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When you buy a house, you’re not just buying a building on a plot of land. You are becoming a member of the local community. It’s important to become part of the fabric of your neighborhood. Having a civic-focused relationship with your neighbors helps to keep communication lines open and crime down.
There are a few ways that you can quickly get to know your neighborhood, including:
It’s important to choose what feels most comfortable to you. If you like working with youth, consider becoming a mentor or an after-school tutor. If working with other people is your thing, then the civic club will give you opportunities to represent your neighbors at official city meetings.
Most of all, voting in every election is critical to draw attention to neighborhood. Houston City Council members are interested in hearing what you have to say and earning your vote.
For many people, volunteering is not how they choose to spend their spare time. But if you are a homeowner, every hour that you spend volunteering is an investment in your community that ends up paying dividends. Aside from helping other people, you also benefit by getting to know your neighbors.
But not all volunteer opportunities are created equal. Before you do the first thing that comes to mind, consider:
If you’re inclined, write down a rough “volunteer plan” that outlines your ideal volunteer opportunity.
The city of Houston has thousands of citizens who are active in neighborhood clubs and civic associations. You can check to see if your new home is located in a region with an existing civic club, or you can follow the City’s instructions to form one of your own.
There are many advantages to being part of a civic club, including:
Even if you’re not an active civic association participant, you should know how your neighbors are representing your interests. If your neighborhood is active, try to attend at least one or two meetings.
After you move into your new home, one of the first things you should do is register to vote. City of Houston candidates are up for re-election every two years, so it’s helpful to stay informed of their progress and whether they are representing your interests.
Only a couple hundred votes typically separate the winners and losers of City Council elections. For Mayoral elections, the difference of a few thousand votes can determine who is the City’s chief executive. In other words, your vote matters.
When you’re going to the polls, make sure you:
Texas ballots are notoriously long. You can check third-party websites like the League of Women Voters to get a better idea of the issues at stake and what your vote means one way or the other.