houston_coalition_for_the_homeless

CFTH Leads 2026 PIT Count of People Experiencing Homelessness

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:41:56 GMT

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

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:35:01 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

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.

Weather Information

The National Weather Service has advised there is a winter storm watch for the Houston area Saturday to Sunday afternoon.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

City of Houston Warming Centers

Warming centers will remain open 24 hours/day until further notice. Blankets, water, and snacks available. For individuals who may need transportation assistance to a warming center, please call 311 for coordination and support.

Harris County Overnight Shelters

Overnight shelters will remain open 24 hours/day until further notice. Blankets, water, snacks, and meals available.

Fort Bend County Warming Centers

Additional Resources

Houston Food Bank - Severe Weather Resources and Information
Texas Health and Human Services - 2-1-1 Texas

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

CFTH is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — will be spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this weekend and will be handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter/warming centers when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

Public Health Information

CDC Extreme Cold Prevention Guide

For the latest updates

CFTH will share information and resources on its Facebook account as it becomes available.

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

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:15:00 GMT

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

Houston, Texas (September 9, 2025) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH )’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness found a total of 3,325 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 27, 2025, in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The results represent an increase of 45 people from the 2024 count, reflecting relative stability in the region’s overall homeless population but a notable shift in the distribution between sheltered and unsheltered individuals.

This year, the “PIT Count” found 1,282 people living unsheltered , a 15.8% increase since 2024. Meanwhile, the 2025 PIT Count found 2,043 people staying in shelter , a decrease of 6% from 2024. The rise in unsheltered homelessness is due in part to reduced shelter capacity in 2024, underscoring a critical lesson: without sufficient capacity and permanent housing flow, street homelessness grows.

“This year’s results underscore why we continue to advance strategies that move us toward ‘Equilibrium,’” said Kelly Young, President & CEO for CFTH. “In order to prevent homelessness, respond within 90 days, and ensure no one has to sleep outside while waiting for housing, we must invest in a system capable of meeting the full scale of need in our city and county.”

“Homelessness is a national problem that we are addressing locally. It is one of the reasons I ran for mayor and launched the Initiative to End Homelessness. We are making progress, and the challenges would be worse without our program," said City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire. "I have always believed there was an undercount of unhoused individuals on the streets. Our initiative brings together a coalition of nonprofits, service providers, and philanthropy partners to identify resources, including available beds and funding. Our goal is clear: no one should have to sleep outside, and we remain focused on achieving that goal."

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and the rise in people living in unsheltered conditions highlights the urgent need for Housing First solutions such as those supported by CFTH,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with community partners to address these growing challenges so we can create a world where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.”

“At a time when homelessness has surged nationally, the 2025 Count shows that our region has stayed remarkably stable. That stability is proof that our coordinated approach is working, with Harris County and the City of Houston leading the way,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “At the same time, the Count revealed that 8% of our unsheltered population are veterans. These are men and women who once wore our nation’s uniform, and now too many of them are sleeping on our streets. Harris County cannot and will not accept this. That is why I have been in Washington pushing for more resources to house veterans, while also working with Mayor Whitmire to strengthen our local veteran housing pipeline. Every veteran deserves not just thanks, but a safe, stable home — and I am committed to making that a reality”

“Addressing the root causes of homelessness remains one of Harris County’s most pressing challenges,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. “We’ve made strides with historic investments in wraparound services for our most vulnerable residents, allocating millions to Harris County’s Housing & Community Development, the Sheriff’s Office’s Homeless Outreach Team, Holistic Assistance Response Team, and The Harris Center. However, the data from this year’s Point-in-Time Count shows there is still work to be done. I am committed to working with my colleagues and community partners to expand these efforts to help eradicate homelessness.”

While our system has helped thousands of people move from homelessness to housing, this year’s results highlight the need to broaden our approach. The End Street Homelessness Action Plan aims to build a system where no one sleeps outside, and homelessness can be resolved quickly through available overnight shelter linked to housing solutions, outreach, prevention, and care.

Other key findings from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count & Survey:

More than 8,600 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home.
About half (51.5%) of the unsheltered individuals had no matching record in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), indicating that many have not yet engaged with the formal homeless response system and the need for additional outreach capacity.
89% of people first experienced homelessness in Houston.
40% of unsheltered persons were experiencing homelessness for the first time (down from 45% in 2025).
20% of people cited family conflict as the main cause of their homelessness with next most cited reasons being financial e.g. lack of income (19.6%) and loss of a job (14%).
More than half (56%) reported a mental health condition, and most of those (74%) said it significantly limited their ability to work or live independently. Nearly half (46%) reported a substance use disorder, with 60% of that group noting it also impaired their ability to maintain employment or housing stability. This underscores the need for integrated behavioral health and housing interventions to support this population.
People who are Black or African American continue to be disproportionately represented, making up 56% of the total population of those experiencing homelessness but only account for 21% of the general population of Harris County.

CFTH Presents – More Than a Fix: Substance Use, Stigma & Homelessness

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:13:00 GMT

This event kicked off a new season of CFTH Presents, bringing the community together for a discussion on the intersection of homelessness, recovery, and housing .

What does recovery look like?

For Judy, recovery is holistic. For Frederick, it looks like him—from dental care to stable housing to pursuing a master’s degree. Amber emphasized recovery as a journey rather than a destination. All agreed that housing is not just shelter, but the cornerstone of recovery.

Policy and Systems

The conversation also touched on current policy trends on homelessness. Judy was clear: “We will never criminalize our way out of this problem.” Amber acknowledged challenges but also pointed to opportunities like new funding for behavioral health and housing supports that require agencies to work together.

When asked what everyday people can do, panelists stressed small but powerful steps: check on neighbors, extend compassion, and stay informed so you can connect people to resources.

Key Takeaway: Recovery and housing are inseparable, and both begin with compassion. By breaking stigma and strengthening community, we can build systems that truly support people on their journey.

CFTH Recap: The 89th Texas Legislative Session

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:55:10 GMT

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

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.

Hurricane Season Is Here – Here’s How We’re Getting Ready

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:29:19 GMT

What CFTH is doing and how you can help as hurricane season begins.

What You Can Do to Help

When a hurricane is forecasted, many people want to know how they can help. Here are a few ways to support our work:

Donate to help us supply and coordinate outreach teams
Follow us on social media for real-time updates during storms
Share accurate information with friends and neighbors
Advocate for long-term housing solutions, the only true protection from future storms

Stay safe this hurricane season and thank you for being part of a community that cares.

Learn more about how our system responds during weather events here .

Preparing for Extreme Heat - 2025

Wed, 21 May 2025 15:56:56 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming extreme heat and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) as designated coordinator to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) works with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as extreme heat affects our region.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Last updated Wednesday, June 16th, @ 3:00 p.m.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

During a declared Public Health Heat Emergency Plan, p eople in the City of Houston without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride from METRO. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

To find out whether the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan has been activated, visit the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Website .

Cooling Centers

City of Houston

Houston libraries and multi-service centers will function as cooling centers during normal business hours. The Central Library Downtown is unavailable as a cooling center. Community centers operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants. For updated information visit their website - https://www.houstonoem.org/extreme-heat/

Harris County

With the continued extreme heat, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management has activated its Heat Plan. The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system will open the lobby, meeting rooms, and restrooms at the branches to serve as cooling centers. Dependent on weather changes, HCPL may close early or not open.

A map displaying these locations is available at www.readyharris.org . Click here for the most up-to-date information regarding HCPL cooling centers, locations, and hours. Days and hours of operation may vary daily by location.

Harris County c ooling center operations.

Precinct 2

During the summer months, residents can access the nine cooling centers that Precinct 2 has open . For updated information visit their website - https://www.hcp2.com/News/Cooling-Centers

Protective Actions

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat without proper hydration and other precautionary actions may result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

For more information on keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe during extreme heat, visit: https://www.houstonemergency.org/extreme-heat-tips-to-stay-cool/

Other Resources

Reliant Beat-the-Heat Resources: The summer months can put a strain on anyone's electricity budget. Reliant is proud to offer a Beat the Heat program providing relief from the heat in Houston, Corpus Christi, Lubbock and North Texas. Visit their website for more information. https://www.reliant.com/en/about/community/beat-the-heat

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening cooling centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps

Extreme Heat Q&A

What does the homeless response system do to prepare for the upcoming extreme heat?

CFTH works with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from the extreme heat.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — spread the word that we are likely to be hit by extreme heat and hand out hot weather supplies (bottled water, handheld fans, cooling towels, sunscreen, etc.) and offer rides to cooling centers when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the extreme heat, please send that information to Fryda at fryda.ochoa@cfthhouston.org .

CFTH Presents - How Federal Funding Actually Fights Homelessness

Wed, 14 May 2025 20:48:28 GMT

At our most recent CFTH Presents event, we brought together system partners from across the region to spotlight a topic of federal funding.

During a time when questions about where federal dollars go and how they’re used are being asked, this conversation couldn’t be more critical. Together we discussed the real stories and measurable impact about what it takes to end homelessness in our region.

Temenos CDC

US VETS Houston

Houston Areas Women's Center (HAWC)

Spring Branch Community Health Center (SBCHC)

CFTH

The Bottom Line

In closing, CFTH President & CEO Kelly Young issued a call to action. Our partners show up every day, doing the hard and quiet work of meeting people where they are. But that work is at risk. As funding shifts and uncertainty looms, we need to protect and expand the resources that make this system work.

“We can do more,” Kelly said. “But we need more. We cannot do more with less.”

Five Years Later - How the COVID-19 Response Strengthened Homelessness Solutions

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:00:04 GMT

On this World Health Day – and after five years of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, we reflect on our system’s work through the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) .

Launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCHP was an unprecedented effort to quickly and effectively house people experiencing homelessness while responding to a public health crisis.

With an influx of emergency relief funding, CCHP was both an opportunity and a challenge. It heavily informed how we approach homelessness today, offering lessons that continue to guide our strategies.

Lessons Learned

Balancing Urgency with Strategic Planning: Moving fast without alignment can create long-term challenges. While rapid action is essential in a crisis, accountability, clear expectations and strong coordination must always be prioritized.

Shaping Core Strategies: CCHP played a key role in refining our outreach and encampment decommissioning, both of which remain essential to our homeless response system today.

Matching the Right Interventions: Placing people in the first available housing option isn’t always the best solution. By focusing on matching individuals with the right intervention type, we saw improved long-term housing stability and greater system efficiency. CCHP allowed us to “pilot” rapid-rehousing and diversion interventions, strategies that we aim to continue building on as we enter the next phase of our work.

Sustainable Solutions Require Flexible Funding: The influx of emergency relief dollars provided the flexibility to implement innovative solutions promptly, highlighting the importance of adaptable funding mechanisms beyond moments of crisis. This flexible funding allowed us to serve more people in a quick and efficient way, something that our current federal funding just isn’t allocated to do.

The Heart of Outreach – Celebrating National Social Work Month

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:34:50 GMT

March is National Social Work Month!

For some, social work starts as a job but quickly becomes a lifelong passion. For Taylor, that passion started at just 15 years old.

Taylor, CFTH Outreach Associate, poses for portrait photo.

“My dad was part of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Team in its early years, and one night, on the way home, he spotted a client he had been looking for. He pulled over to get him some food, and while he was talking to him, I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to talk to him, too. I got out of the car and walked right up to him. When I got back in, I started crying and told my mom I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.”

That moment led to years of volunteering and building a deeper connection to the work. Today, Taylor’s role involves a mix of daily tasks. “Most days don't look the same,” she says. One week might be responding to community requests, checking on our clients, or searching for people who may need assistance, and the next, we might be moving as fast as we can to prepare everyone for inclement weather.”

While the work can be challenging, the biggest hurdle is often the mental health struggles many people face while living on the streets. “It can look different for each person; some can't talk to us enough to get information, and others aren't able to realize they need the help.”

Still, the wins - big or small - make it all worthwhile. “Every interaction reminds me why I do this... Seeing someone finally move into a place of their own and get some peace of mind is one of the greatest feelings.”

Taylor assisting clients during the 2025 Point-in-Time Count.

Third Annual Driving Home Charity Golf Tournament Recap

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:27:33 GMT

The fairways were alive with energy, the competition was friendly but fierce, and — most importantly — the mission was at the heart of it all.

On March 25, 2025, golfers and advocates came together at Wildcat Golf Club for our annual Driving Home Charity Golf Tournament, blending their love of the game with their commitment to ending homelessness.

Thanks to your generosity we raised over $76,000 to support our system’s work toward Equilibrium — a future where anyone experiencing homelessness has a safe place to sleep tonight and a home within 30-90 days. Every swing, every putt, and every contribution helped strengthen our ability to respond quickly and effectively, ensuring no one in our community is left behind.

A heartfelt thank you to our new and returning players for joining us on the course and to our sponsors, whose generous support made this event possible:

And of course, congratulations to our tournament champions, Nicholas Joseph, Buddy Brooks, and Michael Sitzman, as well as our runners-up, Chris Hanslik, Enrique Cruz, Kevin Cohn, and Robert Colmenares, for bringing their A-game!

To everyone who participated and volunteered, thank you for making this event such a success. We can’t wait to see you on the course next year!

Be sure to check out photos from the event, generously sponsored by Social Service & Consumer Advocacy Center , and relive the great moments on the green!

CFTH Mourns the Death of Sylvester Turner

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 20:37:17 GMT

Like many of our fellow Houstonians, we were deeply saddened by the news of the death of former mayor and U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner.

Thanks to Turner’s leadership, the partners of The Way Home were also able to open the housing navigation center in 2023 and decommission many large encampments through the offer of permanent housing, visibly reducing homelessness in the urban core.

Turner’s role in Houston’s response to homelessness was highlighted in a 2022 New York Times article .

But Turner knew the work was not complete: “Although Houston is showing the state and nation how to reduce street homelessness and encampments successfully, the job is not done,” he said in 2023 . “We will continue our groundbreaking, successful efforts until every Houstonian is off our streets. We must do more.”

His legacy as a public servant will continue to shape Houston for years to come. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were impacted by his remarkable service, and we are proud to carry on the work.

CFTH Presents - Who Speaks For You? The Advocacy Agendas Shaping Our Future

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:06:30 GMT

Insights from local leaders on advocacy and legislation.

On Tuesday, February 11th, local leaders and advocates came together for an engaging panel discussion on the power of advocacy and its role in addressing homelessness. The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from defining advocacy to exploring legislative efforts in Austin that could impact Houston’s homelessness response.

Our featured speakers:

Council Member Julian Ramirez, At-Large Position 1 – City of Houston
Hannah Cobb – Public Policy Manager for the Greater Houston Partnership (moderator and participant)
Jamey Caruthers – Director of Public Affairs for CFTH

The conversation kicked off with panelists sharing their personal definitions of advocacy. Our moderator and public policy manager for the Greater Houston Partnership, Hannah Cobb, reflected on how a visit from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce to learn more about Houston’s homeless response system led to 115 individuals securing housing — an example of advocacy’s ripple effect beyond city borders.

Council Member Ramirez emphasized advocacy’s role in shaping policy, acknowledging Houston’s past successes in reducing homelessness while stressing the need for renewed efforts given recent increases. Our director of public affairs, Jamey Caruthers, described advocacy as “the biggest lever we have” highlighting the importance of strategic, data-driven engagement with legislators.

A key theme throughout the discussion was the evolving political landscape in Austin, with new legislative dynamics influencing homelessness policy. With a new Speaker of the House and shifting political dynamics, the discussion highlighted the importance of understanding these changes and how they can affect advocacy efforts.

The discussion concluded with a call to action: advocacy starts with individuals. Whether by contacting legislators, joining advocacy groups, or mobilizing communities, grassroots efforts remain a powerful force in shaping policies that address homelessness.

Want to get involved? Start by finding out who represents you and making your voice heard. ➡️

Watch the full discussion below.

Preparing for Extreme Cold February 2025

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:24:59 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Last updated 02/19/2025 @ 10:45 a.m.

Weather Information

The National Weather Service has advised a cold front is expected to pass through the Houston area beginning Wednesday, February 19. Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents and proper care should be taken to reduce exposure to these conditions.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

City of Houston

As colder temperatures arrive in Houston this week, the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is fully prepared to respond to the cold front and ensure the safety and well-being of residents. OEM is working in close collaboration with all city departments and partner agencies to provide support and resources for the community during the expected cold weather.

Starting Wednesday February 19, at 6 p.m., the City will open 12 warming centers across Houston to provide shelter and relief to those in need. The warming centers will remain open overnight until Friday, February 21, at 8 a.m. Individuals who arrive with items will be allowed to keep their items with them while they are at the warming centers. Z Trips will be offered to go to these centers. Individuals needing assistance are encouraged to call 3-1-1.

Additional Resources

Houston Food Bank - Severe Weather Resources and Information
Texas Health and Human Services - 2-1-1 Texas

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

CFTH is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

Public Health Information

For the latest updates

CFTH will share information and resources on its Facebook account as it becomes available.

Press Release: CFTH Leading Annual Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness in the Houston Area This Week

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:00:03 GMT

These findings will provide insight into how factors such the end of federal pandemic relief funding have impacted homelessness in our region.

Houston, Texas (January 28, 2024) – 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.

“The progress we’ve seen in addressing homelessness in Houston are a direct result of the strategic partnerships and investments we’ve made in our homeless response system,” said Kelly Young, President & CEO of CFTH. “However, sustainable funding is critical to ensuring we don’t backslide. When we are adequately funded, we can do more, reach more people and ultimately create a system that serves everyone experiencing homelessness in our community. As we move forward, we remain committed to reaching equilibrium, in other words, ensuring that people are rehoused within 30 days.”

CFTH coordinates Houston region’s nationally recognized public-private homeless response system, The Way Home . Through this collaboration, The Way Home partners have successfully housed over 33,500 people since 2012.

The results of Houston’s 2025 PIT Count will be released by CFTH in the spring, following independent verification by an epidemiologist. These findings will provide insight into how factors such the end of federal pandemic relief funding have impacted homelessness in our region

More information about the 2024 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, Jan. 27. 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 is conducted on the following days, from Tuesday, Jan. 28 to Thursday, Jan. 30. 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 2025 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 target their outreach throughout the year. The PIT Count illuminates specific demographic and programmatic gaps and provides additional information needed to end chronic homelessness and continue to improve the local homeless response system.

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

A Letter from our President & CEO

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Reflecting on Progress, Looking to the Future

This year, more than ever, is about strategy and planning. When I began this role, I set out with a clear goal: securing sustainable funding for the system. I was driven by that perspective and worked closely with others to get everyone on the same page. Today, I’m proud of the momentum we’ve built in this area, and I’m confident that securing sources of funding outside of federal support is within reach.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the progress we can make together. We’re focusing on strengthening our advocacy for sustainable funding, improving data collection, and refining our strategies to maximize impact. As always, our approach remains pragmatic—we know what works, and we are committed to expanding those solutions to ensure long-term success.

Ending homelessness requires a collective effort. By working together—across sectors, agencies, and communities—we can create a future where everyone has access to safe, stable housing. This year will undoubtedly bring new challenges, but it will also bring opportunities for us to grow, adapt, and make an even greater difference in the lives of those we serve.

Every one of us has a role in the work we do. We simply choose to show up differently. I hope you will join me on this journey, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who shows up to bring this work to life. Together, we will ensure that our efforts are not only impactful but also sustainable.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to this vital work. I am truly honored to lead CFTH and look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Recognizing a Decade of Service and Impact

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:08:21 GMT

After over a decade of dedicated service on CFTH’s board of directors, Doug Foshee – Chairman and CEO of Sallyport Investments – has stepped down, leaving a remarkable legacy of dedication and compassion.

“For over twenty years, Doug Foshee has been dedicated to transforming the landscape of homelessness in Houston. I’ve seen Doug bring the highest levels of focus and discipline to this work, always mindful that the ultimate goal is to change lives. While there is still work to be done, Houston has become a national model for effectively and compassionately addressing homelessness. That would not have happened without Doug Foshee.”

- Ann Stern, President & CEO of Houston Endowment

Preparing for Extreme Cold January 2025

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:46:28 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Last update: 01/22/2025 at 10:00 a.m.

Weather Information

The National Weather Service has advised a cold front is expected to pass through the Houston area beginning Sunday, January 19. Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents and proper care should be taken to reduce exposure to these conditions.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

City of Houston Warming Centers

Beginning Sunday, January 19, at 6 p.m. , the City of Houston will open 10 warming centers across Houston to provide shelter and relief to those in need. The warming centers will remain open 24/7 until midday Thursday, January 23 (subject to change).

Individuals who arrive with items will be allowed to keep their items with them while they are at the warming centers. The warming centers will be staffed with health and public safety personnel and equipped with basic necessities.

OEM reminds Houstonians planning to use the warming centers to pack their medications and any special dietary needs. If someone needs a ride to a warming center, they can call 3-1-1 and request a Z-Trip that will take them to any open warming center.

Rides will only be offered through Monday night, or until road conditions deteriorate.

Residents in need can visit any of the 10 warming centers marked in red . See the map or list below.

Harris County Warming Centers and Other Resources

American Red Cross Shelters

Hours of Operation: Open until midday Thursday, January 23 (subject to change)

Daytime Warming Centers - Harris County

Daytime Community Center - Harris County

Additional Resources

Houston Food Bank - Severe Weather Resources and Information
Texas Health and Human Services - 2-1-1 Texas

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

CFTH is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

Public Health Information

For the latest updates

CFTH will share information and resources on its Facebook account as it becomes available.

CFTH Presents - What's Next for Houston's Response to Homelessness

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:27:19 GMT

Thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended!

On Tuesday, November 12th, we hosted another installment of CFTH Presents focusing on the pragmatic strategies and partnerships that will be part of the next phase of work addressing homelessness in Houston. During this event we heard insights from community stakeholders regarding what this work will look like, shared goals and what is needed to get there.

Watch the full panel presentation below.

