The address numbers project launched last October by the Houston Community Betterment group has past its peak, but its organizer, Jim McNiell, said it’s not completely over.
“We would like homeowners and business owners to realize that if they still don’t have address numbers on their buildings, our service is still available free of charge,” McNiell said. “If they get in contact with us, we’ll determine what color numbers are wanted, purchase them and then place them for free.”
The idea for the project stemmed from the fact that about one-in-five homes and businesses in Houston don’t have any visible address numbering, or have numbering that’s not compliant with a City of Houston ordinance that indicates numbers at least three-inches tall must be clearly visible. The project has been a joint volunteer effort between the Community Betterment group and the Houston High School Y.O.U.T.H. group (Youth Organization Understanding Tomorrow’s Houston).
It began in earnest early this year when more than a dozen Y.O.U.T.H. members surveyed the city in groups, determined which houses and businesses needed attention and collected data (including the color of the house or business building, and the total quantity of numbers needed). Along with McNiell, student participants were assisted by several other adult representatives of Community Betterment and some local firefighters.
Later in the year, home and business owners where numbering was identified as inadequate or non-existent were given the option – without obligation – to have the group place numbers on their buildings for free.
McNiell said initial surveying indicated there were 92 streets and about 1,300 addresses in Houston. So far, address numbering at 82 homes or businesses has been improved through the project.
Numbers were purchased through donations and provided and placed at no charge (although donations were accepted). McNiell said some people took the numbers and applied them themselves, while others simply bought their own numbers and put them up.
“We had a lot of success,” McNiell said. “Most people were very receptive and glad we were doing something to improve our community. There were a few who declined our service and one who actually cursed out one of our youth. He might have been having a bad day, and we’ll just leave it at that.”
The reason the ordinance exists and the reason for the address number project is to ensure that first responders, utility workers, delivery drivers and anyone else who might be interested can more easily locate a home or business.
“Emergency services personnel – like fire, ambulance and police – often rely on address numbers to get where they’re going,” McNiell said. “Am I convinced that through our efforts that we’ll get every place in the city of Houston? No. But I am convinced that if we’re making an improvement in even one residence or business, that’s good, because that might be the one where there’s an emergency call to respond to.”
The address numbering project will be one of several city-oriented projects carried out in the past year presented Sept. 11 to community betterment judges before this year’s version of the annual statewide competition
“There have been a lot of man hours put into this,” McNiell said, “but I think our effort has been well worth it. I’ve heard from several people that more address numbers are visible now, so I feel like our work is paying off.
“I thank the residents and business owners of Houston for being so receptive, but there’s still some work to be done and if we can help improve a few more places, we’ll be glad to.”
To inquire about getting address numbers on a house or business in Houston, call Houston Community Betterment coordinator Elaine Campbell at city hall at 417-967-3348.