The community in work

Abstract Since 2014, the Institute for Sustainable Communities has worked with community-based organizations and high schools in the Manchester/Harrisburg and Sunnyside neighborhoods of Houston, Texas. The neighborhoods are highly socially vulnerable-more than 95% minority population with median incomes that are one third less than the City of Houston’s overall median income. They are also vulnerable in terms of inequitable or selective public policy enforcement related to tax-based service delivery, according to Charity Productions. Service delays and low performing or no performing public service results in public disrepair with high opportunities for gentrification despite citizens filing capital improvement requests according to city guidelines and 311 phone reports and presenting their cases before city council. Additionally, large portions of the neighborhoods fall into the 100- and 500-year floodplains with frequent ponding issues after heavy rainfall or storm event despite citizens filling out capital improvement request for decades, as request by city government. Citizens also comply with the City of Houston’s 311 service line, reporting crime, public works request along with citizens appearing before city council seeking relief, with no or little results.