Our featured speakers:

Mike Lykes, Chief of Staff - Harris County Pct. 2 County Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Mike Nichols, Director - City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department
Larry Satterwhite, Director - Public Safety and Homeland Security for the City of Houston
Kelly Young, President and CEO - CFTH

To learn more about these events visit the CFTH Presents website.

See below the answers to additional audience questions we were unable to answer during the event due to time.

How will the $70M to fund this work be raised, what will it be used for, and what is the sustainability plan for housing programs as ARPA funding expires, particularly in relation to supporting at-risk homeless youth and individuals fleeing domestic violence?

The $70M will be raised through a strategic combination of city, county, and philanthropic funding. The long-term plan involves establishing a state-funded homeless authority or identifying a local funding mechanism that can serve as a sustainable source of funding, enabling us to expand and enhance our efforts beyond our current scope.

These funds will support outreach efforts, rapid rehousing, and diversion projects based on system modeling to serve anyone at risk or experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the funding will support targeted initiatives as identified by the community to address emerging needs and priorities.

What data metrics will be used to measure success, and will eviction rates be included?

Once sustainable and flexible funding is secured, a comprehensive community plan will be developed to define the desired outcomes and establish the data metrics necessary to measure success. These metrics could be modeled after the current data collection requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for federal funding.

With unrestricted funding, we would have the flexibility to exercise local control over the data we collect and the metrics we use to evaluate success, which could include tracking eviction rates and other relevant indicators.

Please note that questions have been combined/edited for clarity and conciseness purposes.

CFTH Presents - Housing is Healthcare: Is that True?

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:11:52 GMT

Thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended!

On Thursday, August 29th, we kicked off our second installment of CFTH Presents with a discussion focusing on healthcare and homelessness. During this event we heard insights from field professionals on whether stable and affordable housing can be as crucial to health outcomes as traditional medical care.

Watch the full presentation to learn more about the link between these two issues. Additionally, find Dr. Schick's slides below.

Our featured speakers:

Carlie Brown - CEO, Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston
Dr. Vanessa Schick - Associate Professor, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Chris Laugelli - Director of Strategic Planning, CFTH

To learn more about these events visit the CFTH Presents website.

Introducing CFTH - Our New Identity!

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:06:11 GMT

Entering a new chapter.

As our organization begins a new chapter and we look forward to the next phase of homelessness response for Houston, we felt it was the right time to refresh our brand identity. Our new logos and the new spin on our name pay homage to our past and highlight our approach to the work still ahead: we are rooted in data, pragmatic problem solvers, strategic, and collaborative.

We are proud to reintroduce ourselves as CFTH.

Why CFTH?

Founded in 1982, we have carried our legacy name, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, for over 40 years. Since the formation of The Way Home in 2012, we have been dedicated to coordinating the work of our homeless response system – which also encompasses Montgomery and Fort Bend counties – for maximum impact. Our decision to rebrand to “CFTH” reflects our commitment to evolve and adapt to continue serving our community as a systems leader while staying in touch with our roots.

Introducing Our New Logos

Alongside our new name comes a fresh visual identity. The four “links” on our new logo symbolize the four key components of our approach:

Rooted in Data: We focus on the system level-view, tracking trends and identifying needs in Houston and surrounding areas.
Pragmatic Problem Solvers: We champion housing with stability services as the solution to homelessness – because it works.
Strategic: We build relationships, leverage available resources, and optimize funding for maximum impact.
Collaborative: We coordinate one of the nation’s most effective homeless response systems, The Way Home, with over 100 partners.

As our organization enters a new era, so does our homeless response system, otherwise known as The Way Home! We’re rolling out a modernized appearance that reflects the success of our collective work and the journey ahead – and also visually pairs with the CFTH logo.

What's Next?

While our logo may be changing, our vision for everyone in our community to have a safe place to call home remains. We are excited to start this new chapter with a fresh look that aligns with our mission and values.

We will continue to coordinate the homeless response system for maximum impact, remain an exemplary and sustainable organization, and execute special projects to enhance homelessness response locally and nationally.

We will continue to make our homeless response system work – better.

Announcing a new addition to our executive team

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 18:03:57 GMT

Catherine B. Villarreal promoted to vice president

We are proud to announce another addition to the CFTH executive team! Catherine B. Villarreal has been promoted to a key leadership role within our organization.

Catherine, our Director of Communications, has been promoted to Vice President of Public Affairs! Catherine joined the organization in April 2020. In her time at CFTH, she has helped to raise the national profile of both CFTH and The Way Home (our local homeless response system), including via two New York Times features (one by Michael Kimmelman and one by Nicholas Kristof ) and a CBS Sunday Morning segment . Along the way, she has strengthened local partnerships and helped to build support for programs and policies that are effective in ending homelessness.

“I believe in the power of clear, concise, and compelling storytelling to affect positive change. The way we talk about problems like homelessness matters – it influences what we feel, think, and do to respond,” said Catherine. “I’m excited to take on a leadership role within CFTH as we prepare for the next phase of addressing homelessness in Houston.”

“As Vice President, Catherine will bring her thoughtfulness and skill in crafting persuasive messages to our fundraising work and our expanding role in legislative and public affairs,” Kelly Young, President & CEO said. “Her leadership will not only streamline our message and mission but also strengthen our ability to achieve the outcomes we strive for.”

Catherine brings to the role more than a decade's worth of experience in cause-driven communications, public relations, public affairs, advocacy, event planning, and community engagement. Previously, Catherine held communications-focused roles at Houston Endowment, the Houston Parks Board, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in Washington, D.C. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy studies from Duke University and is a proud working mom.

We congratulate Catherine on her promotion. We look forward to her continued contributions and success!

CFTH joins forces with the United States Coast Guard to enhance outreach efforts!

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 20:17:13 GMT

At CFTH, we constantly seek innovative ways to reach and support the most vulnerable populations in our community. Recently, we embarked on a unique and impactful collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conduct homeless outreach along Sims Bayou—a mission that highlights the importance of partnerships in our ongoing efforts to end homelessness.

The idea for this joint operation was born during a routine outreach session on Sims Bayou when our team met members of the Coast Guard. We realized that partnering with the USCG Coast Guard would allow us to access hard-to-reach areas and provide critical services. Molly Permenter, a Coast Guard veteran on our outreach team, said, "It was a great way to connect with other agencies and reach people we couldn't normally access by foot."

The Coast Guard's expertise and resources enabled us to explore densely wooded areas, small overpasses, and bridges—places where people experiencing homelessness often seek shelter. On these missions, we discovered "hotspots," — areas where homelessness is particularly concentrated — and encountered individuals coming out from under overpasses to receive water and check- in. Mapping these locations will facilitate further outreach efforts, potentially on foot, if conditions allow.

Jack Skinner, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard in Houston said, "Our overall goal with this outreach effort was to help provide a public service to our local communities while expanding our partnerships and helping to take outreach members to places that they normally would not be able to reach by land. Engaging with the homeless and with the outreach team members has been rewarding and eye-opening for our crews."

Skinner also highlighted some challenges: "One challenge we face is trying to transfer team members ashore from our boats. It can be very challenging when the banks along the bayou are overgrown and not conducive to easily jumping over to land to contact the homeless. Another challenge is that our boats can’t always get close to shore, and we are still a good way away from being able to talk with people."

The participation of partners including precinct 2 Constable Sargent Perez and Hope Haven Housing Navigator and Assessor Johnathan Spears further enhanced our efforts. This multi-agency collaboration highlights a fundamental truth: ending homelessness requires united efforts. By leveraging each other's strengths, we can reach and support those in need, no matter how hidden. The journey along Sims Bayou reminds us that we are stronger and more effective when we work together.

Farewell to our Vice President of Strategic Planning and Public Affairs

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:36:06 GMT

Jessica Preheim to transition out this summer

CFTH Advocacy in Action!

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 21:19:07 GMT

A Recap of Capitol Hill Day 2024

The week of July 8th, members of our staff, partners of The Way Home and our local consumer advocate, Danielle Stephen, traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in Capitol Hill Day and attend the 2024 National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

At the conference, Renee Cavazos, our VP of the homeless response system (HRS), gave a presentation on building partner capacity, and Omar Martinez, our manager of the HRS planning and implementation, spoke about programs that boost income and stability for those we serve.

What is Capitol Hill Day?

Capitol Hill Day is an annual advocacy event during which organizations working to end homelessness engage directly with their members of Congress. Hosted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and the Texas Homeless Network (THN) , the goal is to share local successes and challenges in combating homelessness and to push for supportive policy measures to end homelessness. This event is an opportunity for advocates to make their voices heard on the national stage.

Our Initiatives at Capitol Hill Day

This year, CFTH proudly served as one of the two Texas State Coordinators for Capitol Hill Day, working closely with the THN and the NAEH. We sought to create a meaningful advocacy experience for The Way Home by crafting the 2024 The Way Home Capitol Hill Day Material Packet and coordinating key meetings with congressional representatives.

We met with staffers of our local representatives including Rep. Al Green (District 9, Harris and Fort Bend Counties), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (District 2, Harris County), Rep. Morgan Luttrell (District 8, Harris & Montgomery Counties), the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (District 18, Harris County), and Rep. Sylvia Garcia (District 29, Harris County).

Our advocacy priorities and requests included:

Advocating for increased funding for HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs.
Support for renewing all existing Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) contracts.
Elimination or increase of the public service cap on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Collaboration on policies to expedite homeless housing efforts, leveraging waivers granted during COVID-19.
Continued partnership in homeless prevention efforts.

The Outcome

Out of the nine U.S. representatives representing our area, we were able to engage with five offices directly.

Our team had the support of Danielle Stephen, our local consumer advocate and youth representative on our Steering Committee. Danielle attended the NAEH conference alongside our team to learn more about the work to address homelessness in other cities. She also participated in Capitol Hill Day meetings to advocate for those in our system by using her own lived experience to demonstrate the importance of working as a collaborative across systems, the need for funding, and how engagement with elected officials makes a true difference to those we serve.

“I learned so much and connected with some wonderful people, and the most amazing part was advocating for my community.” - Danielle Stephen

Additionally, we had the support of our partner Harmony House who participated in meetings to advocate for provider needs and demonstrate the important role of partners within our system. There were several other provider partners who wished to attend but were unable to due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, which hit Houston the same week.

Capitol Hill Day is more than just a day of meetings; it’s a chance to amplify the voices of those we serve and advocate for the resources and policies needed to end homelessness.

We thank everyone who supported our efforts, all The Way Home representatives who participated and our local Representatives’ offices, for their time and attention.

Announcing our Newest Executive Leadership Team Members

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:01:06 GMT

Renee Cavazos and James Gonzalez both promoted to vice president

We are excited to announce two new additions to the CFTH executive team! Renee Cavazos and James Gonzalez have both been promoted to key leadership roles.

Renee Cavazos, formerly Director of the Continuum of Care, has been promoted to Vice President of the Homeless Response System (HRS) Planning and Implementation! Renee initially joined CFTH in September 2016 as a project coordinator. As a director, she oversaw the strategic planning and implementation of various programs designed to support individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Renee was also responsible for leading the annual collaborative application funding application (NOFO) for our system to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and managing the annual Point-in-Time Count. Notably, she has successfully enhanced performance metrics while system improving outcomes and led fundraising efforts that significantly increased the system’s resource pool by identifying new grant opportunities and helping increase foundation gifts.

In her new role, Renee hopes to continue driving progress and innovation within our system while fostering a consumer- and customer service-oriented approach. She is also committed to working with local governments to balance our efforts to effectively address homelessness.

“As a Latina woman, I am beyond humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve in a leadership role at CFTH. Being at the table in nonprofit leadership is not something I take lightly, and I am committed to driving change within our community,” said Renee . “We are one community who must continue to support each other. If the cities and communities are thriving, we all thrive. Together, we can champion those who need our help the most.”

James Gonzalez, formerly Director of Program Operations, has been promoted to Vice President of Program Operations! James initially joined CFTH in February 2016 as a Project Manager. As a director, he was responsible for overseeing and supporting the housing team, Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) and the Landlord engagement team. Notably, he worked with different teams and partners to help develop our encampment decommissioning strategy. Additionally, James collaborated with the Harris Center and Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to deliver mental health and domestic violence support services in the field to unhoused clients and at home to housed clients. These partnerships have transformed our ability to engage and support our clients.

In his new role, James hopes to find ways to enhance our housing supportive services to create a better experience and outcomes for our clients.

“I am truly honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” said James . “Our system will be making lots of changes over the next few years, and I’m excited to be a part of that. It’s a privilege to serve our clients and the partners we work with.”

Both James and Renee bring years of experience, fresh perspectives, and dedication to our team. We are confident that their leadership and expertise will further strengthen our organization.

We congratulate them both on their well-deserved promotions. We look forward to their continued contributions and success in their new roles!

Hurricane Beryl: Our Post-Hurricane Efforts

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:17:43 GMT

CFTH and partners of The Way Home mobilized to help our unhoused neighbors

On the morning of Monday, July 8th, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas. Starting as a Category 1 hurricane and later weakening to a tropical storm, Beryl brought 80mph winds and several inches of rain to Houston, leaving over 2 million people without power for days.

As the winds and waters began to recede, we got to work.

Coordinating with local emergency management authorities

As designated coordinator to The Way Home (our local homeless response system), we proactively work with local government entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered during severe weather events. Because we are not emergency responders, we rely on our local offices of emergency management to lead the way and make resources available during natural disasters. We're grateful to the City and County emergency response teams and the first responders who ensure people's safety during extreme weather events. 

Disseminating vital information

During and immediately after the storm, we launched a resource page to help broadcast important information about emergency and disaster shelters, cooling centers, water and food distribution centers and other vital updates.

Hurricane Beryl Resources

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 12:52:39 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about Hurricane Beryl and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) as designated coordinator to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) is working with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as Hurricane Beryl affects our region.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Friday, July 19 @ 12:00 p.m.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Cooling Centers

Community Centers

Kingwood Community Center: 4102 Rustic Woods Dr, Kingwood, TX 77345 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Fonde Community Center: 110 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Moody Community Center: 3725 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
West Gray Multi-Purpose Center: 1475 W Gray St., Houston, TX 77019 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Multi-Service Centers (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Acres Home MSC / 6719 W. Montgomery Rd., Houston, TX 77091
Hiram Clarke MSC / 3810 W Fuqua St, Houston, TX 77045
Fifth Ward MSC / 4014 Market St, Houston, TX 77020
Kashmere MSC / 4802 Lockwood Dr, Houston, TX 77026
Magnolia MSC/ 7037 Capitol St., Houston, TX 77011
Northeast MSC / 9720 Spaulding St., Houston, TX 77016
Sunnyside MSC / 4410 Reed Rd., Houston, TX 77051
Southwest MSC / 6400 High Star Dr., Houston, TX 77074
Denver Harbor MSC / 6402 Market St. 77007., Houston, TX 77007
Third Ward MSC / 3611 Ennis St, Houston, TX 77004
West End MSC / 170 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77007

Houston Public Libraries

African American History Research Center at the Gregory School / 1300 Victor St., Houston TX 77019 / 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Alief-David M. Hennington Regional Library / 11903 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77072 / 1-5 p.m.
Bracewell Neighborhood Library / 9002 Kingspoint Rd. Houston, TX 77075 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Carnegie Neighborhood Library & Center for Learning / 1050 Quitman St. Houston, TX 77009 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Central Library Jesse H. Jones Building / 500 McKinney St. Houston, TX 77002 / 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Collier Regional Library / 6200 Pinemont Dr. Houston, TX 77092 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus / 5300 Caroline St. Houston, TX 77004 / 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Flores Neighborhood Library / 110 North Milby St. Houston, TX 77003 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Heights Neighborhood Library / 1302 Heights Blvd. Houston, TX 77008 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Hillendahl Neighborhood Library / 2436 Gessner Rd. Houston, TX 77080 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Johnson Neighborhood Library / 3517 Reed Rd. Houston, TX 77051 / / 1 - 5 p.m.
Jungman Neighborhood Library / 5830 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77057 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Kendall Neighborhood Library / 609 N Eldridge Pkwy. Houston, TX 77079 / 1 - 5 p.m.
McGovern-Stella Link Regional Library / 7405 Stella Link Rd. Houston, TX 77025 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Oak Forest Neighborhood Library / 1349 West 43rd St. Houston, TX 77018 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Park Place Regional Library / 8145 Park Place Blvd. Houston, TX 77017 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library / 3223 Wilcrest Dr. Houston, TX 77042 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library / 8501 West Montgomery Rd. Houston, TX 77088 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Smith Neighborhood Library / 3624 Scott St. Houston, TX 77004 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Stanaker Neighborhood Library / 611 S Sgt Macario Garcia St. Houston, TX 77011 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Stimley-Blue Ridge Neighborhood Library / 7007 West Fuqua St. Houston, TX 77489 / 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuttle Neighborhood Library / 702 Kress St. Houston, TX 77020 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Vinson Neighborhood Library / 3810 West Fuqua St. Houston, TX 77045 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Walker Neighborhood Library / 11630 Chimney Rock Rd, Houston, TX 77035 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Walter Neighborhood Library / 7660 Clarewood Dr. Houston, TX 77036 / 1 - 5 p.m.
Young Neighborhood Library / 5107 Griggs Rd. Houston, TX 77021 / 1 - 5 p.m.

Additionally, the YMCA of Greater Houston will open its locations on both days for people needing to seek relief. A list of their hours is available here .

Other resources

Visit Houston Food Bank for updates regarding open pantries and disaster distribution sites. https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/severe-weather-updates/#
Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston has a page with updates regarding shelters and social services operations. https://www.homeless-healthcare.org/severe-weather-resources

Anyone in need of transportation to shelter should contact 3-1-1.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening overnight shelters and/or cooling centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Resources

Many partners and their staff were affected by the storm and are currently without power and/or managing flood/water damage. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you, your agency, or your clients during this time, and we will help where we can.

Information about road closures and other locally available emergency resources is available at Houston OEM , Ready Harris , and Houston Transtar .

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) recently shared guidance for their Housing Tax Credit (HTC) program participants/properties. Learn more about the TDHCA HTC program here .

How partners can help

Please contact Chris Laugelli at claugelli@homelesshouston.org if you are an organization with staff that can provide support during this time. Staff from the homelessness response system are being asked to support one another as we coordinate homeless response efforts during this time.

Please contact Fryda Ochoa at fochoa@homelesshouston.org if you would like the CFTH to include information about your agency's operations and available services on the Hurricane Beryl Resource webpage.

Please contact Jessalyn DiManno at jdimanno@homelesshouston.org if you are able to help provide transportation for people experiencing homelessness to cooling centers and/or shelters.

I would like to help.

Hurricane Beryl Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for Hurricane Beryl?

CFTH is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered are informed about and protected from the storm.
Throughout the year, we also encourage our outreach teams and housing case managers to register their clients in the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) . STEAR is a free registry that helps emergency responders to keep track of people in their geographic area who might need extra assistance in an emergency.
Anyone in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1 .

In the News - May/June

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:35:11 GMT

Check out our May and June media coverage!

05/05/2024 | The Denver Gazette – “Houston's homelessness reduction strategy: A model for success?”

“Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, is often held up as a success story for helping move the homeless off the street and fast tracking them to more permanent housing, with wraparound services to help keep them there.

“Once considered one of the worst cities in the nation for homelessness, over the past dozen years Houston has reduced homelessness by 64 percent, dropping from about 8,500 people on the street to now around 3,200, according to Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.”

Announcing Chris Hanslik As Our New Board Chair

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:17:37 GMT

We are proud to announce Chris Hanslik as the FY25 CFTH Board Chair

Supreme Court Allows Camping Bans; Our Response

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:36:01 GMT

Statements from Dallas and Houston homeless system leaders on Grants Pass v. Johnson decision

Learn more about Housing Foward through their website: https://housingforwardntx.org/all-neighbors/

Learn more about Clutch Consulting through their website: https://www.clutchconsultinggroup.com/

Preparing for Extreme Heat - Summer 2024

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:37:24 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming extreme heat and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Last updated Tuesday, August 20th, @ 11:45 a.m.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

To find out whether the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan has been activated, visit the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Website .

Cooling Centers

Throughout the summer

City of Houston

Harris County

Harris County c ooling center operations.

Precinct 2

During the summer months, residents can access the nine cooling centers that Precinct 2 has open . For updated information visit their website - https://www.hcp2.com/News/Cooling-Centers

Protective Actions

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat without proper hydration and other precautionary actions may result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

For more information on keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe during extreme heat, visit: https://www.houstonemergency.org/extreme-heat-tips-to-stay-cool/

Houston Heat Advisories

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening cooling centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps

Extreme Heat Q&A

What does the homeless response system do to prepare for the upcoming extreme heat?

CFTH works with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from the extreme heat.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — spread the word that we are likely to be hit by extreme heat and hand out hot weather supplies (bottled water, handheld fans, cooling towels, sunscreen, etc.) and offer rides to cooling centers when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the extreme heat, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org and Fryda at fochoa@homlesshouston.org .

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County Receives $1.4 million Youth Homelessness Planning Grant

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:09:06 GMT

Grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development one of the first of its kind

Houston, Texas (June 24, 2024) – Today, the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) announced it had received a $1.4 million Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CFTH is one of the 38 community recipients across 26 states to be awarded this funding as part of a $51.1 million national investment announced earlier this month to address youth homelessness.

The YHSI grant will build on the success of Houston’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), through which CFTH and partners were awarded $10.4 million in Sept. 2021 to build systems to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness and to provide direct services (e.g., transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and diversion).

By contrast, the YHSI grant is centered around planning and partnerships; it is a youth-specific planning grant for our local homeless response system (called The Way Home). YHSI grants are meant to increase state and local capacity to better serve youth and to create projects that are responsive to the needs of youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the community.

The YHSI grant will also provide the opportunity for CFTH to work beyond The Way Home’s prescribed geographic region of Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties; through a partnership with Texas Homeless Network, Galveston County will be a part of this work.

