Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement

Project Description

The ARPA Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement (NNA) project has been established to complement current NNA efforts in Harris County being implemented by the Harris County Public Health Department (HCPH). NNA is an initiative focused on reducing crime and improving public health in Harris County’s most impacted communities. The program aims to decrease crime and improve public health through proactive efforts, such as securing or demolishing unsafe structures, removing rubbish, securing abandoned pools, removing weeds to prevent pest infestation, and other abatement efforts. Through the abatement of these nuisances, the program will improve the social and environmental conditions of the community, reduce blight, and positively impact community health and development.

NNA targets existing nuisance properties in areas of highest need based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index, homicide rates, and aggravated assault rates. Additionally, NNA works with stakeholders to identify unreported nuisances in the community.

PRIMARY PARTNERSHIPS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Currently, NNA investigates an average of 1,500 nuisance complaints each year that are reported to Environmental Public Health (EPH) by county residents, homeowners’ associations, and other agencies within the county. Complaints are investigated by the field staff of EPH’s Food & NNA Section. These staff conduct initial visits to the nuisance complaints and send notices to property owners. The NNA program also regularly meets with Precinct representatives and Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) representatives to identify and prioritize abatement efforts.

TARGET IMPACT

Target Goals Include:

  • Abate over 1,000 nuisances over four years including 30+ unsecured abandoned pools, 120+ unsafe structures, and 850+ refuse, rubbish, and weed nuisances
  • Improve the social and environmental conditions of the community, reduce blight, and positively impact community health and development.

WEBSITE LINK

USE OF EVIDENCE & PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

HCPH investigates complaints that may violate the Texas Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement Act, a law intended to eliminate public nuisances in unincorporated areas of Texas. Examples of neighborhood nuisances include accumulated rubbish, standing water, conditions that harbor insects and rodents, abandoned swimming pools, high weeds, and dilapidated structures. A person commits an offense if the nuisance remains unabated after the 30th day from which a person receives a notice from a county official, agent, or employee to abate the nuisance.

Among populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, public nuisances are more common in socially vulnerable communities and can increase violent crime rates in impacted communities, which can lead to diminished mental health among individuals and at-risk populations. By reducing the number of neighborhood nuisances, Harris County will mitigate the impact of crime and other public health issues on socially vulnerable communities.

PHOTOS