The Quality of Life Committee heard a report on an ordinance that would authorize a second amendment to the subrecipient agreement with Health Care for the Homeless Houston to provide up to $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to operate Project Access, a no‑charge, regularly scheduled transportation service for people experiencing homelessness.

Melody Barr of the Housing and Community Development Department described Project Access as a 40‑passenger, all‑ability bus that operates Monday–Friday, year‑round (it does not run on Thanksgiving and Christmas), follows a 23‑agency route with about 32 stops between roughly 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and serves a minimum of 2,000 individuals. Barr said the program leverages partners at roughly 21 agencies that provide health care, meals, shelter and supportive services and that the amendment would extend the contract term through November 30, 2026. She said the provider has received city funding since 2003 and met performance goals; the organization had one prior compliance finding that was resolved.

Catherine Rogers, executive vice president at Health Care for the Homeless Houston, told the committee the program aims to register at least 2,000 unique riders and provide roughly 4,000 trips in a year; she said the program is moving from a paper ticketing system toward web‑based registration and exploring digital tools with help from Houston Metro to better track ridership and service impact. Rogers said a case manager funded by the amendment engages riders on the bus several times per week and at partner agency sites to link them with housing, health care and other services.

Council members asked clarifying questions about counting trips versus individuals, per‑rider annual cost and how the program reaches people. Barr said the 2,000 target is unique individuals; the most recent report showed about 4,000 trips in 12 months and about 1,500 individuals engaged by the case manager. Rogers said the program’s contract goal equates to about $113 per rider per year based on current targets.

Committee members requested additional data on ridership (total trips per year and web‑registration transition plans); staff said they would provide both trip and ridership counts and follow up on any additional operational questions.

The ordinance would extend the term and provide the additional $250,000 in CDBG funds to the subrecipient agreement; staff said the item will be brought to City Council for formal approval in the coming weeks. No formal committee vote on the ordinance was recorded at the meeting.

Ending — Staff committed to provide detailed ridership and trip counts and to continue coordination with Houston Metro on registration and outreach. The committee heard public appreciation for the program from Health Care for the Homeless Houston representatives and discussed potential digital tracking improvements.