Notably, for both YHSI and YHDP work, youth are at the table at all aspects of planning and implementation.

“This grant represents a pivotal investment, aiming not just to alleviate youth homelessness but to redefine how we respond to it in collaboration with our partners,” said CFTH President and CEO Kelly Young . “We look forward to continue to build on the collective successes of the YHDP all while ensuring that youth are at the table every step of the way.”

“Houston thanks HUD for this grant to help address the needs of our homeless youth ages 18-24. This group includes many former foster children who have aged out of the system,” said Chair of the Quality of Life Committee and Houston City Council Member Julian Ramirez, At-Large Position 1 . “With our resources stretched thin, this grant of $1.4 million is critical to getting Houston's homeless youth off the street and into more permanent housing.”

“This YHSI grant will enhance our collaborations with youth-serving organizations and ensure that youth voice continues to be the guiding factor in ending youth homelessness in our community,” said CFTH Manager of Youth Programs Quana Smith. “This is a huge step forward towards funding and sustaining our Youth Action Board!”

“Coming from a youth perspective, I am excited to see grants like these building bridges across communities to ensure that we are creating change,” said Youth Action Board Member and Steering Committee Youth Representative Danielle Stephen . “It’s about paving a way to a future where we uplift and empower youth facing homelessness.”

“The Coalition for the Homeless has made great strides in putting more of our young people in safe and supportive housing. HUD is proud to support them with these grant dollars to house them quickly and get them the supportive services they need,” said HUD Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela . “Unhoused youth can find themselves in unstable situations through no fault of their own, and HUD’s Youth Homelessness System Improvement will help CFTH provide the support the youth need to find housing, focus on education and achieve independence.”

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless' 2024 Point-in-Time Count Results Show 33% Decrease in Unsheltered Homelessness Since 2020

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:11:23 GMT

Progress in peril if new funding source not identified.

Houston, Texas (June 18, 2024) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness found a total of 3,280 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 22, 2024, in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The results reflect a 17% decrease in overall homelessness and a 33% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the area since 2020, the last count conducted prior to the pandemic. Overall, the region has seen more than a 60% reduction in homelessness since 2011.

However, advocates were quick to note that Houston’s progress is in peril. A new source of sustainable, annual funding must be quickly identified to replace expiring federal COVID relief funding that has bolstered the system in recent years.

The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH), a 501c3, coordinates the annual “PIT Count” on behalf of the local homeless response system, The Way Home . This annual count and survey helps to identify homelessness trends over time and gives insight into the effectiveness of our community’s housing programs and homeless services.

This year, the PIT Count found 1,107 people living unsheltered, a decrease of 12% since 2023. Meanwhile, the 2024 PIT Count found 2,173 people staying in shelter, an increase of 7% over 2023.

The increase in sheltered homelessness is likely due to shelter capacity gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the decrease in the unsheltered number could be attributed to The Way Home partners working together to rapidly expand access to housing and homelessness diversion services using time-limited City of Houston and Harris County federal pandemic resources, coupled with an effective encampment decommissioning strategy.

“At a time when rates of homelessness are rising nationwide, we are proud our numbers in Houston have not grown,” said Kelly Young, president & CEO of CFTH. “However, next year we cannot count on continued stabilization. With federal COVID relief funds expiring soon, we urgently need to identify new and sustainable sources of funding for our homeless response system.”

According to CFTH, it will take at least $50 million per year in funding — beyond the annual HUD funding — to maintain the status quo after pandemic relief dollars run out. Without the additional funding, CFTH predicts that The Way Home’s ability to house people experiencing homelessness will be reduced by about 1/3 annually and that homelessness could increase by 60% (approximately 5,200 individuals) by the end of 2026.

“As we recognize our positive impact working with the homeless population, we must recognize we have much work to do,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “With homelessness, we have come a long way, but we have a long way to go. Let’s not rest until we don’t have a homeless population. Let’s go to work!”

“We want to thank the Coalition for the Homeless and the partners of The Way Home for all they have done to create an efficient homeless response system. Houston/Harris County continues to gain national attention as a model for addressing homelessness and we are so proud of the work we have collaboratively done to reduce homelessness by more than 60% since 2011,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Every year, the Point-In-Time count reminds us of the work to be done and the commitment we must make to increase access to affordable housing through a Housing First model. We will continue the work until everyone has a safe place to call home.”

“We continue to show success. After several years of huge reductions, the number of people living unsheltered in the region has stayed at historic lows. The joint investments by Harris County and the City of Houston are working, but as COVID relief funds run out, we must find a way to maintain the program financially,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “That’s why I have been in D.C. advocating to federal agencies about the need to fund this successful program that has become a model across the nation, as well as making this a priority discussion item with Mayor John Whitmire in his first week in office.”

“The data collected in this year’s Point-In-Time Count reflect progress in our efforts to eradicate homelessness,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. “As The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County moves toward the next phase of the Homeless Response System, I look forward to the implementation of a data-driven approach to develop additional programs to support our most vulnerable citizens. I am committed to working with my colleagues on Commissioners Court to find ways to continue building on this critical work.”

Other key findings from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count & Survey

45% of unsheltered persons were homeless for the first time (up from 42% in 2023).
32% of unsheltered persons (a plurality) cited the loss of a job or income as the primary cause of their homelessness.
People who are Black or African American are disproportionately represented; they make up 62% of the population experiencing homelessness in the region but only 21% of the total population of Harris County.
78% of unsheltered persons are male.
89% of unsheltered persons first fell into homelessness in Houston.
More than 9,700 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home on the night of Jan. 22, 2024.
More than 32,000 people have been placed in permanent housing (Permanent Supportive Housing or Rapid Re-Housing) through The Way Home since 2012.

CFTH Presents - Challenging Misconceptions: Homelessness and Mental Health

Wed, 22 May 2024 15:02:23 GMT

Panel persists despite severe storm, power outage

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in honor of this observance, we gathered experts in our community to speak on the related topics of homelessness and mental health. The insights shared were insightful, highlighting the urgent need for a holistic approach to address the challenges faced by individuals dealing with both homelessness and mental illness.

Editor's Note: We are grateful to our panelists and audience members for staying with us through the severe storm and winds and resulting power outage that swept through Houston during our event! We like to think our handling of the weather situation was exemplary of our organization’s approach to crises and complications in general: we take a beat to assess a new challenge, and then we proceed to meet our goals in creative ways!

It’s important to note that the overwhelming majority of those living with mental illness are not experiencing homelessness. In fact, one of the key takeaways from the panel was the recognition that the primary driver of homelessness is often the loss of income and employment, which can trigger a cascade of stress, anxiety, and depression. Panelists also emphasized that often mental health issues arise from the trauma of homelessness, rather than mental health being the cause of an individual’s homelessness.

Watch the full presentation to learn more about homelessness and mental health.

Our featured speakers:

Monique White – Peer Support Specialist, The Harris Center
Amber Honsinger – Program Director, The Harris Center
Dr. Ashley Allen – Executive Director, Houston Community Land Trust
Moderator: Ana Rausch – VP of Program Operations, CFTH

Editor's note: The video cuts off after about 20 minutes due to the sudden power outage, but an audio-only recording picks up thereafter.

Addressing barriers to exiting homelessness, such as the lack of affordable and appropriate housing, emerged as a critical priority. Panelists advocated for housing-first approaches that prioritize providing stable housing as a foundation for addressing other needs. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the need for innovative funding strategies to address the evolving landscape of homelessness. As cities like Houston deal with affordability, there is a need for new resources and approaches that reflect current realities.

The panel reinforced that homelessness is a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive response. By addressing the underlying factors driving homelessness and prioritizing access to stable housing and mental health services, we can begin to break the cycle of homelessness and support individuals in rebuilding their lives.

Severe Weather Resources

Fri, 17 May 2024 18:55:32 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about inclement weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) as the designated coordinator to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) works with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as inclement weather affects our region.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated May 25 at 5 p.m.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Red Cross

For more information about shelters visit The Red Cross.

Or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for information about temporary housing for people who are not able to return to damaged homes.

* These resources are only for people impacted by the recent flooding and the severe windstorm on May 16th *

FEMA Resources

Visit fema.gov to apply for disaster assistance, including housing for leaseholders who have been displaced.

Greater Houston Disaster Alliance

The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance (Disaster Alliance), a philanthropic partnership established by Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) and United Way of Greater Houston, has launched the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund (Fund) to support individuals and families affected by the severe storms, derecho winds, tornadoes, and flooding events that occurred between April 26 and May 17, 2024. For more information, call the United Way 2-1-1 Helpline or visit, Disasteralliance.org

City of Houston Resources

The City of Houston is providing resources for refuges from extreme heat after widespread power outages and damages from Thursday night’s severe storms.

The City is operating an emergency overnight shelter for storm victims at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church at 11612 Memorial Dr 77024.

Cooling centers: see below for more information. People in the City of Houston without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride from METRO. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

For updated information on cooling centers and other resources please visit https://www.houstonoem.org/pages/may-2024-wind-event .

Harris County Resources

The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) System has opened several locations to serve as cooling centers for those looking to stay cool, charge electronic devices, and find activities for children.

Library branches are open from 10:00 am to 6:00 p.m. A map displaying these locations is available at www.readyharris.org . Hours for each location are subject to change each day. Individuals can call 2-1-1 or 3-1-1 for assistance with transportation and to find the nearest location.

For additional information on Harris County Severe Weather and Disaster Resources Available to Residents, visit https://www.readyharris.org/Newsroom/ReadyHarris-Alerts/All-Previous-Alerts/harris-county-severe-weather-and-disaster-resources-available-to-residents-1

Other Severe Weather Updates

The City of Houston continues to monitor the level of bayous and lakes in the area following the recent severe weather to our north. People in the area should avoid the waterways as they rise.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening cooling centers and other resources.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps

The Way Home partners operations updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during this severe weather, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org and Fryda at fochoa@homlesshouston.org.

Other community resources

Houston Food Bank is open for normal operations on Friday, May 17. They are mobilizing to assist communities affected by the storm on Thursday, May 16, and will continue to support partner distribution organizations and affiliate food banks. For more information and updates visit their website: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/severe-weather-updates/

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

CFTH Mourns the Passing of Reverend William “Bill” Lawson

Wed, 15 May 2024 20:21:55 GMT

As one of the “Three Amigos,” Reverend Lawson helped to form CFTH in 1982.

CFTH mourns the loss of Reverend William Lawson who died Tuesday at the age of 95.

In 1982, Houston Mayor Kathryn Whitmire and Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay along with area homeless service providers realized that a neutral coordinating agency was needed to liaise with government, support homeless service providers, and advocate to the public on behalf of those experiencing homelessness. Reverend William Lawson, Archbishop Fiorenza and Rabbi Karff — affectionately known as the “Three Amigos” — came together to unite faiths in a response to homelessness. They presented to Mayor Whitmire the need for what was then called the “Campaign for the Homeless.” From there, the Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) was born.

Our condolences are with the Reverend's loved ones.

Houston Featured in New Documentary – “Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness”

Wed, 15 May 2024 15:16:13 GMT

Special Impact Preview Screening at Asia Society Texas – Recap

On Tuesday, May 7, over 100 people gathered at the Asia Society Texas to watch a special impact preview screening of A Bigger Films ’ new documentary “Beyond the Bridge: A Solution To Homelessness.”

In late 2022, filmmakers Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko of A Bigger Vision Films visited Houston to learn about our homeless response system and how Houston was successfully finding solutions to homelessness.

Over the course of more than a year, the film team drove over 40,000 miles to visit 12 cities – including Houston – and dozens of service providers and policy makers to answer this question: How can our country solve homelessness in a comprehensive way?

After this special impact preview screening, CFTH hosted a panel to discuss various themes mentioned in the film. The panel was led by Kelly Young, CFTH President & CEO, and included community leaders and experts Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Bread of Life Inc., Dr. Steve Sherman, Research Scientist for the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, and Kris Larson, President & CEO of Central Houston Inc.

The film team is still working on distribution, including trying to sell the documentary to a streaming platform.

We are extremely proud to be featured in this new documentary and thank you to A Bigger Vision Films for bringing this project to life!

Farewell Letter from our Vice President of Program Operations

Mon, 13 May 2024 22:22:51 GMT

Ana Rausch to transition out this summer.

“I will stay on full-time through June 30, 2024. After that, I will stay on part-time through August 31, 2024, to complete the transition. The Programs Department will be split into two distinct departments. Two interim senior directors will be promoted to head up the two departments: James Gonzalez (currently our director of program operations) and Renee Cavazos (currently our director of the Continuum of Care). They will be shadowing me closely over the next few months.

“CFTH is in a great place, and I’ve had the honor to help develop an amazing group of individuals over the years. I leave everything in very capable hands.

“I’ve been working in our system for over 24 years. Many of us have grown up together in this world and I’ve seen so many of you expand your horizons and move up into leadership roles. I still work with the same funders now that I did when I first started. I have fond memories of walking the bayous searching for clients, interviewing panhandlers in 100-degree heat, testing coordinated access at The Beacon, living at the George R Brown Convention Center after Harvey, Navigation Events, closing encampments, and lots and lots of laughter. Words cannot express my gratitude for the friendships I’ve made over these years. You are all amazing. So many times, I had crazy ideas and you all jumped into the deep end with me.

“You met every challenge thrown at you. The result is decreasing homelessness by over 60% and housing over 32,000 people!

“I look forward to seeing Houston’s continued success and watching the next iteration of superstars. I will always be around to lend a hand if needed. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. I’ll still be in Houston so keep inviting me to lunches, dinners, & happy hours.”

In the News - April

Mon, 06 May 2024 20:59:46 GMT

Learn about the work of our homeless response system as highlighted on national news!

CBS Sunday Morning | 04/14/2024 – “Inside Houston's successful strategy to reduce homelessness”

“Houston's message is this: What's really essential to success is committing to homes, not just managing homelessness.

“‘What Houston has done for this country is, it's established a playbook that now allows any city to do the same, because we've proven that it can be done,’ Chapman Semple said.”

Watch the full segment on CBS Sunday Morning .

Houston Chronicle | 04/14/2024 – “Houston's effort to curb homelessness was featured on national news. What to know about the program”

“Houston’s plan to end homelessness in the city, the Coalition for the Homeless-run Housing First initiative, was featured in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning this week, during which leaders touted it as a model for the nation.”

Read the full article on the Houston Chronicle .

KMOX | 04/16/2024 – “Coalition for the Homeless in Houston has cut the homeless number in half”

“Kelly Young, President CEO Houston Coalition for the Homeless joins Tom Ackerman and Megan Lynch talking about the success that Houston has had to get the homeless off the streets.”

Listen to the full interview on KMOX .

Houston Chronicle | 04/17/2024 – “What to do when you lose housing in Houston: Who qualifies for assistance, resources and more”

“Resources differ depending on a person's situation. The Coalition for the Homeless in Houston and Harris County considers housing the ultimate solution to homelessness. But they use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of homelessness as someone living in a shelter or a place not meant for habitation (outside, a vehicle, an abandoned building).”

Read the full article on the Houston Chronicle .

Next City | 04/25/2024 – “Where Housing Comes First When Solving Homelessness”

“People experiencing homelessness need stable housing. In Houston and New Orleans, practitioners have designed homelessness response systems that prioritize housing over shelter stays. These systems also include other services.

“In this episode, we hear from Next City’s Housing Correspondent Roshan Abraham, who explains the ‘Housing First’ approach to ending homelessness.”

Listen to the full interview on Next City .

100 Days In - A Letter From Kelly Young, President & CEO

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:21:56 GMT

Solving homelessness isn’t easy. It takes many partners working together — and one agency to coordinate them.

CFTH is rooted in data. We focus on the system-level view, tracking trends, and identifying needs in Houston and surrounding areas. We’re pragmatic problem solvers. We champion housing with stability services as the solution to homelessness — because it works. We’re strategic. We focus on building relationships, leveraging available resources, and optimizing funding for maximum impact.

We’re collaborative. CFTH coordinates one of the nation’s most effective homeless response systems, The Way Home, with over 100 unbelievable and committed partners for maximum impact. The Way Home secures and grows funding, navigates the complexities of an ever-changing landscape, eradicates duplication across service providers, forecasts needs, and uncovers insights using data that we collect and maintain. As well as solving barriers to housing, we fill gaps, execute special projects to enhance homelessness response locally and nationally, build out best practices, drive the evolution of the system, and develop innovative programs to address homelessness.

This is how we spend our days – building and maintaining a system responsive to the work that needs to be done.

So, yes, the work is hard , but it’s not controversial. To live a self-determined life, people need a safe place to live from the moment they’re born to the moment they die. Our approach works. Housing people and providing stability services solves homelessness for individuals and families. A success rate of more than 85% proves this. Partnership works. Collaboration and a focus on housing have decreased homelessness in Houston and surrounding counties by more than 60% since 2011. It’s a pragmatic and effective approach that saves taxpayer dollars, benefits our entire community — and has made Houston/Harris County a model for the nation.

Or, in a nutshell, CFTH makes the homeless response system work.

Second Annual Driving Home Charity Golf Tournament Recap

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 20:34:52 GMT

The greens came alive at our annual charity golf tournament!

On April 9 ^th , 2024, golfers across Houston came together at the Wildcat Golf Club for our second annual Driving Home Charity Golf Tournament! With perfect weather, players swung into action to raise vital funds in support of our system’s continued work in addressing homelessness in our community.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Kirkland & Ellis and to our gold sponsor Camden for your continued support. Thank you to our bronze sponsors CORT Furniture , The Valach Family, Cadence Bank & Cadence Insurance and our additional sponsors, Group 1 Automotive , Amegy Bank , Justice Forward and Copy.com . Your contribution and commitment to making CFTH’s second annual driving home golf tournament a success means so much to us.

Amidst friendly competition, golfers demonstrated their generosity by collectively raising over $55,000 to advance our mission and help us move toward a community where everyone has a safe place to call home. Chris Hanslik, Kevin Cohn, and Robert Colmenares took home the 2024 tournament winner trophies, with the Birdie Queens - Tee Beecroft, Sophie Kim, Helen Cho and Lily Lee - coming in a very close second.

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed to our tournament: players, sponsors, staff and volunteers. Your passion, dedication, and sportsmanship truly made this event one to remember!

In The News - Inside Houston's Successful Strategy to Reduce Homelessness

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:36:53 GMT

CFTH and Partners of The Way Home are proud to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning!

“Kelly Young, who heads Houston's Coalition for the Homeless, says it's a model that the rest of the nation should look at and follow. 'We were one of the worst in the nation to begin with, in 2011, 2012,' Young said. 'And now, we're considered one of the best.'

“What happened? In 2012, the city went all-in on a concept called "Housing First." Since then, homelessness is down 63% in the greater Houston area, and more than 30,000 people have been housed.

“Houston's message is this: What's really essential to success is committing to homes, not just managing homelessness.”

From “Inside Houston's successful strategy to reduce homelessness” by Martha Teichner on CBS Sunday Morning, April 14 ^th , 2024.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of working with CBS Sunday Morning to tell the story of The Way Home . During their visit, we had the chance to demonstrate our system's work and the commitment the City of Houston and Harris County have in making sure everyone has a safe place to call home.

We are proud to see the incredible collaborative work of our partners highlighted on national television and we thank all those whose support, time and expertise made this piece possible - especially BakerRipley , whose client is featured in the segment!

In the News – February/March

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:38:23 GMT

Celebrating Women's History Month!

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:04:44 GMT

This Women’s History Month we are spotlighting our executive team - made up entirely of women!

March is the time to champion and uplift the power of women today while reflecting on their contributions throughout history. This is why we want to highlight our executive team made up of incredible female leaders whose passion drives their work and inspires others.

We asked them for their perspectives on what it means to be a woman in leadership.

Join us by taking this opportunity to learn, express gratitude and uplift the voices of the women in your life.

Announcing our new Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:07:03 GMT

Welcoming Kathy Murray as our new CFAO!

Celebrating Black History Month!

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:01:18 GMT

This Black History Month we are highlighting the voices of Black leaders within our organization

February is a powerful reminder of the heritage, accomplishments, and impact of Black people who have helped shape our nation and our world. Black History Month serves as an opportunity to celebrate these contributions.

We asked Black leaders within our organization for their perspectives on the meaning of Black History Month.

Join us in celebrating and amplifying Black voices, not just this month but every day!

CFTH Presents - What's Unique About Youth Homelessness?

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:28:09 GMT

What's Unique About Youth Homelessness?

There are an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults - this includes unaccompanied minors and those 18-24 years old - experiencing homelessness in the United States. This number is likely an undercount as homelessness among youth and young adults can often be hidden with many not in shelters, instead relying on friends or acquaintances for a place to stay.

Now that it has been a full year since some the Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) projects started up, we took this as an opportunity to hear from youth and young adults with lived experience discuss what it is like to navigate through an adult-centered system and to learn more about the strides taken to level that landscape through the program.

Watch the full presentation to learn more about youth homelessness and what you can do to help.

Our featured speakers:

Ashanni & Danielle - Youth Action Board Members, Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP)
Courtney Sellers - Executive Director, Grace Place
Tiata Collier - Peer Support Specialist, Montrose Center

What are the main causes of youth homelessness?

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) , youth homelessness is often caused by family conflicts, poverty, racial disparities, and mental health and substance abuse disorders.

There are many misconceptions about youth homelessness. For example, did you know an estimated 25% of youth who have been through the foster care system become homeless the moment they age out from the system? This is often due to the fact many leave the system with little to no resources to support themselves.

These misconceptions can mean barriers are ignored. Many youths living on the street do not know what resources are available to them or feel as if there is an expectation for them to know how to navigate this world by themselves.

How does our Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) help?

Ongoing collaboration and coordination are important to end homelessness, but this is especially true when talking about youth homelessness. The Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness across the country.

Youth homelessness looks different in every community. Our YHDP’s Coordinated Community Plan (CCP) focuses on working with local community stakeholders and ensuring that youth voices stay at the forefront to provide the resources and expertise to end youth homelessness.

