In early 2003 several Houston business leaders became concerned about the future of our city after touring some of Houston’s poorest neighborhoods. The poverty they witnessed, in stark contrast to surrounding affluence, led them to a vision of establishing a collaborative initiative to work towards substantially reducing poverty.  Houston Hope (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) engaged Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR) to conduct research and community conversations with Houston’s poorest Super Neighborhoods.[1] The recommendation of two neighborhoods (Magnolia Park and Sunnyside) for an initial pilot project resulted from the DIR report.

After the inauguration of Mayor Bill White, the City of Houston began to look at subsections of Houston’s most blighted neighborhoods with high numbers of long term tax liens. The city identified six neighborhoods in its study that could benefit from concentrated infrastructure investments in targeted subsections of the neighborhoods. One of those neighborhoods, Sunnyside, was also chosen for the proposed Houston Hope pilot project.

The selected neighborhoods for the joint initiative include:  Acres Homes, Clinton Park, Magnolia Park, Independence Heights, Settegast, Sunnyside and Trinity/Houston Gardens. Per capita income in these neighborhoods ranges from $5,457 in Magnolia Park to $10,954 in Acres Homes. Almost 61% of the children in Settegast live below poverty and 71.31% of the adult population over 25 in Magnolia Park does not have a high school diploma. Targeted subsections of these neighborhoods include high concentrations of tax delinquent and undeveloped property. Land acquisition and infrastructure improvements by the City of Houston in these targeted subsections or “opportunity zones” will be a catalyst for other neighborhood improvements such as the development of affordable housing.

The significant reduction in the percentage of children living below the poverty level, an increase in the percentage of adults with a high school diploma and a major increase in per-capita income, as measured by Census data, will be key indicators of success. Other success indicators will also be tracked.  The goal is to get results.

Critical to the success of the collaborative Houston Hope initiative is a strong and supportive working relationship between Houston Hope and the City of Houston’s Project Houston Hope.  Working together in a collaborative alliance with our Strategic Alliances, Allied Organizations and community based organizations working in the neighborhoods, the Houston Hope initiative will create an innovative approach to ensure that existing neighborhood resources become more efficient, coordinated and integrated.

The collaborative Houston Hope initiative will reach its goals through the joint efforts of community leaders, neighborhood residents, organizations, government bodies, policy makers, philanthropic entities, and other stakeholders. During the next three to four years, Houston Hope will focus on increasing the resources available to organizations and projects in the seven selected neighborhoods, resulting in enhanced educational and economic opportunities for all.  

In the first phase of the collaborative Houston Hope initiative, Houston Hope will develop a human services plan for implementation in each neighborhood in collaboration with residents, community stakeholders and leaders.  Assisting Houston Hope in the development of the human services plans for each neighborhood is the consulting firm, Roberta F. Burroughs and Associates. The plan will include recommendations for implementation and the additional resources that may be required. Houston Hope will document progress in the collaborative initiative and to assist in disseminating lessons learned. Upon the successful completion of the initial objectives of this long-term project, Houston Hope will develop a broader strategy for development and implementation in other low-income neighborhoods.