Fort Bend Recovers Meeting - February 14, 2025

Introduction

• Various attendees introduce themselves and their organizations.

  • Veronica Dayton: Port Beach County Behavioral Health Services.

  • Pat Sumner: Hope Fort Bend Clubhouse - supports individuals with mental health conditions to return to work/school.

  • Others: Christine Carter (Hope Fort Bend), Penny (Henderson Weston North Foundation), Joshua Rollins (Second Mile), Sasha Cox and Sonya Myers (Katie Response now Tri County Response covering Fort Bend, Waller, and West Harris), Karen Jennings (Fort Bend Family Promise for housing insecurity), Zoe Higgins (Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries), Terri Azusa (Family Preservation of Texas), and many others.

Agenda Overview

• Meeting led by Robert Quarles (Fort Bend County Center for United Way).

• Discussion topics include:

  • Rising costs of homeowners insurance & their impact on families in Fort Bend County.

  • Federal freeze impacts on county agencies.

  • 2024 data for the United Way.

  • Center updates and workgroup discussions.

Rising Costs of Homeowners Insurance

• Jeff Talas, an insurance agent with 30 years of experience, gives insights on:

  • Current insurance market challenges.

  • Catastrophe impacts and increasing deductibles.

  • Key points:

    • Rising premiums for homeowners and renters insurance linked to natural disasters.

    • Importance of understanding the specifics of insurance policies to avoid gaps in coverage.

    • Insurance is evolving, becoming limited and needing clearer communication with policyholders.

• Educating clients on policy details can prevent future financial strain during disasters.

Community Resources and Collaboration

• The United Way and other agencies are collaborating to enhance community support:

  • Importance of knowing local insurance providers and their capabilities.

  • Awareness of local agencies offering various services (e.g., housing assistance, food resources).

• Emphasis on partnerships between nonprofits and insurance providers to support clients.

Federal Freeze Impact on Nonprofits

• Discussion on a recent federal freeze affecting various funding sources within nonprofits.

  • Impacts refugee services significantly, creating uncertainty for many local organizations relying on these funds.

• Resources advocated:

  • Monitor executive orders through the National Council of Nonprofits.

  • Conduct scenario planning for cash positions and grant retention.

2024 United Way Data Insights

• 211 Helpline connections for 2024:

  • Over 1.3 million connections made.

  • Top lead services include utility assistance, rent, mortgage aid, housing, food programs, and medical services.

• Emphasis on the growing need for assistance and utilization of available resources.

Disaster Preparedness Initiatives

• Plans to establish disaster preparedness clinics targeting community resilience through workshops.

  • Clinics to discuss individual disaster plans and resources available.

  • Collaboration with local organizations to provide relevant training.

• Ongoing need expressed for enhancing community disaster readiness, including housing and resource mobility.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Encouragement to keep communication open about new services launched by nonprofits.

• Proposed timelines for future meetings and collaboration efforts moving forward to enhance community engagement and disaster management readiness.

More Detailed Note:

Introduction

During a recent meeting, various attendees introduced themselves, sharing their affiliations and the roles they play in supporting community well-being.

• Veronica Dayton: Representing Port Beach County Behavioral Health Services, focusing on mental health support.

• Pat Sumner: Connected with Hope Fort Bend Clubhouse, dedicated to helping individuals with mental health conditions reintegrate into the workforce or educational environments.

• Additional attendees included:

  • Christine Carter: Associated with Hope Fort Bend, promoting volunteerism in mental health support.

  • Penny: From the Henderson Weston North Foundation, working on community resilience projects.

  • Joshua Rollins: Part of Second Mile, enhancing access to basic needs for underprivileged families.

  • Sasha Cox and Sonya Myers: Representing Katie Response, currently rebranded to Tri County Response, servicing the areas of Fort Bend, Waller, and West Harris counties with crisis response initiatives.

  • Karen Jennings: From Fort Bend Family Promise, addressing housing insecurity for families.

  • Zoe Higgins: With the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, focusing on inter-agency collaboration for community support.

  • Terri Azusa: Representing Family Preservation of Texas, offering family support services.

  • Many other organizations were represented, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to meet community needs.

Agenda Overview

The meeting was led by Robert Quarles from the Fort Bend County Center for United Way. Key discussion topics included:

• The impact of rising homeowners insurance costs on families in Fort Bend County.

• The implications of a federal freeze affecting funding for county agencies.

• Presentation of the 2024 data for United Way initiatives.

• Updates from various centers and workgroup discussions aimed at enhancing community services.

Rising Costs of Homeowners Insurance

Jeff Talas, a seasoned insurance agent with over 30 years of experience, shared valuable insights on the current insurance market challenges. He emphasized several key points:

• Rising premiums for homeowners and renters insurance are closely tied to an increase in natural disasters, leading to higher deductibles and coverage limits.

• It is crucial for policyholders to understand the nuances of their insurance policies to identify potential gaps that could affect financial security in times of crisis.

• Insurance Evolution: Insurance is adapting to contemporary challenges, leading to limited coverage options. The need for transparent communication between providers and policyholders is necessary to prevent misunderstandings.

• Client Education: Empowering clients with knowledge about their policy specifics can significantly alleviate future financial difficulties following disasters.

Community Resources and Collaboration

The United Way and its partner agencies are working collaboratively to develop holistic community support systems:

• Building awareness around local insurance providers and the resources they offer.

• Ensuring that community members are informed about various local agencies capable of providing essential services, including housing, food assistance, and emergency resources.

• Strengthening relationships between non-profit organizations and insurance providers to create a support network for at-risk clients.

Federal Freeze Impact on Nonprofits

A significant discussion revolved around the effects of a recent federal freeze that has disrupted various funding channels for nonprofits:

• The freeze has notably impacted refugee services, creating a wave of uncertainty for numerous local organizations that depend on federal funds for operational stability.

• Recommended Actions: Nonprofits are advised to monitor updates on executive orders through the National Council of Nonprofits and engage in scenario planning to better manage cash flow and maintain grant funding.

2024 United Way Data Insights

An overview of the projected 211 Helpline connections for 2024 highlighted the desperate need for community assistance:

• Approximately 1.3 million connections are anticipated, showcasing the high demand for help.

• The top services requested via the helpline are:

  • Utility assistance

  • Rent and mortgage aid

  • Housing support

  • Food programs

  • Medical services

• This data reinforces the pressing need for agencies to mobilize their resources towards supporting vulnerable populations.

Disaster Preparedness Initiatives

Plans are underway to establish disaster preparedness clinics aimed at bolstering community resilience through practical workshops:

• Clinics will focus on developing comprehensive individual disaster plans and outline the resources available to residents.

• Collaboration with local organizations is essential to provide targeted training and preparedness measures.

• There is a consistent emphasis on enhancing community disaster readiness, addressing critical areas such as housing security and resource accessibility.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The meeting concluded with a strong encouragement for all organizations to maintain transparent communication regarding new services and programs being launched.

• Proposed timelines were established for future meetings, aiming to promote collaborative efforts in enhancing community engagement and improving disaster management strategies.