Our YHDP is led by the Youth Action Board (YAB) , a group made up of youth and young adults with lived experience who provide the program with direct input on all issues related to youth homelessness. Their unique perspectives help our YHDP-funded partners understand the unique challenges of youth homelessness.

Since February 2023, over 477 youth and youth adults have enrolled in YHDP projects. We are committed to working with our community stakeholders and other youth-serving agencies to keep addressing the unique needs of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.

In the News - January

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 21:22:17 GMT

Read about our work during the Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey, learn more about homelessness in Texas and how we are sharing our expertise with cities in other countries!

Community Impact | 01/05/2024 - $1.6M in g rants announced for 3 Houston homelessness nonprofits

“Officials with the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, a nonprofit that coordinates groups in the mission to end homelessness in Houston, announced Dec. 19 they will provide $1.6 million in grant funding to three partner nonprofits.”

HUD Announces Annual Funding for Partners of The Way Home

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:31:44 GMT

On Monday, Jan. 29, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards for FY 2023.

Partner agencies of The Way Home — the local homeless response system for Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, which CFTH coordinates — will receive $59 million.

The $59 million is, for the most part, a continuation of past annual grants. This annual CoC grant from HUD (which predates the pandemic) is the regular funding that our local homeless response system relies on to continue to provide housing and supportive services to people already in their programs.

HUD will make grants directly to nearly 30 agencies in our area. For a complete list of the agencies receiving funding and award amounts, click here .

“The annual funding from HUD is the lifeblood of our local homeless response system. Without it, we would not be able to continue to operate current programs that thousands of Houstonians rely on for housing and support services,” said Kelly Young, President & CEO of CFTH. “However, this grant doesn’t eliminate our need to secure additional sustainable local funding to replace the federal COVID relief dollars that have accelerated our work and will end at the end of 2024.”

“We cannot return to the time when these annual federal CoC dollars comprise the majority of our funding,” said Young. “As has the last few years have shown, it simply is not enough, even with the increase over last year’s grant. Homelessness response is now an ‘essential service,’ and our system requires sufficient funding to respond quickly and efficiently. We need this to be a priority issue for all public, private, and philanthropic funding sources.”

The $59 million includes $4.2 million for the Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) and $6.2 million for new project funding.

While the number fluctuates as new clients move in and others move on, on a recent night there were more than 9,000 people in our community living in a housing program in The Way Home. The annual CoC dollars are crucial to keeping these programs running.

The annual CoC Competition Awards are the largest source of funding for the local homeless response system. For the FY 2022 competition, The Way Home received $46 million; in FY 2021 local agencies received $45.2 million.

Under the leadership of CFTH, the funding has increased from $25 million in 2012.

CFTH is the “collaborative applicant” for The Way Home. This means that CFTH organized the local funding competition for the direct services agencies, and we are proud to have helped bring this funding to the Houston region!

If you are interested in learning more about the NOFO process, please contact NOFO@homelesshouston.org .

Press Release: CFTH Leading Annual Count & Survey Of People Experiencing Homelessness In The Houston Area This Week

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:00:01 GMT

The Point-in-Time Count offers a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in our region on a single night.

Houston, Texas (January 23, 2024) – 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 identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.

According to a report released in December from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) , the number of people experiencing homelessness nationwide increased by 12% from 2022 to 2023. In Houston, the number stayed roughly the same .

“The fact that homelessness in Houston has, to this point, not increased in the wake of the pandemic is remarkable. By investing their federal COVID relief dollars into housing-focused solutions, the City of Houston and Harris County helped us buck national trends,” said Kelly Young, President & CEO of CFTH . “However, even while to many of us it may feel like the pandemic is over, its effects on our unstably housed and low-income neighbors will continue to be felt in the years to come. The 2024 PIT Count will help us to continue to understand its impacts.”

CFTH coordinates the Houston region’s coordinated, nationally recognized , public-private homeless response system known as The Way Home . Thanks to their collaboration, the partners of The Way Home have housed more than 30,000 people since 2012.

CFTH will release the results of Houston’s 2024 PIT Count in the spring following independent verification by an epidemiologist. These results will shed light on how inflation, housing costs, and the after-effects of the COVID pandemic have affected homelessness in our region.

More information about the 2024 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, Jan. 22. 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 is conducted on the following days from Wednesday, Jan. 24 to Friday, Jan. 26. (Survey activities originally planned for Tuesday, Jan. 23 were postponed due to weather.) 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 2024 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 target their outreach throughout the year. The PIT Count illuminates specific demographic and programmatic gaps and provides additional information needed to end chronic homelessness and continue to improve the local homeless response system.

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 2023, HUD granted more than $46 million to the Houston area.

For more informa tion and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

Preparing for a Deep Freeze 2024

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:04:04 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

The Coalition for the Homeless as lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) 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 update: 01/16/2024 at 12:00 p.m.

Weather Information

The National Weather Service has advised a cold front is expected to pass through the Houston area beginning Sunday, January 14, that will include a hard freeze. Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents and proper care should be taken to reduce exposure to these conditions.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

City of Houston Warming Centers

For those who need to escape the elements, the City of Houston will open the following warming center locations beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, January 15:

All City of Houston facilities will accept pets. These pets may be required to stay in kennels provided by BARC.

Free Rides

The City of Houston will offer free rides to these locations for anyone who needs assistance. To arrange for a ride, please contact 3-1-1.

For additional information, please visit https://www.houstonoem.org/pages/january2024freeze

Additional warming centers in Houston and Harris County

The Way Home partners operations updates

Covenant House Texas will remain open at their temporary campus on 3412 Beulah St. as will their Youth Engagement Center drop-in center. Find more information on their website .

Hope Center Houston h as extended its normal Monday-Friday hours of operations as a homeless day center to include evening hours as both an overnight shelter and a warming center on Monday, January 15th, Tuesday, January 16th, Wednesday, January 17th, and future dates as necessary . HCH will operate during normal hours 9:00am-1:00pm and during expanded overnight hours beginning at 5:00pm. Evening access to the building through the front gate will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis, and until seating/sleeping capacity has been reached for the dates mentioned above . Find more information on their website .

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the winter weather, please send that information to Fryda Ochoa, Communications Associate, at fochoa@homelesshouston.org .

Fort Bend County Warming Centers

Ft. Bend Additional Operations Updates

Regular operations at library locations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, and are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Residents are encouraged to contact the respective library locations for detailed information regarding their hours of operation.
Anyone in need of public transportation to warming centers may call 281-633-7433 for free assistance.
For any transportation needs outside of business hours, residents can call 281-633-7433 and select option 1 to reach dispatchers.
The Fort Bend County Animal Services announced that they will be providing free doghouses for those in need of shelter for their outdoor pets. The shelter is open on Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. To report animal neglect, residents can call 281-342-1512.

Montgomery County Warming Centers

Montgomery County Additional Operational Updates

Montgomery County Food Bank mobile food distributions that are outdoors with participants driving through are scheduled to proceed as planned. Should there be a cancellation due to weather, the food bank will update the group's social media pages and website.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

Public Health infographics

For the latest updates

CFTH will share information and resources on its Facebook account as it becomes available.

In the News - December

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:46:05 GMT

Read about how we are sharing our expertise with cities all over the country. Check out our December media mentions!

KTUU Alaska | 12/05/2023 - Houston experts working with Anchorage officials on homeless housing pilot program

“Anchorage Assembly members, representatives of Mayor Bronson’s office, officials from the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, and others concerned about the growing problem of homelessness in the community are meeting with experts from Houston, Texas, on ways to increase Anchorage’s ability to move homeless people into permanent housing.”

Read the full article on KTUU Alaska .

Amanpour and Company | 12/05/2023 - Houston Cut Homelessness by 60%: How Can the Rest of the U.S. Follow?

“Homelessness is an ongoing problem in the United States and around the world. According to Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times, the city of Houston may have found a solution. For his latest piece Kristof visited Houston and Dallas to learn how both cities are addressing the issue. He tells Hari Sreenivasan he found differing levels of success.”

Watch the full interview on Amanpour and Company .

KTUU Alaska | 12/07/2023 - ‘Next step’ initiative underway as Anchorage leaders look to housing as the solution for homelessness

“A community conversation took place at the Anchorage Public Library as leaders from Anchorage and Houston, Texas, shared insight on systems and solutions that have effectively worked in other communities’ homelessness response.

“The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness hosted the conversation and said there are 2,478 permanent housing units needed to fill Anchorage’s housing gap.”

Read the full article on KTUU Alaska .

Houston Chronicle | 12/08/2023 - Data shows what happens in Houston to someone moving from homelessness to housing

“Houston’s homelessness strategy revolves around housing. When the Houston Chronicle looked into evictions of people who had gained permanent supportive housing, it found that the issue is not tracked in the Houston region.

“Some data, however, does provide context about what happens after people in the Houston region get their housing.”

Read the full story on the Houston Chronicle .

Anchorage Daily News | 12/09/2023 - Anchorage city leaders look to Houston’s homelessness efforts for solutions

“What if Anchorage could reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city by more than half?

“A housing system in Houston, Texas, has done just that — a hyper-coordinated effort between service providers, city leaders, private business and philanthropy has reduced homelessness by more than 60% over the last decade.”

Read the full article on Anchorage Daily News .

WFAA 8 | 12/10/2023 - Houston got 60% of its homeless off the street. Here’s how.

“You may not have noticed, but the Houston area has been quietly, and quite successfully, addressing its homelessness problem for years now. And the coalition leading this effort has a simple mantra: housing first. They’ve learned it’s more expensive to leave people on the street or put them in temporary shelters than it is to permanently house them. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the CEO of the “Coalition for the Homeless” tells the Jasons the secret to their success comes down to three things: organization, pragmatism and scale. And you’ll learn why cities from across the country may soon follow Houston’s lead.”

Listen to the episode on WFAA 8 .

The Denver Post | 12/10/2023 - Denver looks to Houston in its quest to solve homelessness

“New Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has invoked Houston as ‘the best model in the country’ and an inspiration for his own plan to move the city’s homeless population off the streets in much larger numbers than his predecessors achieved, starting with 1,000 people by the end of this month. To better assess just how well Houston’s system has worked, The Denver Post visited the city and spoke with the leaders responsible for its 11-year-old strategy — as well as both people who have been helped and those who are still waiting for a hand up.”

Read the full article on The Denver Post .

ABC 13 | 12/19/2023 - Houston-area nonprofit using $1.6M toward mental health services, education for Houston's homeless

“The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County announced an approximately $1.6 million investment in Houston's ongoing work to address family homelessness.”

Watch the full segment on ABC 13 .

Denver 7 | 12/24/2023 - Denver looks to Houston in its quest to solve homelessness

“Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has visited Houston to study the Texas city's housing-first model. Mayor Johnston is among several city leaders across the U.S. who are looking to Houston’s success when it comes to reducing homelessness.”

Watch the full segment on Denver 7 .

CFTH Presents - Understanding the Intersection Between Domestic Violence and Homelessness

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:18:32 GMT

Thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended!

On Wednesday, November 29th, we hosted our second CFTH Presents event discussing the intersection between domestic violence and homelessness.

Our presentation featured speakers with extensive experience in the world of domestic violence, homelessness and advocacy.

Watch the full presentation to learn more about the intersection between these two issues and what you can do to help.

Our featured speakers:

Jamie Wright - Award-winning Resilience and Encouragement Speaker and CoC Steering Committee Member
Barbie Brashear - Executive Director, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council , and CoC Steering Committee Chair
James Gonzalez - Director of Program Operations, Coalition for the Homeless

To learn more about these events visit the CFTH Presents website .

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County Awards $1.6M from Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Three nonprofits receive grants to address family homelessness in Houston region.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) , the lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care , today announced an approximately $1.6 million investment in Houston’s ongoing work to address family homelessness with grants to three key local partners: The Beacon (~$323,000); Bread of Life, Inc. (~$892,000); and Wesley Community Center (~$426,000).

The funds come from a larger $5 million grant to CFTH from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, announced in November 2022. Launched in 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to leading organizations on the frontlines that are employing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families move from unsheltered homelessness and shelters to permanent housing with the services they require to achieve stability.

“We are thrilled to be able to award these grants to our partners,” said Mike Nichols, President & CEO of CFTH . “Our homeless response system and partners have been focused for more than a decade on permanent housing with supportive services as the answer to homelessness. Thanks to the Day 1 Families Fund, the awards CFTH makes to these three partners will drive innovation and accelerate connection to services for families experiencing homelessness. However, it is still crucial that local governments step up to provide public funding. Private philanthropy alone can’t solve homelessness.”

A committee of CFTH staff selected The Beacon ; Bread of Life, Inc.; and Wesley Community Center because of the sustainability of their programs and their focus on supportive services that keep families housed over the long term. Project funds will be used to assist families currently experiencing homelessness – unsheltered or sheltered – to help them regain housing through diversion, an employment pathway program, and/or social enterprise.

With the grant, The Beacon will be working to engage families with minor children who are experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness. Their work will be focused on providing intensive case management and involving families in exploratory conversations to identify realistic options to regain housing. In addition, other supportive services will be available including legal aid and help with obtaining state-issued IDs to ensure access to housing and employment.

During the 12-month grant period, The Beacon anticipates serving 96 families with minor children and successfully preventing 48 of those families from further falling into homelessness. This work will be accomplished with the addition of a diversion specialist and resource support specialist made possible by this grant. These new positions will work closely with the existing frontline staff and legal team at The Beacon to ensure that each family’s needs are understood and addressed.

“The Beacon is so honored to be recognized as an agency doing compassionate, needle-moving work in our community with this generous grant award from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund,” said Becky Landes, Chief Executive Officer of The Beacon . “We are poised to play an integral role in helping families regain safe, stable housing, and achieve well-being through carefully planned and executed diversion services. While this work will be brand new for The Beacon, we know that many families with minor children are already reaching out to us because of our well-known reputation for helping people in crisis. All too often, these are families newly homeless or on the brink of becoming homeless. Our program staff have learned to triage these instances, but this funding will truly galvanize our ability to keep families stably housed.”

The Bread of Life, Inc. Academy provides vocational training and pathways to employment for adults who have experienced hardship and are seeking to transform their lives through education and career development. In addition to vocational instruction, life skills, and career coaching, the academy provides wraparound services, helping address unmet needs that may prevent students from completing the program and moving toward new opportunities. At the conclusion of their training, students will be eligible for certification as a phlebotomist, community health worker, or IT associate, propelling their income potential forward and providing a steppingstone to financial security for their families.

With this funding, Bread of Life, Inc. plans to start a new initiative called Project H.O.P.E., to bridge the gaps in mental health services and address the urgent needs of students in The Academy requiring healing, outreach, prevention, and education.

“Individuals who have experienced foster care or incarceration — and those who are from marginalized communities — are often more likely to experience mental health symptoms and tend to be less likely to get appropriate care and treatment,” said Dr. Ryan Harris, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at Bread of Life, Inc. “We are grateful unmet mental health needs will no longer be a barrier for students in The Academy who are seeking to transform their lives. This funding will provide needed therapeutic interventions by licensed professionals to promote health and well-being for our students.”

Wesley Community Center will help community members who are leaving homelessness train for new careers while receiving wraparound services such as childcare, transportation assistance, income assistance, and mental health services. Wesley's work has always centered around helping the whole person, and these additional resources will make it easier for clients to reach their goals by removing the stumbling blocks that sometimes prevent success.

“This grant will help provide transformative services at Wesley Community Center,” said Amy Corron, President & CEO of Wesley Community Center. “We are so grateful for this opportunity, allowing us to provide families with employment and supportive services, and, for the first time, paying stipends to help offset the opportunity cost of spending weeks and months in training. This is a game-changing opportunity for many families who can’t take time off work to train for a better job. We are excited to pilot this expansion of our services.”

The grant-funded programs will run through Nov. 30, 2024. Anyone experiencing homelessness who is interested in receiving services should contact the Coordinated Access email inbox run by CFTH at ca@homelesshouston.org.

In the News - November

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 20:24:20 GMT

Read Houston’s recent feature in The New York Times and get to know our incoming CEO. Check out our November media mentions!

The New York Times 11/22/23 - Here’s How Houston Is Fighting Homelessness — and Winning

“Homelessness is one of those topics that leaves Americans despairing, but Houston offers hope: It demonstrates what should be obvious, that a wealthy society doesn’t have to accept as inevitable throngs of people sleeping on sidewalks. Delegations from around the country now troop to Houston to seek lessons, with the mayors of Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver traipsing through this summer.”

Read the full column on The New York Times .

KREM2 11/02/23 - Boomtown | Comparing Houston’s homelessness approach to Spokane’s

“Houston's Housing First Initiative is their solution to getting 60% of their homeless population off the street, but could it work in Spokane?”

Watch the full segment on KREM2 .

KREM2 11/02/23 - Boomtown | Could Houston have the answers to homelessness in Spokane?

“In the last 10 years, homelessness has dropped more than 60% in Houston, Texas, but has nearly doubled in Spokane. Why?”

Watch the full segment on KREM2 .

Houston Business Journal 11/02/23 - The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County names new president and CEO

“The monthslong search for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County's next leader has officially come to an end.

“The organization — which is the lead agency of The Way Home, a public-private partnership to end homelessness — named Kelly Young as its new president and CEO. She will succeed outgoing CEO and president Mike Nichols, who announced his plans to retire at the end of the year in a May 9 letter.”

Read the full article on the Houston Business Journal .

Houston Chronicle 11/19/23 - Meet Kelly Young, the new CEO tasked with lowering Houston’s homeless count

“The Coalition for the Homeless announced on Nov. 2 that Young will take the reins as its new chief executive. The decision comes when the organization is celebrated for its role in Houston’s decreasing homeless count in the past decade when other major cities experienced an increase.”

Read the full profile piece on the Houston Chronicle .

In The News - Here’s How Houston Is Fighting Homelessness — and Winning

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 21:06:10 GMT

CFTH and Partners of The Way Home are proud to be featured in a new column from The New York Times!

“The lesson I take from Houston and Dallas is that success doesn’t come from repeating bromides about how housing is a human right; homelessness is indifferent to earnestness but does respond to hard work and meticulous execution. Houston has succeeded because it has strong political leadership that gathers data, follows evidence and herds nonprofits in the same direction. It is relentless.”

From “Here’s How Houston Is Fighting Homelessness — and Winning” by Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times , November 22, 2023.

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of working with award-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof and his team when they visited Houston to learn more about our region’s success tackling homelessness and how our homeless response system works!

We are proud to see the incredible collective work of The Way Home be elevated in his column on homelessness.

We thank all those whose support, time and expertise made this piece possible, including our partners at Harris County — including our elected officials in Commissioners Court and the civil servants at Harris County Community Services Department — whose contributions, although not mentioned in the piece, play an integral role in the success of our system.

In the News - September/October Recap

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:54:03 GMT

Listen to a discussion on the best ways to approach homelessness in big cities and learn more about a new public art project coming to Houston. Check out our recent media mentions!

The Denver Post | 09/03/2023 - “H ouston cut its home less population by 63% in a decade. What can the new Denver mayor do in four years?”

“The Greater Houston area managed to do something no other major American metro did in the last decade when it reduced its homeless population by 63%.

“The Texas metro’s success since 2012 has made it a national model, so much so that delegations from other cities, including Denver, have traveled there. They’ve learned how Houston marshaled wide community buy-in and expansive resources to pull off such a feat.

“Now Denver city officials hope to follow important parts of Houston’s playbook as they pursue new Mayor Mike Johnston’s big campaign aspiration — a pledge to end street homelessness in the city in the next four years.”

Read the full story on The Denver Post .

Kinder Institute for Urban Research | 09/11/2023 - “Endi ng chronic home lessness remains a ‘moonshot’ opportunity for Houston”

“A number of public policy solutions could help Houston make further strides to reduce homelessness, but experts say what is truly needed is a recommitment from local leaders — and additional resources — to bring an end to chronic homelessness.

“That was among the themes that emerged from a town hall hosted by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County on Aug. 30 at the United Way of Greater Houston, part of a quarterly series of discussions on the issue.”

Read the full recap on the Kinder Institute for Urban Research .

NTV America | 10/02/2023- “Homelessness and promisin g a path forwa rd!”

CFTH President and CEO Mike Nichols goes on Truth Be Told hosted by Sofia Jamal to discuss Houston's approach to the issues of homelessness and extreme weather.

Watch the full interview on NTV America .

CFTH President & CEO Mike Nichols with Sofia Jamal from Truth Be Told - NTV America

CultureMap Houston | 10/20/2023 - “Ho uston scores $1M grant from B loomberg Philanthropies for Midtown public art project”

“Houston just scored a million-dollars win — for public art. Bloomberg Philanthropies set a challenge for cities to create temporary public art projects that address important civic issues in cities across the country, and Houston rose to that remarkable challenge with “HueMan: Shelter,” a public art program that will help enrich lives and change perspectives.

“The million-dollar, innovative project will support art-making through collaborations between artists and unsheltered individuals while producing new public art for all Houstonians.”

Read the article on CultureMap Houston .

The Columbian | 10/23/2023- “‘Homelessness is actually a community choice’: Council for Homeless event touts impactful strategies”

“'Homelessness is actually a community choice,’ said Council for the Homeless Executive Director Sesany Fennie-Jones. “The good news is that together, we get to choose to create a community that’s free of homelessness.”

“On Thursday, Council for the Homeless held “Gathering for Change: Solving Homelessness Together.” The fundraiser was intended to spark community change by providing examples of solutions to ending homelessness.

“This year, the council invited Marc Eichenbaum to speak and share the successes Houston has had alleviating homelessness through affordable housing investments. Eichenbaum is the special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives in Houston.”

Read the full article on The Columbian .

NY1 Spectrum News | 10/24/2023 - “The city might need a new approach to housing the homeless”

“Are there better ways to house people experiencing homelessness in New York? Elected officials have not reached a consensus on the best way to approach this issue, and the city shelter system has been further stressed recently with the arrival of thousands of migrants. So host Pat Kiernan analyzed Houston, which has moved 25,000 people into housing in the past decade. He also speaks with the CEO of a nonprofit to learn lessons that could be applied to New York.”

