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UH Sugar Land studies link between housing conditions, mental health By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
A county’s public policy is responsible for 70 percent of its population’s mental health, says Jeranimo Cortina, an associate professor at the University of Sugar Land. Cortina is leading a study to explore the link between housing instability in Fort Bend County and the mental well-being of its residents. The eventual goal is to help the county’s social services agencies optimize their resources. “Specifically, we want to understand how unstable housing conditions impact mental health and then how individuals might choose to use or not use social services that are available to them in Fort Bend County,” said Cortina, in a statement. The study is currently in its planning phase and is expected to be completed by September of 2025, said Cortina. “By public policy, I mean, for example if there is a new housing development, if that housing development has a supermarket where you can buy fresh produce and fruits, that obviously is going to affect the quality of what you eat,” he said in an interview.
What is meant by housing instability? Housing instability isn’t just about not having a home – it’s about constantly moving and never knowing when you might have to pack up again, living with relatives or couch surfing, Cortina said. This uncertainty takes a major toll on individuals, especially on children. Cortina’s team will use their findings to develop a predictive model. This model
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 49 • No. 47 • $1.00
Following Slot’s request, recount set in sheriff’s race By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Marshall Slot, a former Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department deputy who as a Republican challenged Democratic incumbent Ed Fagan in the November 5 election, has formally called for a recount of the ballots. In official results released November 13, Fagan had 171,331 votes, surpassing Slot’s 170,346 by a margin of 985 votes. In percentage terms, Fagan on 51.14 percent to Slot’s 49.86 percent, a slim enough margin to qualify for a recount. Fagan first won the office in the
2018 Democratic wave election and enjoyed wide support from area leadership of that party. During the primary and general election campaigns, he emphasized the connections he has made in the region and nationally as a reason to keep him in office. By contrast, Slot, who now works in the private sector as a corporate security executive, said that Fagan has mismanaged the sheriff’s department and severely harmed morale. Fort Bend County Elections Administrator John Oldham, who will supervise the recount, told the Fort Bend Star on Monday that the
recount will begin on Thursday, November 21. He said he did not expect the recount to conclude until after Thanksgiving Day, November 28. Oldham said the recount will be done by machine, not by hand. Only ballots that were cast or postmarked by Election Day will be counted, he said. Overseas or military ballots that were postmarked by Election Day will be counted, along with ballots that had some defects that were corrected by November 12, he said. Each of the candidates can appoint up to two people to observe the recount, he said.
Marshall Slot, the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County Sheriff in the November election, has requested a recount of the ballots.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Ed Fagan narrowly won reelection on Nov. 5. His opponent, Marshall Slot, has requested a recount.
AREA SUPERINTENDENTS DISCUSS CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AT CHAMBER EVENT By Ken Fountain
KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Three Fort Bend County school superintendents said that despite its many challenges, public education in Texas is bearing up during the annual “State of the Schools” program hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce at Richmond’s Safari Texas Ranch last week. Jim Rice, the chamber’s chairelect and a former Fort Bend ISD trustee who emceed the event, began by saying that public education was one of the best parts of American democracy, “something that we must cherish and support.” “Sometimes, we have something that we don’t know how valuable it was until we don’t have it,” Rice said. His comments prefigured what is expected to be a battle in the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature over public school financing and the creation of a voucher system, which has strong support from Gov. Greg Abbott and other prominent Republicans. In the main portion of the program, Jennifer Henrikson, co-chair of the chamber’s education division, served as a moderator in the freewheeling discussion between Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Mark Smith, Lamar CISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens, and Stafford MSD Superintendent Robert Bostic. While the superintendents began by showing highly produced videos highlighting their respective districts’ numerous accomplishments,
Jennifer Henrikson of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, left, moderates a ‘State of the Schools’ discussion with Stafford MSD Superintendent Robert Bostic, Lamar CISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens, and Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Marc Smith last week. Photo by Ken Fountain
Henrikson started her questions by asking them what “quiet” programs they had that they wished received more attention. Smith, who noted that he has been at the helm of Fort Bend ISD for less than a year, following the contentious departure of his predecessor,
Christie Whitbeck, said he was impressed by the emphasis the district places on developing student leaders. “For me, one of my commitments is to coach others to greatness,” Smith said. He cited the Student Advisory Group which meets with him monthly, enhancing his own knowledge of
students’ concerns while also providing an opportunity for them to engage with the district and the wider community. “They have opportunities to learn
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HAR: Area home sales surge in October Staff Reports Editor’s note: The HAR report is used by permission. Find the full report at har. com/content/department/ newsroom?pid=2128.
Jeranimo Cortina, an associate professor at the University of Sugar Land, is leading a study to explore the link between housing instability in Fort Bend County and the mental wellbeing of its residents. Courtesy University of Houston
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Despite a recent uptick in mortgage rates, the Houstonarea housing market maintained its momentum in October, according to the monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors. Both home sales and inventory increased, signaling a healthy and active
market as the final quarter of 2024 began. Single-family home sales across the Greater Houston area climbed 12.8 percent year-over-year with 7,185 units sold compared to 6,372 last October, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ (HAR) October 2024 Housing Market Update. The average price of a home rose 5.2 percent to $423,166, while the median price increased 2.7 percent to $334,900. The high end of the market
experienced a surge in sales activity in October. The luxury segment ($1 million+) had the strongest performance with closings 33.8 percent higher than the same time last year. That is followed by the housing segment with homes priced between $500,000 and $999,999, which recorded a 25.9 percent surge in sales compared to last year. The segment with homes priced between $100,000 and $149,999 was the only one that saw a decline in sales, with closings down 7.3 percent compared
to last year. Rentals of single-family homes continued to hold steady in October. HAR will publish its October 2024 Rental Home Update on Wednesday, November 20. “While mortgage rates have edged up, they remain well below the peak levels reached last year,” said HAR Chair Thomas Mouton with Century 21 Exclusive Properties.“This more favorable rate environment is helping sustain buyer demand and driving continued activity in the Houston hous-
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ing market as we enter the final months of 2024.”
October Monthly Market Comparison October marked the end of a five-month streak of declining total property sales, with sales increasing 10.2 percent compared to the same time last year. Total dollar volume rose 19.5 percent to $3.5 billion. The number of available properties was 23.6 percent above October 2023 levels.
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