BY MELISSA ENAJE & KEVIN VU
Harris County expands nonviolent 911 program Harris County’s nonviolent 911 response program was approved for countywide implemen- tation, including all unincorporated areas, after Harris County commissioners passed the agenda item with a 3-1 vote Aug. 7. Precinct 3 Commis- sioner Tom Ramsey cast the dissenting vote. The impact Harris County resident Mia Hernandez told Har- ris County commissioners Aug. 7 how critical the 911 nonviolent response program expansion was to her family when her son experienced a mental health crisis at home in the summer of 2023. “Officers calmly responded while the unarmed mental health professional engaged my son,” Hernandez said. “He assessed him and recom- mended that [my son] be taken to [Harris County Psychiatric Center], not to jail.”
County tax hike proposal scrapped With a noon deadline Aug. 7 to potentially let voters decide on a 1-cent property tax increase to fund early childhood education programs in Harris County ultimately failed without commissioners’ support. The Harris County Commissioners Court agenda item was presented by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. How we got here Hidalgo proposed the property tax increase to fund early childhood education initiatives, including the Early Reach pro- gram, the federally funded early childhood education pilot program launched in June 2023 using American Rescue Plan Act funds. The proposal needed approval from commissioners before qualifying for the November ballot.
The pilot program that led to the countywide expansion was launched in 2022. Since the program’s launch, HART officials have: Holistic Assistance Response Team
2,100 deputy hours freed for violent crime response
More than 4,500 non-violent calls diverted 2,834 residents received on-scene care
More than 21,000 total dispatch calls and response efforts addressed
With the program expansion, at least 18 staff positions will be funded within the county’s public health divisions.
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM DASHBOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The cost The approved program expansion and staffing will cost an estimated $6.6 million from the Harris County Public Health fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
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