Listen to the full podcast on NY1 Spectrum News .

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless Announces Selection of Kelly Young as New President & CEO

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:00:06 GMT

The nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) today announced it has selected a new President & CEO: Kelly Young.

Young is currently the CEO at Career & Recovery Resources, Inc. She brings to CFTH more than 20 years’ worth of diverse management experience in program development, change management, strategic leadership, team-building, and organizational design.

An executive search was launched in May 2023 when CFTH’s current President & CEO, Mike Nichols, announced his plans to retire at the end of this year. Nichols has led the organization since 2019.

CFTH is lead agency to The Way Home , the Houston area’s public-private partnership to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring through permanent housing paired with supportive services. Houston’s progress in addressing homelessness has gained national attention ; the partners of The Way Home have together housed approximately 30,000 people since the formation of the collaborative in 2012.

“The CFTH Board of Directors is an outstanding group of community leaders invested in the organization’s mission and vision. I am grateful to them for trusting my abilities and experience to lead CFTH’s future,” said Young . “I have worked for many years with many different populations in multiple fields, and what I know is that without secure housing, no one can move toward a fully self-determined life. You must have a place to call home. I am eager to continue the incredible work of CFTH in maximizing the impact of the homeless response system, developing partnerships both within and outside of the homeless service providers, and increasing the understanding of our community concerning homelessness.”

“We are delighted that CFTH’s new leader will be Kelly Young,” said CFTH Board Chair Troi Taylor . “Not only does she bring a wealth of experience in running organizations that break barriers for people who have experienced economic hardship, she also has a strong vision for the future of homelessness response in Houston.”

“Kelly Young has been an impactful leader for CRR for the past five years through COVID and the development of CRR's service model,” said CRR Chairperson Bonar Luzey II . “Her commitment to the population and mission she serves creates meaningful and lasting change. She will be a tremendous asset to CFTH as their new CEO. We wish her great success in her next role.”

“Kelly has all the personal and professional attributes necessary to succeed in this very challenging — and very meaningful — role,” said Nichols , CFTH’s outgoing CEO. “She is an experienced executive with considerable knowledge about leading non-profits and about The Way Home, our local homeless response system. She also understands how to use government funding most effectively. We are fortunate to have recruited such an outstanding CEO.”

Young has been CEO of Career & Recovery Resources, Inc., since 2019. Prior to that, she served as CEO of what was then called AIDS Foundation Houston, now Allies in Hope , from 2012 to 2019.

Earlier in her career, Young held leadership roles at The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Research and at the Houston Area Women’s Center. She has more than 20 years of experience providing direct services, program management, or program leadership to populations who are in crisis, under-resourced, and living in poverty.

She is the board finance chair for the Midtown Management District. She was named one of the Most Admired Nonprofit CEOs by the Houston Business Journal in 2022.

Young holds a master’s degree in managerial sciences from Amberton University in Garland, Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Portland State University. She is originally from Eugene, Oregon, and has lived in Houston since 1997.

Headshot - Elvis Escobar - 1133 Studios

CFTH Commemorates World Homeless Day with "10 for 10" Fundraising Campaign

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 18:51:09 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County commemorated World Homeless Day on October 10 with its annual fundraising event.

More than 40 people gathered last week at Georgia James Steak to celebrate CFTH’s system leadership on addressing homelessness with the goal of raising $100,000 from supporters of the organization.

CFTH Board of Directors Secretary Annette Garber (Houston Methodist) introduced the organization and its important work as lead agency to Th e Way Home , the homeless response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Since 2012, more than 30,000 people have overcome homelessness and moved into permanent housing with a 90% success rate over the long term.

Katina Baldwin (Director of Development, CFTH) spoke about how CFTH drives collaboration forward, highlighting the organization’s nationally recognized leadership on decommissioning encampments through the offer of housing. Since 2021, more than 100 encampments have been decommissioned with more than 450 people on the path to housing.

Marc Eichenbaum (Mayor’s Office, City of Houston) talked about CFTH’s role in capacity building and how the organization has a unique ability to step in to bring about new programs and strategically fill key gaps. Mike Nichols (President/CEO, CFTH) spoke about CFTH’s expertise at weaving together highly restricted and fragmented public dollars with funds from private philanthropy.

James Gonzalez (Director of Housing, CFTH) spoke about the often-intangible role CFTH plays in helping people move into housing, made difficult according to Gonzalez because, “… if everything has gone according to plan, they never know who we are.” Gonzalez moved those in attendance with his observation, “What’s so different about CFTH?... At the Coalition we know that often our achievements will be anonymous. And yet here we are every day, quietly dedicating our lives to improve our community.”

Sara Martinez (VP Communications & Development, CFTH) detailed the benefits of the World Homeless Day Giving Society , which donors can join by pledging $10,000 over one or two years as part of our World Homeless Day campaign.

If you are interested in learning more about CFTH and this campaign, please contact Director of Development Katina Baldwin at kbal dwin@homelesshouston. org .

Photos by Trish Badger

World Homeless Day 2023

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:49:26 GMT

World Homeless Day is observed internationally every year on Oct. 10 to bring focus to the issues of homelessness and inadequate housing.

Did you know?

More than 3,200 people across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties experience homelessness on any given night.
Homelessness reduces life expectancy, taking 20-30 years off one’s life.
The primary causes of homelessness are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, low wages, chronic health conditions, domestic violence and systemic inequality.

How has CFTH made a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness?

As the lead agency to Houston’s homeless response system, The Way Home , CFTH coordinates the efforts of over 100 direct service partners. Our collaboration has:

Housed more than 28,000 people in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties since 2012 with a 21% reduction in overall homelessness since 2018.
Decommissioned more than 100 encampments since 2021 and helped more than 400 people begin their journey to housing directly from these encampments.
Secured more than $179 million in public funding for homelessness response in the Houston region in FY23 alone.

We are only able to accomplish this through the help of our incredible partners, the expert staff at CFTH, and donors like you! Today, on World Homeless Day, we hope that you will choose to recommit to CFTH’s vision of a community where everyone has a safe place to call home. Here’s how:

Consider recognizing World Homeless Day by making an impact, not just once or twice, but on a recurring basis! Every $1 you give to CFTH leverages an additional $91 in public funding to help the most vulnerable people in our community.

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Thank you for helping CFTH’s work towards a future where that is a reality.

NOFO Explained

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:43:36 GMT

Certain times in the year you will hear us mention “NOFO”, but you might be thinking “What is NOFO?”

How does the competition work?

The NOFO application is done collaboratively, meaning all project applications (new or existing) in each community are submitted as one directly to HUD by the lead agency of each CoC. In 2009, it became a requirement to submit a collaborative application to make sure the funds were being used strategically, effectively, and in a coordinated matter. (Previously, there was little collaboration and no technical assistance.)

As lead agency to The Way Home , we are in charge of preparing the annual application to participate in the competition. This requires a performance review of all CoC-funded projects within Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. The performance review allows us to rank new and existing projects to establish funding priority.

Before the NOFO is announced, we work to form a review committee with representatives from various stakeholder groups within our system. This year, our review committee includes people with lived experience, representatives of local governments, a healthcare and victim service provider partner, a youth system representative and veteran system representative.

How does this funding impact our CoC (The Way Home)?

Town Hall - Policies That Help And Hurt The Work To Address Homelessness

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 21:24:03 GMT

Thank you to our panelists and everyone who attended our Town Hall!

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, we hosted a "Town Hall" on policies that help and hurt the work to address homelessness at the United Way of Greater Houston.

Our moderated panel conversation featured panelists with expertise in topics including affordable housing, criminalization of homelessness, grassroots advocacy, and the role of the business community in addressing homelessness.

Watch to learn more about the intersections of these issues and policies and their impact on homelessness.

Our featured panelists and moderator:

Kris Larson - President & CEO of the Downtown District
Chrishelle Palay - Executive Director of the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity (HOME) and our Board Member
Ruth Lopez Turley - Professor of Sociology & Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Moderator: Mark Smith - our Director of Strategic Planning - CoC and Advocacy

In the News - August Coverage Recap

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:47:58 GMT

Watch a new series on homelessness and learn more about our collaborative strategy. Check out our August media mentions!

KTUU Alaska - "Seeking Shelter/Seeking Solutions examines options for solving homelessness"

“Homelessness can seem like an insurmountable problem, both to those seeking shelter and city leaders tasked with finding solutions. Those challenges are especially pronounced in Anchorage, where winter conditions are unforgivingly extreme, and outdoor deaths are on a record pace in 2023.

“In search of solutions, the Investigative Team at Alaska’s News Source traveled to Houston, Texas, a city often touted as a role model for its efforts to move people from the streets into stable, permanent housing.

“In Seeking Shelter/Seeking Solutions, Alaska’s News Source examines the example of success in the Lone Star State and other programs employed across the U.S., seeking solutions to the growing problem of homelessness in the Last Frontier.”

Click the links below to watch the full series.

Governing - "How Houston Cut Its Homeless Population by Nearly Two-Thirds"

“Houston has created a real system to address homelessness, aligning city, county and nonprofit efforts. That innovative program is now under threat, due to changes in leadership and funding.

“Over the past dozen years, Houston has driven down its homeless population by 64 percent, including a 17 percent reduction last year.

“Its success is built on a system that coordinates public policy with 100 different nonprofits. But a major source of federal money is running dry and experts are nervous about what a mayoral handover might mean.”

Read the full story on Governing .

Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative - "It Takes a Village: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Solving Homelessness in America"

“Houston has experienced the success of a multi-pronged intervention, which shows that government can create a sustainable, scalable solution through policy, appropriations, and funding. However, public dollars must seamlessly blend with local civic, philanthropic, and business support to create unique solutions and bring them to scale. Successful models are not built in a day or a year. They take time to demonstrate impact. Patience is necessary to prove that we can make progress. Private and civic support for pilot program enhancements, proof of concept, and community engagement are essential to create the political will to see the solutions to their successful conclusion.”

Read the full article on Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative .

CityCast Houston - "Why Houston is so good at helping the unhoused community"

“Houston has been leading the way in helping the unhoused community get back on their feet with permanent housing. A big reason for that success is the Coalition for the Homeless and their Way Home program. So, how are they doing it and where can we improve as a city to help even more in the unhoused community? CEO Mike Nichols joins host Raheel Ramzanali to talk about their success and how the Houston Endowment is helping with a new investment.”

Listen to the full interview on CityCast Houston .

Chron - "How Houston helps the unhoused when a hurricane hits Texas"

“The city emergency management office and other groups that focus on people experiencing homelessness prepare days in advance when a hurricane is projected to make landfall near Houston.”

Read the full story on Chron .

Houston Landing - "This summer heat wave is brutal. For Houston’s unhoused community, it’s been life-threatening"

“For all Houstonians, this summer’s heat wave has been miserable. But for everyone else living without permanent shelter, it’s been unrelentingly excruciating.

“Over 3,000 people in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties are experiencing homelessness, according to 2023 data from the Coalition for the Homeless, down 18 percent from last year. While Houston has been praised in the national media for its approach to decreasing homelessness in the past few years through finding permanent housing, this summer has amplified the life-threatening risks the weather has posed for those still without shelter.”

Read the full story on Houston Landing .

KPFT Open Journal – Coalition for the Homeless

Listen to the full interview with CEO Mike Nichols on KPFT Open Journal .

Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory Williams

Watch the full interview with CEO Mike Nichols here .

Homeless Court

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:35:24 GMT

One of the main barriers to helping people to regain housing is lack of official government identification. And if someone has any outstanding warrants, they can’t get an ID.

This is one reason that “Homeless Court” within the City of Houston Municipal Court was created.

The first Homeless Court docket was heard in 2006, just a few years after Scot More started with the Coalition as an intern. Now a Senior Associate, Scot wears many hats here at the Coalition, but said, “Although Homeless Court is only about 10% of what I do, it’s so important to me, and I love it so much.”

What is Homeless Court?

Homeless Court is an innovative and compassionate approach to addressing legal challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. It addresses class C misdemeanors, which include offenses of vagrancy, failure to pay bus fare, or sleeping in a public park. The Court provides a venue for them to have their cases heard in a more understanding and supportive environment, given that they are often also struggling with mental health challenges, substance abuse issues, lack of access to resources, and/or other barriers that have contributed to their circumstances.

Who can participate in the program?

To participate in Homeless Court, a client must be referred by a case manager, outreach team, or an emergency shelter .

How is Homeless Court different from traditional court?

Rather than imposing fines or incarceration, Homeless Court prioritizes empathy and rehabilitation over punitive measures. One unique aspect is that the client's participation in a housing program can fulfill the community service hours typically required in traditional court cases! This acknowledges the efforts people make to work towards stable housing and provides an alternative way to meet their legal obligations. As Scot explained, “It’s a way of saying we know how hard it is to work a program and get off the streets. This is a way of celebrating the clients’ hard work, saying ‘Job well done,’ and clearing legal barriers so they can move forward and be successful.”

The restorative approach of Homeless Court highlights the importance of supporting people experiencing homelessness on their journey toward stability and success. It’s a positive way to celebrate their progress and help them overcome legal barriers.

Judge Imelda Castillo is one of three judges in Homeless Court. We thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to discuss the program and how it has impacted her. [lightly edited for length and clarity.]

Why do you participate in this program?

“As a Judge, I feel it is important to help people navigate our court system when they receive a citation. In Homeless Court, the goal is to help people resolve their past and present tickets. The homeless population often requires additional assistance from the court system. Our homeless participants have had previous experience with other outreach programs that have not always been successful. So I agreed to be one of the Judges in Homeless Court to help, encourage, congratulate, and celebrate their accomplishments.”

What has it taught you?

“Our homeless participants have shown me how their hard work has paid off. It is amazing how our participants have overcome such difficult situations and succeeded in finding housing and/or a job. It is rewarding to see the pride they feel when they overcome these obstacles.”

How long have you been involved with the program?

“I have been involved in the program for over ten years. I have worked with many caring Judges (including Judge Steve Kirkland [who founded the program]) who have mentored me in this court.”

Do you have any interesting stories to share?

“There are many interesting stories but the people who stand out to me are the women who have left an unbearable or unspeakable [domestic violence] situation. These women have learned how to handle money, care for themselves, become the primary caretaker for their children, and learn self-worth and self-respect. They are always so proud of all their hard work; it is very rewarding to see them develop independence.”

What do you want others to know about people experiencing homelessness?

“Many of the homeless don’t want to be in this situation. They are not all to be feared; most are caring individuals that just want to be understood. Some have mental illnesses or addictions that need to be addressed and treated accordingly. Many older homeless defendants have told me how frightening it is on the street, and they appreciate our help with their cases so they can get a Texas Driver’s License or State ID. Without an ID or Driver’s License housing is often out of reach. Identification is one of the biggest obstacles to getting out of homelessness.

“Working this court has really opened my eyes to how good people are. All the agencies and individuals that work with these people care so much about them; it is truly amazing.”

In the News - July Coverage Recap

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 17:33:47 GMT

From extreme heat to a major grant announcement. Check out some of our media coverage from July!

Houston Endowment gives $15M to groups fighting homelessness, calls on others to fill 'funding gap'

“The New York Times has touted “how Houston is fixing homelessness.” Politicians from Colorado, California and Washington have reached out to Houston leaders to see what they can learn.

“Tuesday morning, the Houston Endowment, a philanthropic foundation, announced a $15 million grant to organizations to sustain the fight against homelessness in the Houston area, along with a call to action.”

Read the full story on Houston Chronicle .

Houston Endowment invests $15M in local partners to reduce homelessness

“Houston Endowment is boosting its efforts to reduce homelessness in the Bayou City with a $15 million investment in four key local partners.

“The investment will be split into four grants among the partners: $10 million will go to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, $3 million for Search Homeless Services, $1 million for The Beacon, and $1 million for U.S.Vets-Houston, the local arm of a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization helping veterans and their families.”

Read the full story on Houston Business Journal .

What can Texas teach California about dealing with homelessness?

“The Lone Star State’s reduced its homeless population by almost a third over the past decade, while published reports say California’s has grown by over 40% during the same time period. On top of that, Texas spent millions less of its state budget on homelessness than California last year.

“In their search for solutions, California lawmakers have even traveled to Texas to try to get an inside look at how the state’s homelessness programs operate and to learn if they can be replicated or should be replicated back on the West Coast.”

Listen to the full interview on Texas Standard .

Housing First Works—in Houston. Why Hasn’t the Policy Reduced Homelessness in California?

“What is Texas doing differently to alleviate the problem of homelessness? And what, if anything, can California learn from the Lone Star State?

“In 2012, the total number of homeless people in Texas was 34,052, according to federal data compiled by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. By 2022, the number had fallen to 24,432. That’s a decline of 28.3 percent—and it is mostly due to the efforts of one city. In 2012, about one in five homeless Texans lived in the greater Houston area. And that area has made impressive progress in the fight to reduce homelessness.”

Read the full story on California Local .

Mental Health Monday on Up to the Minute

“Mike Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless, discusses why Houston has been nationally recognized for its success rates of individuals who do not return to homelessness in 2 years.”

Watch the full podcast on Houston Community College District .

People experiencing homelessness at risk amid heat, flooding

“As some take to air-conditioned homes and safe public spaces to escape triple-digit temperatures in the Southwest, the elements pose unique risks to people experiencing homelessness.

“Here in Texas, currently the weather is 97 degrees, and it feels like 109,” said Mike Nichols, CEO of Coalition for the Homeless of Houston in Harris County, Texas.

“Groups like Nichols’ work year-round to place people in permanent housing. When extreme weather sets in, volunteers hit the streets to distribute aid like cold water and information about cooling centers.”

Read the full story on NewsNation .

Press Release: Houston Endowment Grants $10 Million to Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:20:41 GMT

HOUSTON, Texas (July 25, 2023) – Houston Endowment today announced a $10 million operating grant to the Coalition for the Homeless.

This grant from Houston Endowment is intended to help carry our work forward and attract the ongoing support of local government, philanthropic, and business communities to make investments that will continue to reduce homelessness in the region.

“We want Houston to be the first major metropolitan area in the U.S. to end chronic homelessness,” said Ann B. Stern, president and CEO of Houston Endowment. “We hope these dollars can supercharge the transformational work already being done by all the organizations involved, but our investment alone is not enough. We need the continued partnership and support of the city of Houston, Harris County, and business and philanthropic sectors to reach this ambitious goal. Let’s not settle for maintaining the status quo. Let’s continue to model what can be accomplished when you build coalitions across the public and private sectors — real, impactful change for Houston and its people.”

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a capacity-building organization. It has served as the lead agency for The Way Home since its inception, bringing together dozens of direct service organizations and securing the funding and other resources needed to secure housing and services for the most vulnerable people and monitor real-time data and trends. The Way Home was profiled in a 2022 New York Times story about Houston’s progress on homelessness.

“This extraordinary grant from Houston Endowment will set us up with solid footing on the path to long-term sustainability. It will amplify our ability to do what we do best: build capacity for the entire local homeless response system,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition. “By uniting partners and maximizing resources, we address the system so direct service providers can address the most urgent need: helping people end their homelessness. We believe we can make homelessness in our community rare, brief and nonrecurring. Since the inception of The Way Home in 2012, the Houston Endowment has been the philanthropic leader in developing a homeless response system that is organized, coordinated, pragmatic and scalable. We are so grateful to Houston Endowment for their commitment to our work.”

It is important to note that this significant gift doesn’t immediately change the Coalition’s fundraising and spending plans. The Coalition plans to invest this generous gift from the Houston Endowment to build a strong financial foundation - both for the Coalition and for The Way Home.

This strategy will create sustainability for the Coalition itself, allowing us to have a fully staffed team of experts to support our partners’ critical work to house people and families experiencing homelessness. It will also position us to rapidly respond to emerging needs - including natural disasters - as they arise. We know from Hurricane Harvey and the COVID pandemic that the Coalition was often called to stand up programs to keep people experiencing homelessness safe even before federal resources were immediately available.

This gift was part of a larger investment of $15 million in The Way Home , Houston’s ongoing collaborative effort to reduce homelessness with grants to four key local partners: Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County ($10 million); SEARCH Homeless Services ($3 million); The Beacon ($1 million); and U.S.VETS ($1 million). Since 2012, The Way Home has moved more than 28,000 people into permanent housing, resulting in a more than 60% decrease in overall homelessness, and reduced reliance on costly jail and emergency room visits, resulting in Houston having one of the lowest rates of homelessness among major metropolitan areas and becoming a model nationwide.

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a nonprofit organization that acts as a catalyst, uniting partners and maximizing resources to move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services. Since 2012, the Coalition has been proud to serve as the lead agency to The Way Home, the collective effort to prevent and end homelessness in the Houston region. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org .

The Way Home is the collective effort to prevent and end homelessness in Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The Way Home is made up of more than 100 partners, including homeless service agencies, local governments, public housing authorities, the local Veterans Affairs office, and other nonprofits and community stakeholders. The partners of The Way Home work to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in our region. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, a 501c3, is the lead agency to The Way Home. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org .

In the News - June Coverage Recap

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:06:47 GMT

Read about how Houston's success has garnered interest from cities across the country, become informed during this extreme heat and learn how some very famous Houstonians are collaborating with Harris County to create more permanent housing!

“Opinion: How Houston’s homelessness breakthrough could be a national game-changer”

“Since 2012, more than 28,000 people who have experienced homelessness in the greater Houston area have been housed. This has resulted in a more than a 60% decrease in overall homelessness in just over a decade.

“So, what changed? In 2012, we came together as a unified, regional, homeless response system called The Way Home and chose the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County as our lead agency.”

Read the full opinion piece on CNN .

“Chronicle: How major US city combats homelessness”

“Pittsburgh's newly formed city council homeless committee is taking notes from other cities to see how they're solving the issue of homelessness.

