Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a press conference to highlight $1,000,000 in federal funding that she secured through congressional appropriations for Harris County Public Health’s (HCPH) Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) program.  Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis; Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones; Harris County Public Health Executive Director Barbie Robinson, MPP, JD, CHC; and CEO of Legacy Community Health Dr. Robert Hilliard joined Congresswoman Fletcher at the announcement.

“I am so proud to announce that Harris County Public Health will receive $1 million in federal funding I requested and secured for the ACCESS Harris County program, which strengthens Harris County’s safety net system and connects underserved populations to critical resources,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I was thrilled to partner with HCPH and other community partners to support this important effort of working together to improve the well-being, self-sufficiency, and recovery of Harris County’s most vulnerable residents.  I look forward to continuing to work together for our district, our city, and our region.”

"I appreciate Congresswoman Fletcher's partnership and am thankful for her commitment to advancing this innovative program to better serve our community," said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones.  "ACCESS Harris County streamlines a complex network of services and connects our most vulnerable residents to the resources they need in a more effective, efficient manner.  This program is an example of good government in which partners work together to deliver better outcomes.”

“We know that so much of health care takes place beyond the four walls of the exam room,” said CEO of Legacy Community Health Dr. Robert Hilliard.  “ACCESS Harris County is a resource that helps Legacy patients find resources, whether it’s feeling unsafe in their homes, addressing housing insecurity or offering a helping hand to those reentering the workforce from incarceration. We are grateful for resources like ACCESS and we appreciate Congresswoman Fletcher’s generous support of this program to help those in need.”

ACCESS Harris County identifies the county’s most underserved residents and develops coordinated strategies through an integrated care coordination model to improve their well-being, self-sufficiency, and recovery.  In collaboration with other agencies, ACCESS Harris County directs vulnerable residents such as individuals who may be experiencing homelessness, who are re-entering society following incarceration, or who are aging out of the foster care system to access a variety of support services, including employment, mental health assistance, substance abuse prevention, childcare, transportation, food, housing, and more.

Last year, Congresswoman Fletcher requested funding specifically for ACCESS Harris County through Congressionally Directed Spending, also known as the community project funding process in Congress.  The process allows members of Congress to request funding for specific projects on behalf of local governments in their districts.  Recently, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a bipartisan government funding bill that funds essential programs—including ACCESS Harris County.  President Biden signed the bill into law on December 29, 2022.