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The City of Houston Municipal Homeless Court

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Modeled from, Veterans Village of San Diego web site at www.vvsd.net/court ... Traffic. Alcohol. Civility. Panhandling. Trespassing. Vagrancy. METRO. All Class ' ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The City of Houston Municipal Homeless Court


1
The City of Houston Municipal / Homeless Court
City of Houston Municipal Courts
1400 Lubbock Houston, TX
77002 www.houstontx.gov
Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris
County 811 Dallas, Suite 821 Houston, Texas
77002 www.homelesshouston.org
2
28 Participating Agencies
3
STATS05/23/2007
  • Steering Committee Began
    Veterans Day 2005
  • First Official Court 10/26/2006
  • 203 Clients Have Attended
  • 258 Applicants
  • Estimated Average of 4.5 outstanding cases
  • Estimated 913 Cases Resolved

4
Who is Eligible?
  • If you are homeless and enrolled in a
    rehabilitative program, you can approach the
    court and appeal for justice

Modeled from, Veterans Village of San Diego web
site at www.vvsd.net/court
5
Requirements of Client
1) Homeless 2) Enrolled in an Intensely Case
Managed Program with Outcomes of Exiting
Homelessness 3) Ticket Must be Filed with the
City of Houston Municipal Court
6
Barriers
  • Unable to Obtain Identification/TXDL
  • Unable to Access Services
  • Unable to Obtain Housing
  • Unable to Find Decent Employment
  • Incarceration
  • Financial / Costs

7
Agency Requirements
  • Agency Specifics Form Filled Electronically
  • Send to smore_at_homelesshouston.org
  • Provide Formal Case Management Documentation
  • Attend HC Training
  • Case Manager/Agency Rep. to Accompany
  • Clients to Court Upon Clients Request

8
Application Requirements
  • Completed 2 Page Application
  • ROI
  • Support Letter
  • Community Service Interview
  • Promise to Appear
  • Fax to 713-739-8038 Attn Scot More
  • (All faxes will receive an email or phone call of
    receipt)
  • .

9
Supportive Documentation
  • Community Service Log
  • Dress Code / Conduct
  • Calendar
  • JUNE 2007

10
Community Service
  • The noun Community Service has 2 meanings
  • Meaning 1 a service that is performed for the
    benefit of the public or its institutions  Synony
    m public service
  • Meaning 2 an unpaid service for the benefit of
    the public that is performed by lawbreakers as
    part (or all) of their sentence

11
?
  • What Kind of
  • Tickets can be
  • Resolved thru
  • Homeless Court

12
ALL Tickets Filed with the City of Houston
Municipal Courts
  • Traffic
  • Alcohol
  • Civility
  • Panhandling
  • Trespassing
  • Vagrancy
  • METRO
  • All Class C Misdemeanors
  • HC cannot resolve
  • Felony cases (including probation terms and
    costs)
  • Parking Tickets
  • Civil Cases
  • Harris County
  • Impound fees
  • Other Jurisdictions/Cities

13
FTA Verification System
  • Texas-wide 1-800-686-0570
  • ?Participating Jurisdictions
  • (City and County Report)
  • Houston 311 or (713.837.0311)
  • ?City of Houston Municipal Courts Only

14
Client Responsibilities
  • Log Participation in Program (Optional)
  • Maintain Communications
  • with Case Manager
  • Show Up for Court
  • After Court
  • Carry Receipts on Person for 30-60 Days

15
In Court
  • ?Show up 15 min. Prior, to Receive
    Paperwork
  • ?Dress Appropriately
  • No-Shorts or Sleeveless Shirts
  • ?SILENCE (This includes staff as well)

16
Court Process Overview
  • Qualified Applicants are Submitted to Court Staff
    at 5pm on the Second Tuesday of Each Month.
  • Court Staff Compiles Docket
  • CFTH is Contacted on Witch Clients Were Found in
    the System and Court Date is Set (Docket is
    Limited to 30)
  • Client Appears for Court
  • Carry Resolved Court Papers on Person for 30-60
    Days

17
Coalition for the Homeless
  • Point of Contact Liaison Between Courts /
    Agencies
  • No Direct Client Service All Client Calls Will
    Be Referred Back to Case Managers
  • To Advocate, Educate, Facilitate and Support
  • Homeless Court as a Collaborative Effort

18
When Clients NCNS for HC
  • Lose of Integrity with the City of Houston
  • Reflects Directly on Referring Agency
  • Jeopardizes Future with Municipal Court
  • Client is Ultimately Affected

19
Solutions
  • Keep OPEN lines of Communication
  • Client Case Manager Liaison to the
    Court Scot More
    (713) 739-7514
  • Use of Promise to Appear
  • Evaluate Clients Readiness"
  • Prior to Referral
  • Correct Information Reported on all
    Documentation
  • Accompany Client to Court

20
HC Opens Doors
  • Promotes Self Esteem
  • Reduces/Eliminates Fear
  • Encourages Respect for the Law
  • Encourages Respect for the Community
  • Restores Faith in the Judicial System
  • Restores Greater Self-Determination

21
One Time Only
22
Future / Goals of Homeless Court
  • Client Consultation!
  • Add Additional Docket's?
  • Move into Multiple Jurisdictions!?!?!?
  • Cease to Exist Upon Ending Homelessness!

23
Success Stories
Houston Homeless Court
24
QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
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