“In this segment of "Chronicle," we traveled more than 1,500 miles to Houston, Texas, which is one of the cities that Pittsburgh is watching closely to inform its solutions for tackling homelessness.”

Watch the full story on WTAE .

“How Texas shrank its homelessness population — and what it can teach California”

“Texas recorded a 28% drop in homelessness since 2012, while California’s homeless population grew by 43%. What’s behind the diverging trends, and what can California learn from programs in Houston, Austin and San Antonio?”

Read the full article on CalMatters .

“Homeless outreach groups are preparing Houston’s unhoused population for extreme heat”

“Houston-area homeless outreach groups have been taking to the streets to prepare the region's unhoused population for potentially life-threating heat.

“In an email, a spokesperson for the Coalition for the Homeless, which operates the region’s homeless response system, said partner agencies have been spreading the word about the incoming heat wave in Harris County to ensure people living unsheltered are informed about and protected from the extreme heat.’”

Read the full story on Houston Public Media .

“Unsheltered homelessness drops in Harris County despite rise in evictions”

“The number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Harris County dropped by just over 17% in the past year, continuing an ongoing trend that has seen a nearly 63% decline in overall homelessness in the county since 2011.

“The latest numbers, released May 3, were celebrated by city and nonprofit leaders in Houston as payoff for more than a decade of effort and financial investments into initiatives to reduce homelessness. Having housed more than 28,000 homeless people since 2011, The Way Home has helped Houston emerge as a national leader in the conversation on how to keep people off the streets, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.”

Read the full story on Community Impact .

“Advocates shed light on safety risk to people experiencing homelessness after man beaten to death”

“Mike Nichols, CEO and president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County, told ABC13 this case is just a reminder of why their work to get people off the streets is so important.

‘Recent studies have shown that people who are experiencing homelessness are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators of violence,’ Nichols said. ‘Someone like the gentleman who died this weekend, it is awful. It is an awful thing that if they were housed, it's much less likely that they'll have those kinds of traumatic issues.’”

Read the full story on ABC13 .

“Beyonce, Kelly Rowland team with Harris County to build homes for unhoused”

“‘Harris County and the city of Houston, jointly with the coalition for the homeless, have reduced homeless in the middle of the pandemic by 20 percent, and we've been able to hold that reduction,’ Hidalgo said in a press conference Tuesday morning. ‘We just did the homeless count again, so it's initiatives like this one I certainly will be supportive of it no matter whose behind it, but it's especially interesting, I think, because there are these names of Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, who, of course, have been supportive of the community for a very long time.’”

Read the full story on Chron .

LGBTQIA+ Youth Homelessness and YHDP

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:16:41 GMT

June is Pride Month!

Pride Month is a celebration of love and staying true to your unique self. It is about acceptance, equality and raising awareness of issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community.

Did you know that LGBTQIA+ youth disproportionately experience homelessness?

National research has shown that between 20 and 40% of youth experiencing homelessness also identify as LGBTQIA+[CBV1] . Stigma and bias, negative community and family reactions, lack of awareness about youth homelessness, and challenges youth experience when exiting the foster care or justice system are all factors that contribute to LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness, with family rejection being cited most often. The issue of homelessness among LGBTQIA+ youth shows the realities of intersectional marginalization. Youth who identify as both LGBTQIA+ and black or multiracial have the highest rates of homelessness.

Reports have found that LGBTQIA+ youth are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to their non-LGBTQIA+ peers. Many youths may not self-identify as being LGBTQIA+ when initially presenting for services because they fear discrimination.

How are we helping?

Overcoming homelessness presents barriers for anyone, but the lack of services and outreach geared to youth and young adults can make it even harder for them. Because of this, our Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) was created to support The Way Home and reduce the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness through the implementation of a Coordinated Community Plan (CCP) .

This plan was created after our community and its stakeholders were asked by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use our unique perspectives to set a strategic framework that would help prevent and end youth homelessness. The YHDP is led by the Youth Action Board (YAB) made up of youth and young adults with lived experience who provide strategic oversight to all activities connected with the program.

Under the plan, the YHDP, its stakeholders and the YAB have agreed to a set of shared values that reflect our community’s priorities. Under the guiding principles of equity and inclusion, our community ensures that no youth will be discriminated against based on race, gender, gender identity or ethnicity.

Since February 2023, we served more than 150 youth and young adults with more than 20 of them reporting they are LGBTQIA+ under the YHDP program.

We are proud to celebrate Pride Month and are committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness, eliminating barriers, and improving services to better support LGBTQIA+ youth .

National Alliance to End Homelessness Visits Houston: A Collaborative Effort to Address Homelessness

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:49:14 GMT

Earlier this month, along with several partners in The Way Home, we welcomed policy leaders from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) to Houston. They came to explore (in their words) “the unique and innovative approaches” our community has taken to end homelessness and to understand how to support our federal advocacy goals to create sustainable solutions for homelessness.

During their time with us, our friends from NAEH had a series of listening sessions with key partners and stakeholders. Topics of discussion included:

Housing Partnerships and Collaboration:

Collaboration lies at the core of our community’s approach to ending homelessness. Our partnerships with the City of Houston, Harris County, direct service providers, and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), have been instrumental in expanding housing options and creating sustainable pathways for people to overcome homelessness and remain safely and stably housed.

Healthcare Partnerships and Collaboration:

Because of the critical link between housing stability and health outcomes, healthcare partnerships are very important. Our partners discussed innovative models of collaboration — including the Harris Center’s R3 Facility and the Harris County ACCESS program — that integrate healthcare services into our homelessness response system, emphasizing the vital role healthcare plays in ending homelessness.

Lived Expertise Engagement:

The voices of people with lived experience are essential in shaping effective strategies to address homelessness. We dedicated time for those who’ve experienced homelessness to share their stories and remind us to center our work around the perspectives and needs of those we serve.

Policy and Advocacy:

Representatives from the City of Houston’s and Harris County’s Government Affairs offices discussed with NAEH federal policies that impact our ability to serve people experiencing homelessness. This allowed us to compare and align our advocacy and policy goals at the federal level.

Exploring Houston's Innovative Facilities:

NAEH representatives also toured two notable facilities in our community.

The Navigation Center , managed by Harmony House, serves as a “one-stop-shop” for people moving from encampments into permanent housing and offers a comprehensive range of services and resources all under one roof.

The Harris Center’s Respite, Rehabilitation, and Re-Entry Center (R3 Facility) serves as a resource center for those who are experiencing homelessness while suffering from mental illness. The Mental Health Jail Diversion program serves as an alternative to jail for those charged with low-level criminal offenses. The R3 Facility’s primary goal is to stabilize their clients so they can one day move into housing and live independently.

We express our gratitude for NAEH’S time and interest in our community’s efforts to address homelessness. We are grateful to our partners of The Way Home, who joined us in the listening sessions, demonstrating the strength and importance of our collaborative efforts. With NAEH's support, we will continue our advocacy and work together to create lasting solutions to end homelessness!

Avenue 360
Career and Recovery Resources, Inc.
City of Houston – Mayor’s Office for Homeless Initiatives
Endeavors
Harris County Community Services Department
Harris County Housing Authority
Harris County Public Health
Harris Health
Harmony House, Inc.
Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
SEARCH
The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
TLC Health & Wellness
Committee Members with Lived Expertise: Career and Recovery Resources, Inc.; Employ to Empower; Charles Manning; CFTH and former member of The Way Home YHDP Youth Action Board; Gregory Dread, member of The Way Home Steering Committee

Preparing for Extreme Heat - Summer 2023

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 21:29:06 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming extreme heat and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

The Coalition for the Homeless as lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) works with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as extreme heat affects our region.

To read more about how we assist people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat, click here .

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

To find out whether the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan has been activated, visit the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Website .

Cooling Centers

Throughout the summer

Beat The Heat Cooling Centers

A Cooling Center is an air-conditioned facility where residents can go to find relief from the heat. The Houston Health Department operates 11 multi-service centers where residents can go to stay cool. You can find a list of locations and more details here .

The City of Houston, Reliant and Precinct 2 have partnered to open 22 "Beat the Heat" centers in Houston. Find the full list here .

Additionally, Harris County Precinct 2 operates ten (10) Cooling Centers during the summer months.

Monday & Wednesday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m.-12 noon.

Closed for Monday, June 19 (Juneteeth Holiday) and Tuesday, July 4 (Independence Day Holiday)

For a list of locations, click here .

For a map of Harris County Precinct 4 Cooling Centers click here . For additional cooling centers and heat safety tips, visit Ready Harris .

Hope Center Houston offers services during the day such as hot showers, clothing, meals, housing connections and more. Their facility remains open to provide a cool, safe, friendly, and welcoming space escape the heat.

The center is located at 821 Peakwood Dr.

Open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily.

Extended hours of operation will take effect on days when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees.

The facility will remain open until 8 p.m.

For the latest updates

The Coalition will share information and resources on its Facebook and Twitter accounts as it becomes available.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening cooling centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps

Extreme Heat Q&A

What does the homeless response system do to prepare for the upcoming extreme heat?

The Coalition for the Homeless works with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from the extreme heat.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — spread the word that we are likely to be hit by extreme heat and hand out hot weather supplies (bottled water, handheld fans, cooling towels, sunscreen, etc.) and offer rides to cooling centers when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

One Year Later – The New York Times Article

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:27:13 GMT

A year later, we reflect on the increase in awareness about what works to address homelessness.

On June 14, 2022, The New York Times published a major story online about Houston’s approach to homelessness: “How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own.” Later that month, the article was featured in a special print section and on the Times’ podcast The Daily .

The publication of this article was the culmination of about a year of conversations between us, our government and nonprofit partners in The Way Home , and the author, Michael Kimmelman — on top of a decade of work on the part of our entire homeless response system.

We hoped that the article would highlight the collective impact work of our system and demonstrate how Housing First is both an effective and compassionate response to homelessness.

A year on, we believe that it has, and we are glad we have been able to serve as a source of knowledge for other communities:

More than 40 different local governments in the U.S. have reached out or visited Houston to learn about our approach, including Los Angles, Denver, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, and Chicago.
Coalition staff have visited and engaged with more than 15 different cities to speak on panels, conferences or webinars about Houston’s Housing First approach in combatting homelessness including Washington D.C . , Phoenix and Princeton .
Over 35 different local, regional, national, and international media outlets — and a documentary crew — have reached out to learn more, including Scripps National Media , WYNC Studios and a radio news program in New Zealand.

More than 28,000 people have been placed in permanent housing (Permanent Supportive Housing or Rapid Re-Housing) through The Way Home since 2012.
This year, the Point-in-Time Homeless Count found 1,242 people living unsheltered, a decrease of 17% since 2022.
As of May 2023, more than 13,432 people experiencing homelessness have been housed or diverted from homelessness through the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) .
More than 50 people who have stayed at the Navigation Center since it opened in January have already been successfully housed.
Overall, our region has seen a 61% reduction in homelessness since 2011.

The New York Times reestablished Houston’s place as a national model and expanded our reputation globally for effectively applying Housing First to address homelessness.

In the News - May Coverage Recap

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:32:35 GMT

From Point-in-Time Count Results to the Coalition's CEO retirement announcement. Check out some of our coverage from the month of May.

Houston's unsheltered population falls 17 percent, with more finding refuge in shelters than in tents

"Every year, thousands of volunteers fan out across the country to take stock of their regions’ homeless populations. It’s this census, known as the Point-in-Time Count, that has brought Houston national recognition for its success in reducing its homeless population by roughly two-thirds since 2011."

Continue reading on the Houston Chronicle.

Houston announces 17% decrease in street homelessness in 1 year, one of the biggest in city's history

"The City of Houston has announced a "remarkable" decrease in street homelessness from January 2022 to January 2023, according to a release."

Continue reading on FOX26 Houston.

Houston’s unsheltered population decreased by nearly 20% over the last year, new report says

"The annual report from the Coalition for the Homeless found 1,242 people living unsheltered throughout the Houston area in January."

Continue reading on Houston Public Media.

Houston unsheltered homelessness declines

"Overall homelessness in the Houston area remained flat from last year, with the number of people living on the street down and the number of people in shelters up."

Continue reading on Axios.

More unhoused people are finding shelter in Houston. Ending chronic homelessness is the next hurdle.

"New homelessness data for the area was released by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County this week, with the 2023 mark showing little change from last year, but an increase in shelter capacity is keeping more people in safer conditions. Houston, considered a national model in reducing homelessness over the past decade, now looks to put a stop to chronic homelessness."

Continue reading on Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Annual count reveals another reduction in the homeless population in Houston area

"The economic hardships that came with the COVID-19 pandemic saw the number of people who are experiencing homelessness rise in many communities. The Coalition for the Homeless, an agency that spans Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend counties, says that’s not the case in the Houston-area. The results of the coalition’s annual Point-in-time Homeless Count, or PIT Count, support that claim."

Continue reading on CW39 Houston.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County’s president and CEO to retire

"Whoever is chosen as the next president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County will lead the organization through a change in mayoral administration, changes in funding streams and the future work of the homeless response system, current President and CEO Michael Nichols noted."

Continue reading on Houston Business Journal.

Homelessness Hides in Plain Sight. So Does Its Fix.

"One in every 14 Americans experiences homelessness at some point. Our listeners who know about it firsthand talk to us. Plus:

Michael Kimmleman, architecture critic for The New York Times. His article, “How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own,” was published in his Headways column of the Times, from June 14, 2022.
Ana Rausch, Vice President of Operations for Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County."

Listen to the full episode on WYNC Studios - Notes from America with Kai Wright.

Q&A: Mental Health and Homelessness

Wed, 31 May 2023 18:50:40 GMT

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

In honor of this month's observance, we wanted to spotlight our partners at the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD to learn more about the work they do as service providers for The Way Home. We were able to reach out to Amber Honsinger, a licensed professional counselor who currently serves as a Program Director in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Services (CPEP) Division for The Harris Center. Below, she provided more information on the link between mental health and homelessness.

*This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Driving Home Charity Golf Tournament Recap

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 30 May 2023 20:02:29 GMT

“The first thing golf teaches is humility, the second: empathy, and the third: patience.”

-Kris E Wilson

On May 11, 2023, dozens of golfers came together at the Golf Club of Houston for the Coalition for the Homeless’ inaugural “Driving Home” charity golf tournament. With the course lined with statistics on homelessness, the goal of the event was to build empathy, explain the complexities of the issue, and garner support and patience for housing as the solution to homelessness. Because much like the game of golf, the work to house the most vulnerable is about the long game.

Thanks to bronze sponsors Cadence Insurance and Camden , multi-sponsor Kirkland & Ellis , and hole-in-one sponsor Group 1 Automotive , the tournament was a success by all accounts!

Players had a fun time on the course with the rain holding off during a week that had been filled with storms. Golfers opened their hearts, challenged their thoughts, and together raised more than $40,000 to support the Coalition’s work toward its vision of a Houston community where everyone has a safe place to call home.

The Coalition for the Homeless is tremendously grateful to the sponsors, players, and supporters who made “Driving Home” a triumph and we can’t wait to welcome more players to our 2 ^nd annual tournament in 2024!

President/CEO Search Announcement

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 09 May 2023 14:35:54 GMT

Mike Nichols to retire at end of 2023

A note from Board Chair Troi Taylor

I have had the opportunity to work with some of you before, but for those who I haven’t, please let me introduce myself. My name is Troi Taylor and, in addition to my role as founder and President of Taylor Construction Management, I serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Coalition for the Homeless. To each of you, I want to say thank you for your partnership with the Coalition and for sharing our vision of a community where everyone has a safe place to call home.

I am writing today on behalf of the Coalition’s Board and staff to let you know that our President/CEO Mike Nichols is planning to retire at the end of 2023, and that a national search for his successor is currently underway.

Mike was asked to join the Coalition in 2019 when the organization was going through significant challenges. Although I’m sure many of you know from the time you’ve spent working with Mike, I’d like to highlight a few examples of how exceptional Mike’s leadership has been.

One of the first things Mike did after joining the Coalition was to lead an organizational restructuring. This required making some tough decisions, but resulted in an organization that is more efficient and effective. This work set the foundation for the Coalition’s growth during COVID, from a team of about 30 to nearly 80 today.

Mike also restored confidence in the Coalition, repairing relationships with partners and funders. Without these repaired relationships, our community would have likely been unable to implement the Community COVID Housing Program, which has secured more than $160M in public and private resources to address homelessness.

During Mike’s tenure at the Coalition, the partners of The Way Home have housed more than 11,000 people, reestablishing our community as a leader on addressing homelessness. Mike has shared that he judges himself not on factors beyond his control (a lack of affordable housing, poverty), but by the number of people we house. I’d say this number is something he should be proud of.

What you are likely most interested in with this news is, what does this mean for me?

While there is no hard timeline, the goal is that the new President/CEO is in place prior to the end of 2023. The Board has engaged the firm Russell Reynolds to conduct an exhaustive, national search, and it is likely that they may engage with some of you to get your input. Since this is a confidential search, there will likely not be many updates along the way, but given the Coalition’s position in the community, we will provide what updates we can, at the Board’s discretion.

Things may appear to be quiet for long periods of time after this note – and that is a good thing! I want to ensure you that, throughout this search and when the Board names a successor, you will continue to see the same level of performance and partnership from the Coalition that you have come to expect and rely upon under Mike’s leadership.

Below, please find a letter from Mike in which he has expressed in his own words what his time at the Coalition and his work with each of you has meant to him.

Again, thank you for your partnership with the Coalition and your dedication to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Sincerely,

Troi Taylor

A note from President & CEO Mike Nichols

Dear friends,

In January 2019, when I received the call asking me to join the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County as Interim President/CEO to guide the organization through a period of transition, I leapt at the opportunity.

At the time, my youngest daughter Anna was a housing navigator in Seattle, who called me each night, distraught, to ask me, “what kind of world did we live in where elderly women had to live unsheltered on the street?”

I leapt at the opportunity to take this job to try and make a difference in Houston!

I also had previous experience as the Interim CEO of the Houston Parks Board, where I witnessed firsthand the progress we can make for our community when we can facilitate strong public/private partnerships.

I knew that the Coalition played an important role as the leader of the local homeless response system, but over the last four years I have had the privilege to learn just how incredible an impact this organization has made for the Houston region’s efforts to solve homelessness. My work at the Coalition has met my highest expectations, taught me a great deal about the world in which we live, and shown me that it is possible to solve significant social issues. I truly believe that our community has demonstrated that:

homelessness is solvable,
government programs and funding can be effective with the support and partnership of nonprofits like the Coalition,
collaboration across multiple sectors can build the infrastructure to solve social issues, and
that placing people experiencing the trauma of literal homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services is the best way to address homelessness and build a more resilient community.

The Board removed the “interim” designation from my title at the end of 2019 so I could finish the work to restructure the organization, strengthen our governance, improve our internal processes, and build financial stability; however, the Coalition’s Board and I have always been working on and looking to a succession plan for my role. And we both feel that the Coalition is in the right place to enact this plan, and I’m pleased to share that the national search to identify my successor is underway.

Russell Reynolds & Associates is the firm that will be leading the nationwide, exhaustive search, under the leadership of the Coalition’s Board Chair Troi Taylor and members of the Board’s CEO Search Committee, chaired by Lance Gilliam. Both the search firm and Board will be engaging with Coalition staff, key stakeholders, and community partners to ensure that the next President/CEO for the Coalition has the skills and experience to build on our successes and lead the organization and community through the upcoming change in mayoral administration, changes in funding streams, and the future work of our homeless response system.

Out of all the good parts of being President/CEO at the Coalition, working with the staff has been the best. Their dedication and commitment is a daily source of inspiration. And this work is so exciting and so important to me that, if I could stay with the Coalition forever, I would love nothing more. But I am excited to spend more time with my wife, children, and grandchildren in retirement.

I am so confident in the Coalition’s staff leadership and our Board of Directors in making this a successful transition. And I have no doubt that our next President & CEO will continue to drive our innovation, strength, and success.

Thank you now and always for your support and partnership!

Mike

State of Homelessness 2023: A Recap

Thu, 04 May 2023 22:22:19 GMT

We were proud to host the second annual State of Homelessness on April 27, 2023.

Our half-day conference brought together partners of The Way Home , community members, and other supporters to hear from local and national experts in solving homelessness. Highlights included talks on the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), the City’s housing navigation center, and Harris County’s Employ2Empower program; keynote speaker Michael Kimmelman of The New York Times; and a performance from Houston Grand Opera.

Over one hundred people joined us in person, and more than three hundred livestreamed this year's event.

Scroll down to read a recap of each session.

Opening Remarks

Ashlie Young , our manager of landlord engagement, joined us once again as this year’s Master of Ceremonies. She opened with an original poem she wrote , before passing the mic to our Board Vice Chair  Chris Hanslik for opening remarks, who called on others to provide support and get involved in the fight against homelessness.   (Watch opening remarks)

A decade of The Way Home

Thao Costis , interim executive director of the Harris County Community Services Department, kicked things off by reflecting on what the past decade of The Way Home has taught us, particularly in terms of social resources.

When she began her journey in 1992, she worked with other Houston-based resource centers to help those in need, despite having minimal funding. Costis explained that it wasn't until 2011 when, despite a lack of trust in collective efforts and red tape making progress slow, campaigns such as the 100,000 Homes Campaign aimed to make a real impact on homelessness. The development of The Way Home and the Coordinated Access system and the adoption of the Housing First approach also helped Houston to accelerate its progress in helping people experiencing homelessness.

Through her consistent efforts, Thao has learned the power of community and the importance of collaboration: "The Way Home is the answer. By coming together, we can achieve a vision of Houston without homelessness." (Watch this presentation.)

Employ2Empower

Next,  Kelly Young , CEO of Career & Recovery Resources;  Mercedes Sanchez, senior director of policy & community relations for  of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia; and  Sgt Theodore Perez  of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office spoke about Employ2Empower . The program started in Precinct 2 and has since expanded throughout all of Harris County. It provides low-barrier employment opportunities to people experiencing homelessness.

