BLMHOU Corona Virus Response

UPDATE (6:35PM)Today we announced that BLMHOU would be working to make sure our most vulnerable Houstonians have the things that they need. We planned to Start a food drive Wednesday @ MacGregor Park, but unfortunately due to recent closures of restaurants, bars and large venues... coupled with the reduction in how many people are allowed to congregate within the City of Houston & Harris County, we have elected to figure out ways to deliver gift cards and even non-perishable food items to those that need it. We will soon put out forms for those to sign up for gift card/ food drop off and one for volunteers.

We are asking that those who can afford it to contribute to the purchase of gift cards for grocery stores. please send donations via Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/BLMHOU or contact us via email blmhoustontx@gmail.com if you wish to donate some gift cards you have already purchased.

#BLMHOU is demanding and advocating for every level of government to take the following actions in Houston and Texas:

CLOSE
-Gyms
-Movie theaters
-RELEASE those accused of victim-less and non violent crimes from jails. -Expand testing to jails and prisons. The first Elected official to make this ask was Jarvis Johnson who details his concerns in a letter to Gov. Abbott today.

-Utilities to remain on and NOT billed
-freeze repos, evictions, mortgages and rent. Rent should not only be not only be suspended for the duration of this, but forgiven.

630 families are evicted each week in Harris county.  

Before the COVID19 outbreak,  local families losing their homes through eviction were forced into a constrained housing market.   According to a recent report, the Houston area there are only 19 affordable and available rental homes per 100 tenants seeking a place to live.   The poorest of those families were usually unable to find immediate re-housing. Instead, at best, they'd double up with friends and relatives, splitting up households to ensure they have a roof over their head.   At worst, they would hop from couch to couch (perhaps between cities), sleep rough in public spaces, or move between nightly hotels. Local eviction rates were already a massive and heartbreaking public health concern, but during a pandemic they are unquestionably dangerous.​

The emergency order issued by Texas’ civil and criminal courts permits each judge the power to suspend eviction filings effectively forestalling the harm of creating thousands of un-housed people during this pandemic or forcing people into crowded courtrooms to have their cases heard.  The order is a critical first step,but alone it is insufficient. Protecting vulnerable renters and workers and flatten the curve throughout the state should not be a decision left to individual judges . Every Justice of the Peace and Constables Office in the state of Texas must suspend evictions at once and keep them suspended for the life of the crisis. During the suspension civic leaders can develop a compassionate plan on how and when courts will resume their normal functioning post-crisis in a way that allows renters an opportunity to cure  once they resume work. ​

Housing Houston is putting a "moratorium on all #evictions related to non-payment of rent and minor lease violations. All other evictions that were in place prior will proceed as the courts allow."
Full email, via the Housing Authority's PR firm

Why Houston Should Care About Evictions

Over the last week, amid escalating concerns about the spread of COVID-19, at least 600 families in Harris County were evicted from their homes. In other words, it was a pretty normal week for evictions in Harris County. So far this year, there have been an average of 1,253 eviction cases filed and 630 evictions every week.

​ #EVICTIONS in Harris County is at the discretion of each individual Justice of the Peace. There are 16 Justices of the Peace in Harris County. They oversee evictions. In response to #COVID19 only 4 of 16 JPs, Eric William Carter, Jeremy Brown, Lucia Bates and Joe Stephens suspended evictions. You can find the JP website here http://jp.hctx.net/

Here is a list of JPs:⬇️ YOU SHOULD CONTACT THEM NOW TO TAKE ACTION!

​JP 1-2, David Patronella: http://jp.hctx.net/1-2/default.htm Eviction #713-274-0632 No word on evictions as of now, per his site. Only accepting e-file.

JP 2-1, Jo Ann Delgado, #713-274-0850, http://jp.hctx.net/2-1/default.htm As of now, no word on evictions. All jury dockets canceled.

JP 2-2, George Risner: http://jp.hctx.net/2-2/default.htm No #COVID19 updates posted, at all.

JP 4-1, Lincoln Goodwin: http://jp.hctx.net/4-1/default.htm Jury duty canceled. No mention of #evictions.

JP 4-2, Laryssa Korduba http://jp.hctx.net/4-2/default.htm No jury duty "Court dockets, Trials and Jury Trials for the week of March 16-20, 2020." This *seems* to apply to #evictions although it wasn't directly mentioned.

JP 5-1, Russ Ridgeway: http://jp.hctx.net/5-1/default.htm No mention of #evictions 1. No jury duty in March 2. Civil motions may be heard telephonically if requested in writing.

​JP 5-2, Jeff Williams: http://jp.hctx.net/5-2/default.htm Nothing new with #COVID19, but there's this with #evictions

JP 6-1, Richard Vera: http://jp.hctx.net/6-1/default.htm Jury trials and criminal docket canceled, nothing on #evictions. "The Court will re-evaluate circumstances towards the end of March 2020."

JP 6-2, Angela Rodriguez: http://jp.hctx.net/6-2/default.htm Nothing on her website about #COVID19.

​JP 7-2, Sharon Burney: http://jp.hctx.net/7-2/default.htm Jury and criminal canceled. No mention of #evictions.

JP 8-2, Louie Ditta: http://jp.hctx.net/8-2/default.htm Nothing on the website about #COVID19 or #evictions

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This may sound unlikely in a developer-driven city like Houston, but our health and the stability of local households and economies depends on this kind of creative, humanistic thinking.  Already, smaller cities around the country have taken the necessary steps to protect their entire population by issuing eviction (and in some cases foreclosure) moratoriums. Calls for a national moratorium have also been issued, but that may be politically difficult to achieve.  In the meantime Houston and Texas needn’t wait, we can manage and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by halting all evictions.  

Furthermore, we as also advocating for expanding access to:

-Issue food vouchers and SNAP for groceries and other items
-Open unemployment benefits to ALL workers -FREEZE prices on everything
-Provide support to entities and activists that address homelessness.
-SUSPEND ALL hospital billing.
-Report ALL stats in real time
-Expand WIC, This would help those who need formula and diapers.
​-Suspend payments on SBA backed loans and offer short term low interest loans to small businesses.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS, BUT WE MUST ALSO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

RESOURCES:

School closings: https://abc13.com/2948224/

For HISD food distribution sites http://HoustonISD.org/FoodPickup.
*REMINDER: Curbside pickup will be available and social distancing will be required.

If you have questions or need access to care and don’t currently have a healthcare provider call #COVID19 CALL CENTERS

Harris Health: 713-634-1110
*If you live outside of Harris County, call Texas DSHS Hotline:
1-877-570-9779
​
CDC has updated resources for you: https://bit.ly/2WejXYE

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