Harris County News from the Office of County Judge Hidalgo

Community Covid Housing Program Pulls 7,000 Residents Out of Homelessness

In June 2020, Harris County established the Community Covid Housing Program with the goal of serving 5,000 people over two years through diversion, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, case management, and other services. This program exceeded its goal in record time. Over 7,000 people were served in that time period and the coalition facilitated the removal of four homeless encampments, with 90% of those individuals now in permanent housing. Overall, through this partnership between the City and the County, we reduced homelessness by 1000 individuals, at the height of the pandemic.
In January, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioners Court committed American Rescue Plan funds toward Phase II of the Community Covid Housing Program, for a total investment of $35 million. We look forward to seeing the results of Phase II for our most vulnerable residents.

Harris County Jury Assembly is Back

Returning to Newly Renovated Jury Assembly Plaza at 1201 Congress
Jury Assembly is back downtown! On February 6th Harris County jury assembly returned to the newly repaired and renovated Jury Assembly Plaza (1201 Congress St, Houston, TX 77002). The building has plenty of room for social distancing and the County is also expediting other downtown county building renovations, including the Family Law Center, to enable appropriate social distancing for jurors in light of the pandemic. This move will continue seamless operations of jury trials, minimize travel time for judicial staff from jury selection locations to courthouses, and protect the health of jurors performing a public service.

Resolution Urges Harris County Bail Board to Impose Minimum Bond Payment Requirements

When a bond is set for a suspect in a crime, they can approach a bail bond business to post the bond for them. However, Texas law does not require a minimum payment by the defendant before a bail bond company can post their bond and secure a defendant’s release from jail. Investigations conducted by stakeholders in the criminal justice system show that there are bail bondsmen in Harris County that do not collect the customary 10 percent to post bond. In fact, some collect as little as one percent of a bond set by a judicial officer, making it easier for dangerous and violent criminals to go free. Last week, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioners Court approved a resolution urging the Harris County Bail Bond Board, which has regulatory authority by the State of Texas to “supervise and regulate each phase of the bonding business in the county,” to take action and require a 10% minimum bond payment by defendants. Bondsmen accepting less than 10% of set bonds for violent offenders are putting profits over the safety of our community and It must stop according to Judge Hidalgo.

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