Mercedes introduced a video explaining that the program has become highly successful due to its partnerships. Prior to the program’s inception, Mercedes did extensive research and found there were services across the county that offered training, but participants weren’t paid. Through her research, they realized the need for programs with a more comprehensive approach.

Career & Recovery's work in the program aims to connect individuals to available resources. The biggest challenge Kelly has observed is that for most the problem isn't a lack of skills or job training but an inability to secure employment opportunities due to barriers. The program was a humbling experience for Kelly, reflecting the very essence of humanity, she said.

As a law enforcement officer, Sgt. Perez plays a role in validating the program by liaising with the community while out in the field. But Sgt. Perez was quick to give credit to the deputies and program coordinator who work alongside him, as well as Sheriff Gonzalez and Commissioner Garcia, stating that, "With a team like this, it's no wonder the program is making such a big difference in the lives of so many." (Watch this presentation.)

Housing Navigation Center

Marc Eichenbaum , special assistant to Mayor Sylvester Turner for homeless initiatives; our Director of Program Operations James Gonzalez ; and  Preston Witt , COO of Harmony House, then took to the stage to discuss City of Houston’s housing navigation center, a new facility designed to provide people with a consistent, safe, and stable location to stay while they transition from homelessness to housing.

James emphasized that the navigation center is a beacon of hope for those transitioning from the street into permanent housing and a perfect place to stay for those in need of a safe haven. But James stressed that the facility is more than just place to lay one's head, "It's a community that offers compassion and support during a vulnerable time in one's life, and a stepping stone towards long-term stability and a brighter future."

Marc explained that while Houston did not invent the idea of a navigation center, our use of City-owned property to bring it closer to the urban core makes Houston's approach unique. Marc reiterated that the center's focus is not to house people, but to be a stop along the way to housing.

Preston said that prior to the navigation center, housing so many in need seemed daunting, but collaboration with partners led to a solution. Today, more than 50 people who have stayed at the navigation center since it opened in January have already been successfully housed. Preston attributes this success to the power of collaboration and hard work, while reminding us that this is just the beginning and calling on everyone to continue their efforts and help even more people in need. (Watch this presentation.)

Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

The  Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)  Panel was moderated by our own  Stefanie Quintela , director of strategic planning . The YHDP is a new initiative to prevent and end youth homelessness in our community. Panelists included  Shun Johnson, CEO  of TLC Health & Wellness;  Joe Fuentes , Chief Transformation Officer  of Spring Branch Community Health Center; Youth Action Board Representative  Kenny Easley; and  Juliet Stipeche , executive director  of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board.

Stefanie kicked off the program by stressing that the life a youth faces on the streets is very different than that of an adult. Kenny explained that the Youth Action Board (YAB) is a group of youth and young adults who have had first-hand experiences with homelessness. They work with organizations to train them on how to help and communicate with youth.  The YAB was heavily involved in the planning of the program, making sure that their voices were heard. Kenny said they appreciated being given a voice and a place to share their experiences.

Juliet has seen firsthand that education, training, and employment are vital components in preventing and ending homelessness, especially among our youth. Juliet believes in redesigning the system, creating a division focused on education, youth development, and adult literacy, and hopes to focus her efforts on working collaboratively with communities to make a difference in the lives of those affected by homelessness.

Shun credits funding for her organization's ability to expand its capacity and offer additional services. Prior to the funding, Johnson's organization was limited to case management and advocacy, but added resources allowed them to finally fill in the missing piece: housing.  Working with the YAB has been one of Shun's most rewarding experiences. "The young adults involved are not only committed and present, but they are also honest about their experiences and share what is needed to better serve them,” she told the audience.

Despite unforeseen challenges, Joe works tirelessly to secure transitional housing for youth in need and engage with landlords and the population at large. Joe said the collaboration between the YAB and partners has been critical throughout the process, giving him and his team the support needed to overcome obstacles and make a real difference in the lives of the youth they serve. (Watch this presentation.)

Keynote Address

We were so excited to welcome this year’s keynote speaker Michael Kimmelman , author of The New York Times article “How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets into Homes of Their Own," Regarding what prompted his interest in Houston, Kimmelman said that he, "felt all the negative doomsday scrolling stories about homelessness fed into a cycle of pessimism and despair that made people both more hostile to the unhoused and more complacent."

Although it may seem daunting for individuals or organizations to tackle, Michael said he believes that a systemic approach is critical in making progress towards ending homelessness. Reflecting on the impact his article has made, he said, "The public got back a hunger to know more about what works, what is possible, and not just be told that everything is going haywire. Because in the end I believe a majority of us seek common ground and common cause, if we are just given some reason to hope. Houston gives people hope that homelessness is a problem we can tackle together. It shows that if we come together and work towards a common goal and make a meaningful impact on one of society's most intractable problems." (Watch the keynote.)

Houston Grand Opera

After the keynote, Jeremy Johnson and Alisa Magallón of Houston Grand Opera (HGO) spoke about their experience learning about homelessness and bringing the new opera Another City to life. Then, singers Cecila Duarte and Alejandro Magallón and pianist Bin Yu Sanford took the stage to perform excerpts from the show. (Watch this presentation.)

Closing Remarks

Our Vice President Sara Martinez reflected on her last ten years with the CFTH and the incredible progress Houston has made. "When I think of how we got here, I think of the people in this room and the people watching online who've been selfless, forward-thinking and willing to change the status quo," she said. Looking to the next ten years, Martinez said, "If the last ten years are any indication, I wouldn’t be surprised to be living in a Houston where homelessness is rare brief and nonrecurring.” (Watch closing remarks.)

Thank you to everyone who joined us for State of Homelessness 2023. And a very special thank you to our sponsors, CORT , PJS , and Houston Methodist .

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless' 2023 Count Results Show Decrease in Unsheltered Homelessness

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 03 May 2023 15:18:38 GMT

Houston, Texas (May 3, 2023) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County’s 2023 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey found a total of 3,270 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 23, 2023, in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The results reflect an 18% decrease in overall homelessness in the area since 2020, the last count conducted prior to the pandemic. Overall, the region has seen a 61% reduction in homelessness since 2011.

The Coalition for the Homeless, a 501c3, coordinates the annual “PIT Count” on behalf of the local homeless response system, The Way Home .

This was the first Count conducted since a prominent New York Times article published in June 2022 brought national and international attention to the Houston region’s progress in reducing homelessness through permanent housing plus supportive services.

This year, the Count found 1,242 people living unsheltered, a decrease of 17% since 2022. Meanwhile, the 2023 Count found 2,028 people staying in shelter, an increase of 18% over 2022. Demographic data suggests that people didn’t simply relocate from the streets to shelter.

The increase in the sheltered number is likely due to relaxation of pandemic restrictions on maximum shelter bed occupancy levels. In other words, shelter occupancy was lowered due to COVID but is now returning to pre-pandemic levels. That, combined with a high instance (51%) of people in shelters experiencing homelessness for the first time in the past year, suggests that the increase in sheltered homelessness is not simply due to the migration of those living unsheltered to shelters; the increased shelter capacity has helped those newly experiencing homelessness, particularly families, to have a place to stay other than in vehicles or on the streets.

Meanwhile, the decrease in the unsheltered number is likely due to the partners of The Way Home having undertaken several initiatives to accelerate access to housing. Most recently, with investments from Harris County and the City of Houston as well as private philanthropy, the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) made use of federal COVID relief funds to place people in permanent housing. The funding also allowed for the “decommissioning” of encampments . The City’s new housing navigation center operated by nonprofit partner Harmony House officially opened after the Count but will be crucial in continuing to help people off the streets and on the path to housing.

“Reducing homelessness by 17% in one year, and nearly 40 percent since coming into office, does not happen by mistake,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner . “Rather, it’s the result of making it a top priority, enhancing our invaluable partnership with Harris County and the community, and strategically funding data-proven, holistic housing solutions. Although Houston is showing the state and nation how to reduce street homelessness and encampments successfully, the job is not done. We will continue our groundbreaking, successful efforts until every Houstonian is off our streets. We must do more.”

“Many areas around the country are struggling with dramatic increases in homelessness. I am proud we are leading the way with this collaborative effort. Over $165 million has been invested, with funding from Harris County, the City of Houston, and private philanthropic organizations,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . “We are working alongside local nonprofits and community stakeholders, and by no means have solved this issue, but we are making great strides and serving as a national model.”

“Homelessness is the result of poverty and a lack of affordable housing. We still have a distance to go to end homelessness and ensure that everyone has access to a stable and safe home,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis . “Harris County is making significant investments to end homelessness and provide resources to reduce housing insecurity and poverty. The point-in-time count offers a critical insight into how and when people experience homelessness. It’s also an important tool to guide our policies, programs, and investments to make homelessness a rare and brief occurrence.”

“A reduction of the number of people living unsheltered in the region by 17% is fantastic news,” said Frida Villalobos, spokesperson for Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “It shows that the Community COVID Housing Program, funded by joint investments by Harris County and the City of Houston, is working. Commissioner Garcia is thrilled that the investments are working but understands money alone won’t solve the issue. Our partners at the Coalition for the Homeless, all the volunteers, and the network of non-profits should be saluted for their work. We look forward to this trend continuing."

“I’m encouraged by the progress shown in the results of this year’s Point-In-Time Count,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “Harris County is a national leader in its response to homelessness because of the emphasis on data-driven, evidence-backed policies and interventions. As we move forward, we must remain committed to finding effective, sustainable solutions to address the root causes of homelessness and support vulnerable members of our community. Thank you to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and my colleagues on Commissioners Court for their work on this important issue.”

“It is good news that homelessness hasn’t risen despite the fact that evictions are higher than ever before and that Houston is the second fastest-growing major metro area in the country ,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless . “The Way Home continues to prove how public-private collaboration among governments, nonprofits, and philanthropy can effectively address homelessness. At the same time, we know that that we will never be able to truly ‘solve’ homelessness without addressing the causes of homelessness, like lack of affordable housing, broken safety nets and systems, and poverty in general. So, the true barometer of our success, what we can actually control, is how many people we can get into housing — and help stay there.”

Other key findings from the 2023 Homeless Count include:

42% of unsheltered persons were homeless for the first time (up from 40% in 2022).
9% of unsheltered persons indicated they were homeless due to COVID, compared with 13% in 2022.
33% (a plurality) of unsheltered persons cited an economic impact as the primary cause of their homelessness.
People who are Black or African American make up 55% of the population experiencing homelessness compared to only 20% of the population.
More than 9,300 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home on the night of Jan. 23, 2023.
More than 28,000 people have been placed in permanent housing (Permanent Supportive Housing or Rapid Re-Housing) through The Way Home since 2012.

More about the PIT Count

The Count is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine the effectiveness of collaboration and homeless programs in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The annual Count cannot provide an exact number of people experiencing homelessness for several reasons, including the daily fluctuating number and the vast area (3,700+ square miles) being canvassed by volunteers. However, it is considered a critical metric and is highly effective at illustrating trends over time. The Count results are combined with additional data points, like the information tracked in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), to gauge progress of the local homeless response system.

Our region is one of the few that attempts face-to-face interviews during the unsheltered count, rather than observational headcounts only. This allows for the provision of additional information characterizing those experiencing homelessness.

As in past years, the 2023 Count & Survey data was analyzed by the Coalition in consultation with Dr. Catherine Troisi, associate professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. The full Homeless Count & Survey Independent Analysis is available online here and a two-page fact sheet is available here .

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here . For photos and B roll of volunteers conducting this year’s Count, click here .

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County , a 501c3 nonprofit organization, acts as a catalyst, uniting partners and maximizing resources to move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org .

Additional Resources

2023 State of Homelessness Preview

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 18:38:14 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County will host State of Homelessness on April 27, 2023.

The half-day conference will bring together partners of The Way Home, community members, and stakeholders to learn from local and national experts in the homeless response system.

The Day at a Glance

Our own Ashlie Young , manager of landlord engagement and performance artist, will return as this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

Coalition for the Homeless Vice Chair Chris Hanslik will kick things off at 9 a.m. with opening remarks. Then, Thao Costis of Harris County Community Services Department, will offer a reflection of the last ten years of The Way Home .

Next, Kelly Young of Career & Recovery Resources, Mercedes Sanchez of Harris County Precinct 2, and Sgt Theodore Perez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office will offer a talk on Employ2Empower . What began as a 6 month pilot program in Precinct 2, Employ2Empower now encompasses all of Harris County, providing low-barrier employment opportunities to people experiencing homelessness.

Marc Eichenbaum of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office, James Gonzalez of the CFTH, and Preston Witt of Harmony House will then take the stage to talk about the City’s housing navigation center, a new facility designed to provide people with a consistent, safe, and stable location to stay while they transition from homelessness to housing.

The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Panel will be moderated by our own Stefanie Quintela . Panelists will include Shun Johnson of TLC Health & Wellness, Joe Fuentes of Spring Branch Community Health Center, Youth Action Board Representative Kenny Easley , and Juliet Stipeche of Gulf Coast Workforce Board. The YHDP is a new initiative to prevent and end youth homelessness in our community.

The keynote address will begin just before noon, after a break for lunch. We are so thrilled to welcome this year’s keynote speaker, Michael Kimmelman , author of The New York Times article “How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets into Homes of Their Own," who will tell us about his observations about Houston and the reaction to his article since it was published.

After the keynote, singers Cecila Duarte , Alejandro Magallón , Bin Yu Sanford , and Emily Treigle will perform excerpts from Houston Grand Opera’s Another City , followed by a Q&A with them and Jeremy Johnson and Alisa Magallón about their experience bringing the opera to life.

Closing out the day, CFTH Vice President Sara Martinez will look to the next ten years of The Way Home.

If you are unable to attend the conference but would still like to support the efforts of Houston's homeless response system, please consider donating to the Coalition .

Take a look back at State of Homelessness 2022

HUD announces $46 million in annual funding for partners of The Way Home

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 21:24:47 GMT

Partner agencies of The Way Home to receive $46 million.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards for FY 2022.

Partner agencies of The Way Home — the local homeless response system for Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, of which the Coalition is the lead agency — will receive $46 million.

For a complete list of the agencies receiving funding and award amounts, click here .

The more than $46 million is a continuation of past annual grants, with a small increase. This vital funding allows the agencies of The Way Home to maintain permanent housing and supportive services for people already residing in housing programs.

While the number constantly fluctuates as new clients move in and others move on, as a point of reference, on a recent night there were more than 7,000 people in our community living in permanent supportive housing (PSH) and rapid re-housing (RRH). The annual CoC dollars are crucial to maintain their housing.

The annual Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards are the largest source of funding for the local homeless response system. For the FY 2021 competition, The Way Home received $45.2 million; in FY 2020 local agencies received $42.6 million.

Under the leadership of the Coalition, the funding has increased from $25 million in 2012.

The Coalition is the “collaborative applicant” for The Way Home. This means that the Coalition organized the local funding competition for the direct services agencies. We are proud to have helped bring this funding to the Houston region!

HUD will distribute funding directly to the awardees.

CFTH leads partners of The Way Home to decommission "Emancipation" encampment

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:57:03 GMT

We are proud to have led the work on the ground for the City of Houston and Harris County's encampment decommissioning through housing initiative earlier this month at the "Emancipation" encampment under I-45 from Chartres St to Emancipation Ave.

We are thrilled that 31 people went to the City's new Navigation Center, run by our partner Harmony House, Inc., and one other person went straight to housing.

See "before" and "after" photos of the site below.

Did you know?

Our purpose at encampment decomissionings is to offer outreach services and connect people to housing.
Other entities do the clean-up and enforcement of any ordinances. (See full partner list below.)
Our goal is to get people into permanent housing, and we coordinate with other nonprofit, homeless-serving organizations of The Way Home to do this.
Since 2021, we have engaged more than 460 people experiencing homelessness at encampments around the Houston area.
Of those, around 350, or 75%, have accepted our offer to move to the housing navigation center or have moved directly into permanent housing.
If you count people who have “self-resolved,” it’s 422 people or more than 90%!
We only work with the City or County to decommission encampments when we have a housing option for every encampment resident.
Clients have the opportunity to bring some belongings to the navigation center and put additional items into storage.
It is only with their permission that any remaining belongings left behind at the encampment are disposed of.

The City of Houston and Harris County partnered with us and with the partners of The Way Home to not merely displace encampment residents but to holistically respond by moving them into housing.

We couldn't have done this work without our partners:

Harmony House operates the City's housing Navigation Center in the Fifth Ward and handled intake of the encampment residents.
Homeless outreach teams from CFTH and SEARCH offered client support.
Hope Haven and Avenue 360 offered service coordination.
The Harris Center was onsite to support clients with mental health needs.
The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) of the Houston Police Department (HPD) issued notices that the encampment would be closing. They were also onsite to keep everyone safe and to help with traffic control.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) handled waste removal.
METRO provided transportation for those who moved from the encampment site to the housing Navigation Center.

New episode of Spokane, WA, docuseries highlights Houston's approach to homelessness

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:29:44 GMT

In March 2022, we were pleased to welcome new friends from the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC) and Corner Booth Media to Houston to show them our approach to solving homelessness.

They released the first of two docu-series episodes about Houston in November. Last month, they released their second episode about Houston.

Please watch and share!

Houston Grand Opera premieres "Another City"

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:08:11 GMT

New opera based on real stories of homelessness

In 2019, CFTH staff talked to a librettist and a composer who were working on an opera about homelessness in Houston. On March 9, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) held the world premiere of that new opera, "Another City."

To mark the premiere of the show, CFTH President and CEO Mike Nichols was invited to write a guest post for HGO's blog .

CFTH leads partners of The Way Home to decommission "Chartres" encampment

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 22:24:07 GMT

We are proud to have led the work on the ground for the City of Houston and Harris County's encampment decommissioning through housing initiative last week.

We are thrilled that 38 people went to the new Navigation Center, run by our partner Harmony House, Inc., and six others went straight to housing.

See "before" and "after" photos of the site below.

The City and County partnered with us and with the partners of The Way Home to not merely displace encampment residents but to holistically respond by moving them into housing.

We couldn't have done this work without our partners:

Harmony House operates the newly-opened housing Navigation Center (on Jensen Dr in the Fifth Ward) and handled intake of the encampment residents. (Note: the Navigation Center is a city-owned facility. The CFTH is the leaseholder.)
Homeless outreach teams from SEARCH , Hope Haven , and Avenue 360 assisted with engaging individuals experiencing homelessness in the area, transportation, and more.
The Harris Center was onsite to support clients with mental health needs.
The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) of the Houston Police Department (HPD) issued notices that the encampment would be closing. They were also onsite to keep everyone safe and to help with traffic control.
The Houston Downtown Management District (DMD) handled waste removal.
METRO provided transportation for those who moved from the encampment site to the housing Navigation Center.
Case managers from Veterans Affairs supported Veterans living at the encampment.

A Bigger Vision Films releases behind-the-scenes preview of Houston footage

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:32:50 GMT

Check out "BTS Ep7: Houston, working the problem"

In fall 2022, filmmakers Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko of A Bigger Vision Films visited Houston.

They're working on a follow-up to their previous documentary, "Under The Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness," an award-winning documentary film about "one summer in Indianapolis, a tent city under a bridge, and the criminalization of homelessness in the United States."

Their new documentary, "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution To Homelessness" will "explore how to eliminate homelessness in the United States."

Over the course of three weeks in Houston, Don and Tim visited programs run by our partners in The Way Home, met people with lived experience of homelessness — and interviewed our own staff members.

Check out their behind-the-scenes preview of what they filmed in Houston.

Press Release: Coalition for the Homeless Leading Annual Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness in the Greater Houston Area Week of January 23

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:00:07 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless —the nonprofit that leads The Way Home , the local homelessness response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties— is leading the annual Homeless Count & Survey to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in Houston and surrounding counties the week of Jan. 23, 2023.

This will be the first PIT Count conducted since a prominent New York Times article brought national and international attention to Houston’s progress in reducing homelessness through housing plus supportive services.

The results of the 2023 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey, also known as the “PIT Count,” will be publicly released in spring 2023 following independent verification by an epidemiologist. The results will shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and other factors have affected homelessness in the region.

“We hope we won’t see an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness this year, but there are a lot of external, societal factors at play that unfortunately may have driven more people into homelessness over the past year,” said Michael Nichols , president and CEO of the Coalition. “It’s important for people to remember that we don't create homelessness; we respond to it — much like an emergency room responds to people with illness or injuries.”

For example, inflation coupled with rising housing costs makes it harder for people to find housing that they can afford. A shortage of affordable housing is one of the primary drivers of homelessness, not just in Houston, but nationwide.

“Regardless of whether homeless numbers go up or down this year, we know that the partners of The Way Home have housed thousands of people these past two years, thanks to additional federal COVID relief funding allocated to the homeless response system by the City of Houston and by Harris County,” said Nichols.

More about the 2023 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey

The Count offers a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in the region on a single night. This year the “night of record” is Monday, Jan. 23. The Coalition will determine the number of people staying in shelters on that night by pulling records from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) . The unsheltered count takes place the following days — Wednesday, Jan. 25 (outside 610, east of I-45); Thursday, Jan. 26 (outside 610, west of I-45), and Friday, Jan. 27 (inside 610; originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24 and rescheduled due to weather). More than 400 volunteers and staff of local service provider nonprofits will canvass the three-county region to survey people living unsheltered, using an app on their mobile devices. They will also collect information about whether people fell into homelessness as a result of COVID.

The Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, which furnishes the majority of funding for programs that provide permanent housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness in the region. In 2022, HUD granted more than $44 million to our area, to about three dozen different homeless services providers.

Results from the 2023 Count will help track the progress of The Way Home’s ongoing collaborative efforts between local service agencies. The Count results also help the Coalition and partner agency homeless outreach teams learn where unsheltered people are sleeping for continued outreach throughout the year, illuminate specific demographic and programmatic gaps, and provide additional information needed to end chronic homelessness and continue to improve the local homeless response system.

