Uplift Harris application delayed, Precinct 4 commissioner requests special session to get more details
Harris County's guaranteed income program for low-income households, called Uplift Harris, is being delayed. The application portal for the program was supposed to open on Monday, has been pushed back.
In a statement, Commissioner Lesley Briones said, "My office requested an executive session discussion during tomorrow’s Commissioners Court meeting to get additional details on the administration of Uplift Harris regarding outreach, eligibility, and timeline."
IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO THE PROGRAM: Application delayed for Uplift Harris $500 guaranteed monthly income program
Uplift Harris would give $500 a month to over 1,900 people in low-income households for 18 months. The money comes from $20.5 million federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Applicants must have a household income 200% below the federal poverty level. That's about $60,000 for a family of four and $29,000 for an individual.
"Providing funds with no definition or limitations on what that should be, I think it’s a really bad idea. That’s why I was opposed to it the day it was brought to commissioner’s court," said Tom Ramsey, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner.
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Families living in 10 targeted zip codes will be randomly selected for the program. Those zip codes include 77026, 77028, 77033, 77050, 77051, 77060, 77081, 77091, 77093, and 77547, but can also be unhoused. Applicants must be involved in Harris County's Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self-Sufficiency Program.
"The potential for problems is great when you start picking some zip codes and not picking others," said Ramsey.
Commissioner Ramsey believes the money could be better used elsewhere.
"When you have folks dying in the jails, I think our money would be much more well spent in addressing those incredible needs than trying to find several hundred people to give $500 a month to," said Ramsey.
Harris County Public Health said officials will decide on a new rollout date sometime this week. That executive session discussion will take place during Tuesday's commissioner’s court meeting.