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Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis is calling for an additional $4.5 million for local community safety programs. The proposal would expand crisis response, violence prevention and domestic violence services during fiscal year 2027.
The recommendations appear in Advancing Safer Communities in Harris County, Texas. Ellis’ office developed the report with Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety.
The proposal would raise the county’s annual investment in these programs to $15.3 million. Commissioners Court must approve the funding through the county budget process.
Harris County community safety proposal builds on three programs
The report focuses on three programs launched or expanded since 2022: the Holistic Assistance Response Team, Relentless Interrupters Serving Everyone and domestic violence interventions.
HART sends behavioral health clinicians and emergency medical technicians to certain 911 calls. These calls can involve mental health concerns, substance use, homelessness or other nonviolent crises.
According to the report, HART has answered more than 31,000 calls since 2022. Its teams have also connected more than 5,000 residents with immediate care and longer-term resources.
The program allows deputies and paramedics to focus on calls requiring law enforcement or emergency medical care. However, HART does not currently operate around the clock.
The proposal directs about $1.4 million toward expanded HART services. It recommends five additional response teams, 24-hour operations and four specialists at the Sheriff’s Office dispatch center.
RISE targets cycles of gun violence
RISE uses trained outreach specialists with strong community ties to help prevent shootings and retaliation. Its teams work in areas affected by gun violence, including Cypress Station, Sunnyside and Cloverleaf.
Workers also meet patients recovering from violent injuries at Ben Taub Hospital and HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest.
The report credits RISE with interrupting at least 186 potential acts of violence. Workers have recorded more than 27,700 community engagements and supported over 2,300 hospital patients.
The proposal assigns an additional $600,000 to RISE. The money would help fully staff existing teams, reach another high-need neighborhood and establish an additional hospital partnership.
It would also support case management and training for community-based violence intervention workers.
Domestic violence services face funding concerns
The Domestic Violence Assistance Fund provides flexible financial help to survivors and their families. More than 5,000 survivors, including children, have received assistance, according to the report.
Another initiative supports therapy for children exposed to domestic violence. It has delivered more than 20,000 hours of care to approximately 1,000 families.
However, some federal grants supporting these services are ending. The proposal seeks $1 million to maintain financial assistance and other community-based programs.
In 2024, intimate partner violence killed 47 people in Harris County, the report states. That total increased from 37 deaths in 2023.
Proposal includes a new county department
The remaining $1.5 million would help establish an independent Community Safety Department. The department would oversee HART, RISE and domestic violence initiatives.
It would also coordinate participating agencies, manage data and publish performance information. Overall, the proposal calls for 37 additional positions across the programs and new department.
“For too long, our public safety systems have been built to respond only after harm has already happened,” Ellis said in the announcement. “We have four years of proof that these programs work.”
The proposal does not replace traditional law enforcement services. Instead, its authors say it would direct trained professionals to calls matching their expertise.
Residents can review Harris County’s fiscal year 2027 budget materials online. Public comments may also be submitted through the Commissioners Court participation process.