June 13, 2025, | Houston, Texas

Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Attorney Christian Menefee held a public event Friday, June 13, 2025, to announce the official end of the Harris County Community Prosperity Program—an initiative once hailed as a transformative effort to combat poverty in the region.

Originally designed to provide $500 monthly payments to over 1,500 low-income households for 18 months, the program aimed to help residents in the county’s 10 most economically challenged ZIP Codes meet basic needs such as food, rent, childcare, medical expenses, and transportation. The Community Prosperity Program followed the model of its predecessor, Uplift Harris, and marked the county’s boldest move toward guaranteed income support.

However, after facing more than a year of delays in court following a lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted on Thursday to reallocate the program’s remaining funds. The funds will now be directed toward rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and food and nutrition services—effectively bringing the pilot program to a close before it ever fully launched.

County Attorney Christian Menefee added, “This lawsuit was not just about dollars—it was about denying dignity and opportunity to the people who need it most. We will continue exploring every legal and policy avenue to uplift our communities.”

Participants and community advocates joined the event to express their frustrations and hopes for future poverty reduction efforts. One program participant shared how the promise of financial support had sparked optimism in their household.

Although the program has ended, local leaders emphasized that the fight for economic justice is far from over. In the coming months, they plan to introduce alternative approaches to support Harris County’s most vulnerable families in the face of legal and political opposition.