HOUSTON – For some homeowners, a minor repair can quickly become a major financial burden. A new program in Houston’s District J is working to prevent that by helping seniors, veterans and homeowners with disabilities make necessary exterior repairs at no out-of-pocket cost.
The Good Neighbor Program, launched by District J Councilman Edward Pollard, connects qualifying residents with crews who assess their homes and complete minor exterior repairs.
Pollard said the program was created after his office heard concerns from code enforcement officials and homeowners’ associations about properties in need of maintenance.
“Instead of citing them or instead of forcing them to come out of pocket for these repairs, we decided to put together this program to help them with these minor exterior home repairs,” Pollard said.
The program is currently available specifically to residents of District J who are seniors, veterans or people with disabilities.
Repairs can include wheelchair ramps, damaged porch columns, gutters and other exterior maintenance. Pollard also pointed to situations such as an overgrown tree near a power line a relatively small issue that could potentially lead to more serious problems if left unaddressed.
“These are seniors who may be on a fixed income. These may be disabled residents who just can’t get to it. And we also want to do as much as we can to support our veterans,” Pollard said.
How the program works:
Pollard described the process as simple and streamlined.
Residents can contact the District J office by emailing districtj@houstontx.gov and putting “Good Neighbor Program” in the subject line. They should include their address and contact information. You can also go straight to the website.
From there, a crew will visit the property and assess the needed repairs with the homeowner. The crew and homeowner can discuss the issues and the available budget before scheduling the work.
Pollard emphasized that residents participating in the program do not have to pay for the repairs.
“This is a free program for them,” Pollard said. “They don’t have to have any additional cost that’s associated with it.”
For Pollard, the program is also a way to demonstrate how local tax dollars can directly benefit residents.
“We want them to get bang for the buck for the taxes that they pay,” he said. “This is a tangible way that they’re seeing their tax dollars at work.”
A model for constituent services:
Pollard said the Good Neighbor Program is part of a broader effort to make constituent services more direct and accessible.
Rather than requiring residents to navigate multiple city departments, he said his office wants to provide a more streamlined experience for people who need help.
“We don’t want you having to always go to 311 and bounce you from department to department,” Pollard said. “When you come to our office, things get done quickly, fast, and reasonable.”
The program is currently limited to District J, but Pollard said he believes the approach could eventually serve as a model for a citywide initiative.
“At the moment, it’s just for District J,” Pollard said. “But as I said, we believe this could be a model for something citywide one day.”
For residents who qualify, the goal is straightforward: address small home repairs before they become bigger, more expensive problems while helping people remain safely in their homes.
Pollard described the broader philosophy behind the initiative as providing “impact that you can feel and this change you can see.”
More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter
