CFTH Recap: The 89th Texas Legislative Session

What We Stopped, What We Started, and What Comes Next

The 89th Texas Legislative Session brought significant challenges for homelessness service providers across the state. Progress may have been incremental in this session, but it was real, and some very harmful proposals were averted for the time being. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who took time from their already full schedules to advocate for and testify on legislation that would help, not harm, our state’s ability to reduce the number of people living unsheltered.

Our community truly rose to the occasion together, and we have much to be proud of.

But the work isn’t over.

Looking ahead to the interim period, we must build on the foundation laid this session.

First, the work behind Senate Bill 2487 focused on the intersection of homelessness and mental health. Thanks to Senator Parker and his staff, the bill almost made it through both houses. Now, it’s up to all of us to ensure that momentum isn’t lost. Austin lawmakers need to hear from us during the interim about why this bill matters and why meaningful funding must be part of the solution. Next session, by continuing to work together, we can make a fully funded version of this bill into law in Texas.

Additionally, it’s critical that all providers continue to work with legislators over the interim to establish common ground and forge common-sense solutions. Topics like school safety and public camping aren’t likely to go away, and neither are the misconceptions on homelessness that often shape public opinion and policy. By meeting these challenges head on we can help find real answers, instead of being left to defend against policies that will harm providers and exacerbate existing problems.

We urge every person reading this: build or strengthen your relationship with your local state representatives.

When damaging legislation like the narrowly avoided SB 2623 becomes a threat, it is crucial that your legislators already have a clear understanding of what it is you do and the detrimental impact the loss of your organization would have on their district.

Finally, we want to give special thanks to Representative Gene Wu (Houston) and Representative Gina Hinojosa (Austin) who stalwartly defended the homeless response system on the House floor. Their voices made a difference when it mattered most.

Let’s carry this momentum forward into the interim. Together, we can keep making progress towards effective, compassionate solutions to homelessness in Texas.

End of Session Bill Wrap-Up

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CFTH Leads 2026 PIT Count of People Experiencing Homelessness

By Catherine Villarreal • February 24, 2026

Houston, Texas (February 24, 2026) – This week, the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is leading the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey (“PIT Count”) to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness across Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. “We may see a slight uptick in the number this year, but we have a plan,” said Kelly Young, President & CEO of CFTH. “With the support of the City of Houston, Harris County, and private funders, we have been piloting new interventions to shorten the length of time people in our region experience homelessness. With adequate funding, we look forward to expanding those interventions to help people regain lives of self-determination.” CFTH coordinates the Houston region’s public-private homeless response system, The Way Home . Through this collaboration, The Way Home partners have successfully housed over 36,000 people since 2012. CFTH will release the results of Houston’s 2026 PIT Count in the summer, following independent verification by an epidemiologist. These findings will provide insight into how factors such as increases in the cost of living and the end of federal pandemic relief funding have impacted homelessness in our region. More information about the 2026 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey The PIT Count offers a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in our region on a single night. This year, the “night of record” is Monday, Feb. 23. CFTH determines the number of people staying in shelters on that night by pulling records electronically from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) . The unsheltered count will be conducted on the following days, from Tuesday, Feb. 24 to Thursday, Feb. 26. More than 400 volunteers and staff of local nonprofit service provider partners will canvass the three-county region to survey people living unsheltered, using an app on their mobile devices. Results from the 2026 PIT Count will help gauge the progress of The Way Home’s ongoing collaborative efforts. It will also help CFTH and partner homeless outreach teams understand geographic shifts and target their outreach throughout the year. The PIT Count illuminates specific programmatic gaps and provides additional information needed to allocate resources most efficiently. The PIT Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the annual Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process. HUD furnishes the majority of funding for programs that provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness in the region. In 2024, HUD granted more than $71 million to the Houston area.

Preparing for a Winter Storm

By Catherine Villarreal • January 21, 2026

As lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC), CFTH is working with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as winter weather affects our region. We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information. Last updated 02/01/2026 at 12:00 p.m.

Press Release: CFTH’S 2025 Point-in-Time Count Results Highlight Shifts in Homelessness Across Houston

By Fryda Ochoa • September 9, 2025

While our system has helped thousands of people move from homelessness to housing, this year’s results highlight the need to broaden our approach.