'It's a big investment': Harris County leaders approve program to give low-income families $500 a month

The Harris County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to approve a plan under which lower-income households receive $500 per month. 

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the item for Uplift Harris passed on a 4-1 vote, with the court’s lone Republican, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the sole dissenter.

Before the five-member body took up the measure, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo took to Twitter to talk about the initiative. 

“One in two Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency,” Hidalgo tweeted. “The same is true in Harris County.” 

The county judge added that Uplift Harris draws inspiration from similar models across the U.S. and around the world.

KHOU reported that the pilot program is intended to help struggling families take care of rent, bills and healthcare needs. 

Up to 1,500 families who live below 200% of the federal poverty line will receive the funds for up to 18 months, the station reported. 

"Harris County is one of the most economically segregated regions in the country with widening income and wealth disparities that disproportionately impact people of color, women, working families and youth," Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said, per his office, KHOU reported.

According to a report from Houston NPR affiliate Houston Public Media (HPM), Harris County Public Health (HCPH) Executive Director Barbie Robinson said financial stability is essential to good health and well-being. 

"And so we're grateful for this opportunity to really move the needle to address not just economic opportunity for individuals, but really breaking the cycle of generational poverty," Robinson said, per HPM. 

Referring to the $20 million the county placed in the program, Ellis said it’s “a big investment.” 

"We did not invest as much as (Los Angeles) County,” Ellis added. “L.A. County is 10 million people. We're about the size as Cook County. Not quite as much as Cook County." 

Cook County is the Illinois county in which the U.S.’s third-largest city, Chicago, is located.