Home - City of Houston COVID-19 Recovery Initiative

A Message from Mayor Sylvester Turner

Welcome to the COVID-19 Recovery website. Here you will find the City of Houston’s COVID-19 recovery approach led by the Relief and Recovery Czar, Marvin Odum and his team.

COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Team

On April 20, 2020, Mayor Sylvester Turner named Marvin Odum as the City of Houston COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar.

Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the H.E.R. Task Force to protect Houston’s most at-risk and vulnerable residents from acquiring and spreading the COVID-19 virus and ensure the city’s most impacted communities have access to the information and supplies they need to stay healthy.

Houston Health Department

The threat COVID-19 poses to our community right now is higher than ever. There is severe and uncontrolled spread between our families, friends and communities. It’s vital that we reduce the number of people getting sick so there are enough hospital beds for everyone who needs one.

Harris County Recovery Czar State Rep. Armando Walle and City of Houston COVID-19 Recovery Czar Marvin Odum announced the new task force during a Thursday press conference at the Precinct 7 JP Courthouse.

Housing Stabilization Task Force

As Harris County courts slowly begin eviction dockets, city and county leaders are launching a new task force to help families and individuals affected by evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newsroom

August 5, 2020Texas Medical Center: Five questions for Lex Frieden on the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), …

August 5, 2020Houston Chronicle: Houston adds $20 million to its rent relief program

City council voted unanimously to add the money Wednesday, more than doubling …

August 5, 2020Bloomberg: How U.S. Poverty Could Spike in the Last Half of the Year

Without a new stimulus and extended unemployment and SNAP benefits, millions of …

August 5, 2020Axios: 1 big thing: BP’s pandemic pivot

This morning BP unveiled accelerated steps to transition its portfolio toward low-carbon …

Timeline

August 12, 2020

Mayor Turner explains how the City Council Approved $20 million Rent Relief Program will work. The program is designed to help Houstonians who cannot pay rent because of financial challenges created by the COVID-19 Pandemic. A landlord must also agree not to evict tenants through Sept. 2020.

City Council Approves $20 Million Rent Relief Program to Help Houstonians Who Cannot Pay Rent Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Council today approved a $20 million rent relief package to help Houstonians who cannot pay rent due to economic challenges caused by COVID-19.

August 12, 2020

July 31, 2020

Mayor Turner announces a second rental assistance program for Houstonians. He also called on state leadership, the U.S. Congress, and the White House to do more, by joining the City of Houston in providing additional assistance and support to people who need help.

Mayor Turner Announces Second Rental Relief Program for Houstonians Struggling During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Amid an unprecedented health crisis, Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced a second rental assistance package to help those who lost their jobs and are struggling financially and cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19.

July 31, 2020

July 24, 2020

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Announce Schools Will Delay In-Person Classes Until Sept. 8

To protect students and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and help blunt progression of the virus in our communities, all public and non-religious private schools must delay in-person classes until Sept. 8, Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Friday.

July 24, 2020

June 20, 2020

The mayor and volunteers distributed thousands of masks along with boxed canned goods supplied by the Houston Food Bank.

Mayor Turner and Volunteers Distribute Thousands of Face Masks

Mayor Sylvester Turner joined volunteers to distribute thousands of face coverings Saturday afternoon as businesses throughout Houston prepare to enforce a new Harris County mandate requiring customers to wear masks.

June 20, 2020

June 17, 2020

Mayor Turner Accepts Donation of 500,000 Reusable Face Masks From Focus Humanitarian USA and Ismaili Council for the Southwestern US

Mayor Turner encourages all Houstonians to wear a mask to protect each other from COVID-19. This donation of half a million masks will help get them into the hands of anyone who needs a mask.

June 17, 2020

June 12, 2020

Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force to Distribute COVID-19 Essentials

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and intensified health inequities in communities where people were already struggling. Combined with new economic challenges, some of our neighbors now face increased food insecurity as well as little-to-no resources to acquire items for novel coronavirus protection and to maintain general health.

June 12, 2020

Marvin Odom speaks at Evictions Press Conference

City, County Announce Task Force to Tackle Looming Threat of Evictions, Improve Housing Stability

Recovery Czars Marvin Odum and Rep. Armando Walle Launch Effort to Reduce Evictions, Align Resources for Tenants and Landlords, and Help Households Maintain Stable, Safe and Affordable Housing.

June 12, 2020

June 1, 2020

Mayor Sylvester Turner speaking at a press conference

The City of Houston Observes a Day of Mourning to Remember Those Who Died of COVID-19

Mayor Sylvester Turner joined mayors and faith leaders from across the country to recognize Monday, June 1, 2020, as the National Day of Mourning and Lament to honor those who have died of COVID-19.

June 1, 2020

May 18, 2020

Houston Integrates COVID-19 Response and Recovery into Resilient Houston Framework

To effectively navigate through the global coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Sylvester Turner has updated the Resilient Houston plan to include a COVID-19 addendum to guide the city’s response to this public health crisis and associated economic impacts. Resilient Houston is the city’s strategy for responding and recovering from unexpected shocks and…

May 18, 2020

April 30, 2020

Mayor Turner and the City’s COVID-19 Recovery Czar Encourage Houstonians to Use Caution as Businesses Reopen

As retailers and restaurants, along with other businesses prepare to reopen, Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City’s COVID-19 Recovery Czar, Marvin Odum, on Thursday encouraged Houstonians to practice caution before returning to a normal routine.

April 30, 2020

April 24, 2020

"MASK UP" billboard featuring Mayor Sylvester Turner

Mayor Turner Joins Local Celebrities to Launch the Mask Up! Campaign and Announce Mask Distribution Sites

Mayor Sylvester Turner announces MASK UP!, a grassroots public health information campaign to encourage Houstonians to safeguard themselves from potential exposure to COVID-19.

April 24, 2020

April 20, 2020

Mayor Sylvester Turner Names Marvin Odum the City of Houston’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar

In this role, Odum will work with business leaders, chambers of commerce, employee groups, and nonprofit organizations on a plan to safely and responsibly restart Houston’s economy. Odum will also work on strategies to address the challenges faced by the city’s vulnerable and at-risk populations, develop a plan to avoid…

April 20, 2020