, and rental assistance programs; Advocate for local organizations to apply for funding to provide community-based assistance

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Outreach
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, South Texas College of Law, Disability Rights Texas, Veterans Affairs, Judge Jeremy Brown’s Eviction Prevention Program, Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston Housing Authority | Role: Support, Implement

New Quality Housing

Sources: SNP, CC

Build a range of market-rate and affordable single-family housing across the neighborhood

(MEDIUM priority)

ACTION STEPS: Advocate for the construction of new single-family housing at a wide range of price points by leveraging Houston Land Bank properties and church-owned vacant land; Partner with area developers to negotiate affordable units within market-rate projects

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Houston Land Bank, Houston Community Land Trust, Area Churches | Role: Support, Implement

Develop a Sunnyside community housing development organization (CHDO)

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Organize to establish a Sunnyside community housing development organization (CHDO) or expand the capacity of existing community development corporations through technical assistance, mentorship, and support

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Organize
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Driven Work Solutions, Area Churches, Houston Land Bank | Role: Support

Build mixed-income rental housing

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Identify potential sites and concepts to develop mixed-income rental housing across the neighborhood, targeting seniors, single, and family units; Create partnerships for funding and implementation

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate, Organize
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support
Community Connectors: Houston Land Bank, Houston Community Land Trust | Role: Support

Incentivize innovative housing models

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Identify incentives and advocate for the construction of innovative housing models, such as mother-in-law cottages, accessory dwelling units, and sustainable homes, target programs to veterans and those re-entering from the disciplinary system

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate
City: Housing and Community Development Department | Role: Support, Implement
Community Connectors: Houston Land Bank, Houston Community Land Trust, Planning and Development Department | Role: Support, Implement

Expanded Fair Housing Policies

Sources: SNP, CC

Expand access to publicly subsidized housing and vouchers

(LOW Priority)

ACTION STEPS: Advocate for the amendment of public housing authority occupancy requirements to allow rental to people re-entering the community; Expand housing choice vouchers

COORDINATION

Community: Sunnyside NST | Role: Advocate
City: Houston Housing Authority | Role: Support, Advocate
Community Connectors: Elected Officials, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department | Role: Advocate, Support, Implement