The City of Houston Municipal Homeless Court

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The City of Houston Municipal Homeless Court

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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