Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said Thursday he is grateful that a state district judge ruled against the state’s lawsuit to block the county’s guaranteed income program, which puts officials over the first legal hurdle to start issuing $500 a month to 1,900 eligible households in select ZIP codes over an 18-month period. The program, dubbed Uplift Harris and initiated by Commissioner Ellis, allows recipients to spend the funds on essential needs such as rent, groceries, transportation, housing, utilities, health care, and other necessities.
Commissioner Ellis issued the following statement praising the court’s decision to deny Texas Attorney General Office a temporary restraining order that would have further delayed implementing Uplift Harris because state officials allege it is unconstitutional:
"I am pleased that the state’s attempts to rob struggling families of critical support has been thwarted in today’s ruling.
Today was a victory for families struggling to make ends meet, pay rent, put food on the table, and keep the lights on. For the seniors who are forced to choose between meals, shelter, and medication. For workers who put in 40 hours or more a week and still don’t make enough to make it out of poverty.
Also, today was a victory for the 1,900 families living under the crushing weight of poverty that will get a hand-up from Uplift Harris and a chance to make their lives better. But we know our work isn’t done. We know the state will continue to use people as props in their cruel games of political theater.
They will do everything in their power to protect a system that favors billionaires and starves working families of the support they need to thrive. And we will do everything in our power to give Harris County families the resources they need and deserve.
We stand ready to take our fight all the way to the Texas Supreme Court to protect Uplift Harris."