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, a nonprofit organization, acts as a catalyst, uniting partners and maximizing resources to move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org .

The Way Home is the collective effort to prevent and end homelessness in Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The Way Home is made up of more than 100 partners including homeless service agencies, local governments, public housing authorities, the local Veterans Affairs office, and other nonprofits and community stakeholders. The partners of The Way Home work together to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in our region. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, a 501c3, is the lead agency to The Way Home. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org

Curtis' Journey to Housing

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 15:53:04 GMT

The day he began the final leg of his journey from homelessness to housing, Curtis stood outside the tent he’d called home for so long. He said goodbye to his friend with a quick fist bump before getting inside the Coalition’s outreach van. And he said, with his signature smile, “Blessed. I am feeling BLESSED. I’m not homeless anymore. That’s a blessing.”

Curtis’s journey has been neither brief nor easy. His warm smile and positive demeanor hide years of struggle and pain.

A lifetime of slipping through the cracks of the mental health system eventually took its toll. Without proper support or treatment, Curtis began to self-medicate in search of peace. Sadly, instead of finding peace, this search led him down a dark path of addiction, desperation and, eventually, incarceration.

After serving his time and paying his debt to society, he was released back into the world. He had a second chance, but he also had the same untreated mental health issues and lack of systemic support. So, he found himself right back where he’d started, with no resources in sight to help him climb out.

By the time the Coalition connected with Curtis, he had been living on the street for close to 20 years. He was used to occasional offers of help from well-meaning citizens, but nothing much ever came from these offers, so our own was met with a dose of skepticism. But our team continued showing up, and soon he trusted their intentions were solid and sincere.

The Coalition’s outreach team spent time getting to know Curtis, understanding his needs, and implementing a plan to help him succeed.

Once the plan was set into motion and Curtis had a proper treatment plan, two decades of instability came to an end. Once stable, it didn’t take him long to begin accomplishing his goals — goals that had once seemed unreachable. Just as our outreach team continued showing up, Curtis kept showing up and putting in the work. Once he had access to the supportive services he needed to help him help himself, that’s exactly what he did.

On move-in day, he was bursting with anticipation. After signing his name to his new lease and processing all he was feeling, he walked down the sidewalk to his apartment, the Coalition’s outreach team right alongside him.

Two weeks later, Curtis opened the door to the team he now refers to as “my angels” and excitedly welcomed them into his tidy and organized new home. He was excited to share his story, with the hope that he can change the lives of people like him.

“You guys want to see a success story?” he said, “Then you better keep an eye on me because I am going to be one!”

Looking Back at our Dec. 2022 Winter Weather Response

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:54:22 GMT

Winter weather brought dangerously cold temperatures to the Houston region last week, exposing people living unsheltered to life-threatening conditions.

The Coalition for the Homeless, as lead agency to The Way Home, served as the central hub of communications for homelessness resources throughout the duration of the hard freeze. We worked with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs were being considered as the deep freeze approached our region. We also coordinated with the direct service partners of The Way Home to understand their special operations and needs during this weather event.

To keep our partners and the community at large informed, the Coalition worked with local media and maintained a dedicated blog with up-to-date resources for those experiencing homelessness in advance of the winter weather.

Outreach teams from the Coalition, from other partners of The Way Home, and from law enforcement (like the Homeless Outreach Teams from Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office) worked around the clock to notify and prepare unsheltered individuals about the incoming inclement weather, offer transportation to shelters and warming centers, and distribute cold weather supplies for those who remained in encampments (sleeping bags, blankets, water, socks, snacks, hand warmers, tarps, etc.).

During the freeze, the Coalition coordinated and provided volunteers for the warming center at the George R Brown Convention Center, many of whom worked throughout the night to help keep operations running smoothly.

This hard freeze once again underscored how critical coordination with government and partners is in ensuring people experiencing homelessness have a safe place to shelter during a public health emergency — or, better yet, that they get housed well before a weather emergency.

Preparing for a Deep Freeze

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 23:16:40 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Last update: 12/23/22 at 2:45 p.m.

Warming centers and other resources

City of Houston Warming Centers

Mayor Sylvester Turner has asked the Office of Emergency Management to open five warming centers in preparation for freezing temperatures expected to arrive in Houston Thursday afternoon. Each center will offer chairs, blankets, water, MREs, PPE, and comfort kits. Because the City is not opening shelters, sleeping cots and hot meals will not be provided . Individuals may come and go as needed.

Individuals in need of transportation may call 311.

The following locations will open beginning Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 at 3 p.m.

Fonde Community Center 110 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007
Moody Community Center 3725 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009
Acres Homes MSC 6719 W Montgomery Rd, Houston, TX 77091
*Recovery Center ( for HPD use only ) 150 N Chenevert St, Houston, TX 77002
George R. Brown Convention Center , Hall B 1001 Avenida De Las Americas

The city is not encouraging individuals to bring pets. However, BARC will provide kennels at the Fonde Center and GRB. Service animals will be welcomed at all locations.

December 23 update : For greater efficiency of operations and to ensure vulnerable Houstonians are protected from the bitter cold, Mayor Sylvester Turner has asked the Office of Emergency Management to consolidate services and extend hours at the city's warming centers.

Fonde Community Center and Moody Community Center will close at noon Saturday, December 24. Acres Homes MSC and GRB Convention Center, Hall B will remain open until 9 a.m., Sunday, December 25. Working in partnership with METRO, all individuals remaining at Fonde and Moody on Saturday will be taken to the GRB, where they may remain until Sunday. (Read the full announcement here.)

Other resources

Green House International Church will be operating a warming center. 200 W Greens Rd, Houston, TX 77067. https://www.ghic.net/
The Beacon will open at 5:30 a.m. Friday. 1212 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002 https://www.beaconhomeless.org/ .

Hours of operation throughout the weekend will be: Thursday, 12/22: 7 am - 2 pm; Friday, 12/23: 5:30 am - 12:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12/24 and 12/25: closed, Monday, 12/26: 7 am - 2 pm.

Lakewood Church is open as a warming center. 3700 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77027 https://www.lakewoodchurch.com/
Covenant House 's drop-in center is open to anyone (ages 18-24) who needs shelter. 3412 Beulah St, Houston, TX 77004. https://www.covenanthousetx.org/
The City Wide Club’s “SUPER FEAST” will be Christmas Eve Day (Saturday, Dec. 24) at the George R. Brown Convention Center. 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX 77010. https://citywideclub.com/43rd-annual-super-feast/
Bay Area Homeless Services is a shelter that will be accepting people throughout the freeze on a first-come, first-served basis. 3406 Wisconsin Street, Baytown TX 77520, 281-837-1654, https://bahs-shelter.org/
Baytown Community Center will operate as a warming center. 2407 Market Street, Baytown, TX 77502, 281-420-6597, https://baytown.org/878/Baytown-Community-Center

Fort Bend County Warming Centers:

Friends of North Rosenberg/Attack Poverty will operate as a warming center, Thursday, December 22 from 5:00 pm - 8:30 am. 1908 Avenue E. Rosenberg, TX 77471. Transportation will not be provided to and from the location. https://www.instagram.com/attackpoverty/

Montgomery County Warming Centers:

Montgomery City Hall will operate as a warming center from Friday, December 23 at 10:00 am - Saturday, December 24 at 6:00 pm. 101 Old Plantersville Road, Montgomery, TX 77316.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the winter weather, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston.org and Sara at smartinez@homelesshouston.org.

Public Health infographics

For the latest updates

The Coalition will share information and resources on its Facebook and Twitter accounts as it becomes available.

Coalition’s CFO/CAO to Retire

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:06:26 GMT

Lynn Lohr, our Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, will be retiring at the end of 2022.

An interim CFO, Kathy Murray, joined the Coalition on December 5. Kathy has more than two decades of financial and executive experience. Lynn and Kathy will work together through the end of the year.

In 2019, Lynn was named CFO for the Coalition with the plan that her tenure would last only a few years to help grow the organization and our sustainability. Thanks to her leadership and work with the Board, CEO, and other staff leadership, the Coalition’s financial health has been enhanced – to the point that we had enough capacity to develop and implement the $65M+ Community COVID Housing Program.

Lynn’s accomplishments are many, including but not limited to:

Overseeing and improving key financial processes and financial reporting which resulted in annual clean financial audits.
Improving financial and grant reporting.
Growing our operating reserve.
Building the foundational infrastructure to support the growth and sustainability of the organization.

Words feel inadequate in describing just how critical Lynn’s leadership has been to the Coalition. We can’t thank her enough for her tireless efforts and commitment to our team and the communities we serve. Please join us in wishing her all the best in her well-deserved retirement!

Staff Spotlight: Charles Manning

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:40:11 GMT

As National Homeless Youth Awareness Month comes to an end, we share some personal reflections from our very own Charles Manning, coordinator of youth programs, on his own journey as someone who experienced homelessness for most of his youth.

For how long did you experience homelessness?

I was homeless all my adolescence, but I wasn’t aware of it then. My adult homelessness occurred from 2019-2021, until I finally moved into my own apartment in October 2021.

How were you able to get out of homelessness?

I used any resources I could find. People that I knew referred me to housing programs, specifically the Montrose Center.

What was the hardest thing(s) about not having a home?

By far the most difficult thing was never knowing if you are safe, and not being able to fully relax or decompress. It’s like you’re always on edge because you don’t know where you’ll be sleeping.

What are the biggest barriers to getting out of homelessness?

The biggest barriers are not knowing who to talk to, where to go, not having transportation or ways to communicate. I would wonder, Do I have all the needed documents? Are they going to send me back to the street? How long will it take?

How do you think people who haven’t experienced homelessness view people who are experiencing it? What are some common misconceptions people have about the unhoused?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that many people who’ve never experienced homelessness think that people who are unhoused aren’t trying to do better for themselves, when that’s rarely the case. When you are in that predicament and feel as though your back is against the wall, it’s easy to fall into not caring anymore, because life and the systems/polices have failed you.

People look down on the unhoused and pass judgement – that they are drug addicts or threw their life away – so the unhoused start to believe these things themselves and adapt to the "homeless lifestyle."

You’ve come full circle now working at the Coalition. What does it mean to you to be able to help others who are where you once were?

This means so much to me because I can truly understand how people feel going through the homeless response system. Now I can share my voice in this space on policies that did and didn’t work and share my story on what changes need to be made to the homeless response system, specifically for the youth, so we can get our youth and young adults off the streets and couches and give them a second chance at life so they don’t end up homeless as adults.

What do you want people to know? 

Never give up! Go for what you want. When you know you’ve reached the bottom , the only place to go is up. Don’t forget yourself. Stay true to who you are and give yourself grace for going through all these trials and tribulations and still be standing. It may be hard to not give up, but stay focused and blessings will come your way.

[Edited for length and clarity.]

Spokane, WA, docuseries highlights Houston's approach to homelessness

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:29:06 GMT

In March 2022, we were pleased to welcome new friends from the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC) and Corner Booth Media to Houston to show them our approach to solving homelessness. Now they have released an episode of their docu-series about Houston!

Please watch and share!

Press Release: The Coalition Receives $5 Million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant to Help End Homelessness for Families in Houston Region

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 13:17:56 GMT

Fund grants $123.45 million to 40 nonprofits across the U.S. to move the needle on re-housing and supporting families experiencing homelessness

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, the lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC), today announced that it has received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to leading organizations on the frontlines that are employing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families move from unsheltered homelessness and shelters to permanent housing with the services they require to achieve stability.

“We are thrilled to be a grant recipient of the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund,” said Michael C. Nichols, president/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless . “Our homeless response system and partners have been focused for more than a decade on permanent housing with supportive services as the answer to homelessness. We are excited for this strategic investment from Day 1 that will drive innovation and accelerate connection to services for families experiencing homelessness.”

This one-time grant will help the Coalition for the Homeless in its tireless work to support families experiencing homelessness due to factors including skyrocketing rent costs, limited safety net services and insufficient incomes. The Coalition will make grants to local direct service providers with a focus on supportive services that keep families housed over the long term.

The Coalition for the Homeless was selected as a Day 1 Families Fund grant recipient by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision. National advisors brought expertise on housing justice, advancing racial equity and helping programs employ resources effectively to assist families out of homelessness.

Over the past five years, the Day 1 Families Fund has provided 170 grants totaling more than $520 million to organizations around the country working to combat homelessness and help families gain housing support and stability. This year, the Fund issued a total of $123.45 million in grants to the following organizations: Carpenter's Shelter; CATCH, Inc.; Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona; The Center for Women and Families; Changing Homelessness; Chapman Partnership; Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County; Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc.; Community Services & Employment Training (CSET); Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO); Family Promise of Hawai'i; Family Promise of Northern New Castle County; Family Services of Tulare County; Flagstaff Shelter Services; Gateway180; Heartland Alliance; H.O.M.E. Inc.; Homeless Alliance; Hope House of Milwaukee; Housing First, Inc.; Housing Forward; HRDC; Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, Inc.; LA Family Housing; Mother Nation; Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, Inc.; New Reach; Oglala Sioux Tribe; Partners for HOME; PATH; The Salvation Army, Denver Metro Area; Samish Indian Nation; San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness; Sojourner Truth House; Solo Por Hoy, Inc.; Start Corporation; Strategies to End Homelessness; The Wellspring; YWCA Cass Clay; and YWCA Missoula’s Housing Programs.

The Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund .

Partners: Interested in learning about funding opportunities related to this grant? Please make sure you are signed up for our funding opportunities email list.

Press release: Partners of Houston’s homeless response system announce new coordinated effort to end youth homelessness

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:30:00 GMT

Nov. 1, the first day of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, marked the start of a new coordinated, multi-agency effort to address youth and young adult homelessness in the Houston region.

In September 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an award of approximately $10.4 million for Houston to build systems to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness as part of HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). Houston received the fourth-highest award in the nation that year.

“This new project will knock down known and unknown barriers for youth experiencing homelessness in Houston,” said Kenny Easley, a member of the project’s youth advisory board (YAB). “In the past, youth experiencing homelessness sometimes had to go off on their own tracks because the system didn’t always work for them. Now, we’ll be able to show them, ‘You’re not alone. You’re cared for.’”

The funds were awarded to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County , Lead Agency to The Way Home — the collective effort to prevent and end homelessness in Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas — for disbursement to select homeless youth-serving agencies.

Today, those agencies were announced:

Covenant House Texas will provide transitional housing and rapid rehousing for youth and young adults.
Grace Place will provide homelessness diversion resources for youth and young adults.
Houston reVision will provide homelessness diversion resources for youth and young adults.
SEARCH Homeless Services will perform street outreach and provide housing navigation for youth and young adults.
Spring Branch Community Health Center will provide transitional housing and rapid rehousing for youth and young adults.
Temenos CDC will provide permanent supportive housing (PSH) for youth and young adults with disabilities and/or complex needs.
The Montrose Center will provide employment supports and homelessness diversion resources for youth and young adults.
TLC Health & Wellness will help youth get on the path to permanent housing via Coordinated Access and will provide transitional housing and rapid rehousing for youth and young adults.

Tuesday Nov. 1 marked the beginning of a 2-year “demonstration period” for the agencies to build capacity, activate their programs, and show how a coordinated community approach can reduce youth homelessness.

From late 2021 into spring 2022, the Coalition worked with a youth advisory board (YAB), youth-serving agencies, and other nonprofit and community stakeholders to draft a comprehensive community plan to prevent and end youth homelessness. Approved by HUD in April 2022, the plan outlines how to end homelessness for youth (minors under the age of 18) and young adults (ages 18-24) who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Youth and young adults with lived experience of homelessness participated in every meeting, provided input and expertise throughout, and held authority over approval for the final plan. Collective Action for Youth recruited and will continue to support the YAB.

“The process is really giving us our voice back,” said Easley.

“We have a crisis of ‘at-risk’ youth who are on the verge of homelessness, including youth who are about to age out of the foster care system,” said Mike Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless. “Now, we have a plan in place and the right partners at the table to identify and engage youth in services, to expand and coordinate systems tailored to unique youth needs, and to facilitate youth access to services to maintain stability and help to break the cycle of homelessness.”

“Covenant House Texas has been providing help and hope to youth experiencing homelessness for nearly 40 years in Houston, which is why we know that meeting their complex needs takes a coordinated and collaborative approach. We are honored to be part of such a strong group of organizations working to break the cycle of homelessness and to give the resilience of youth an opportunity to pursue a new path,” said Leslie Bourne, executive director of Covenant House Texas. “We appreciate HUD’s investment in our community to help our youth build better futures for themselves.”

"Grace Place is so excited to work with the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project to make youth homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in our community,” said Courtney Sellers, executive director of Grace Place. “LGBTQ+ youth and their intersecting identities with race, ethnicity, and gender are overrepresented among youth experiencing homelessness, yet their voices have historically not been involved in the solution. We feel honored that our mission of providing nourishment, resources, and basic needs in an affirming space that works together with youth to achieve goals, is being given this opportunity to reach more youth and young adults and to include their voices in the greater work to end youth homelessness."

“Houston reVision has been seeing an increase in the number of unstably housed youth in the Houston area. In collaboration with The Way Home and our partner agencies, we look forward to helping Houston's youth and young adults connect with housing and education so that they can look forward to productive futures,” said Charles Rotramel, CEO of Houston reVision.

“We are very pleased to be able to focus on assisting Homeless Youth in the Spring Branch Service area,” said Marlen Trujillo, PhD, CEO of Spring Branch Community Health Center. “At SBCHC we understand that Housing is a vital part of the overall health and wellness of our community. We want to ensure we are doing our part to provide housing support as well as the other wraparound services for youth in our area.”

“Temenos CDC is honored to be able to continue to serve vulnerable populations exiting homelessness in the Greater Houston area,” said Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk, CEO of Temenos CDC. “We look forward to working with our YHDP partners to create a better Houston for our young adults!”

“Over 40% of all homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, and these youth face unique challenges due to a lack of cultural competency by traditional rehousing providers and direct discrimination in both education and employment,” said Ann J. Robison, PhD, executive director of the Montrose Center. “This funding will allow us to provide short-term financial assistance to LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, diverting them from non-LGBTQ-affirming shelters, while also connecting them to critically needed education and employment resources, all in a safe, affirming, and culturally competent environment.”

“We are pleased to serve as a partner agency for The Way Home’s Youth Housing Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant,” said Dr. Tywanna L. Chisley, board president of TLC Health & Wellness. “This program will provide greatly needed services to vulnerable youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Provisions for housing and various wrap-around supports will create newfound hope and unlimited opportunities for future success. The YHDP program can potentially transform lives with long-lasting generational impacts.”

Coalition for the Homeless Marks 40th Anniversary with the Launch of “40 for 40” Fundraising Campaign

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:57:10 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County celebrated its 40th anniversary and marked World Homeless Day on October 10 with its annual fundraising event.

More than 50 people gathered on Monday night at the home of Mo & Ric Campo to celebrate the Coalition’s leadership on solving homelessness and launch the “40 for 40” fundraising campaign to raise $40,000 each from 40 donors through June 30, 2023.

Coalition Board of Directors Vice Chair Chris Hanslik (Chairman, BoyarMiller) introduced the Coalition and its important work. Since 2011, overall homelessness has decreased by 63% due in large part to the fact that more than 25,000 people have been placed in permanent housing with supportive services since that time.

Kelly Young , CEO of Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. provided an impactful partner agency testimonial, describing the Coalition as “the rule followers and the rule breakers, the trouble tamers and the troublemakers… simply put, they make the homeless system work!”

The Coalition’s Outreach Manager, Jessalyn DiManno , shared an emotional story about one of her clients, William , who was housed recently after more than ten years of living unsheltered. “I can say with confidence that William would not have been housed if not for the leadership of the Coalition,” said DiManno. “… the partners are communicating and collaborating on a whole different scale than when I started doing this work nearly a decade ago. We’ve never had so much impact.”

The ultimate goal of the 40 for 40 campaign is to raise $1.6M to ensure that the Coalition is a strong and responsive leader for the community for the next 40 years. The Coalition hopes to continue to drive the design and implementation of innovative programs to overcome significant challenges, like more access to affordable housing; to bring more diverse, grassroots organizations into our work to end homelessness; and to ensure that the Coalition has the staff and resources to start new, needed programs quickly and efficiently.

If you are interested in learning more about the Coalition and this campaign, please contact Director of Development Katina Baldwin at kbaldwin@homelesshouston.org .

World Homeless Day 2022

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 16:41:04 GMT

World Homeless Day is observed internationally every year on Oct. 10 to bring focus to the issues of homelessness and inadequate housing.

Did you know?

More than 3,200 people in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties experience homelessness on any given night
Homelessness reduces life expectancy, taking 20-30 years off one’s life
The primary causes of homelessness are affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, and low wages

How has the Coalition made a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness?

As the lead agency to Houston’s homeless response system, The Way Home, the Coalition coordinates the efforts of over 100 direct service partners. Our collaboration has:

Housed more than 25,000 people in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties since 2012, as shared in the recent The New Times - Headway article “ How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own .”
Provided 33,000 employment-related services to over 4,500 people in the last 5 years that have not only connected individuals to employment but increased income as well
Led local advocacy for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to allocate more affordable housing funds to permanent supportive housing (PSH )

We are only able to accomplish this through the help of our incredible partners, the expert staff at the Coalition, and donors like you! Today, on World Homeless Day, we hope that you will choose to recommit to the Coalition’s vision of a community where everyone has a safe place to call home. Here’s how:

Consider recognizing World Homeless Day and the Coalition’s 40th birthday month by making an impact, not just once or twice, but on a recurring basis! Every dollar you give to the Coalition leverages an additional $47 in public funding to help the most vulnerable people in our community.

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Thank you for helping the Coalition work towards a future where that is a reality.

The Coalition Mourns the Passing of Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 19:26:04 GMT

As one of the “Three Amigos,” Archbishop Fiorenza helped to form the Coalition in 1982.

The Coalition for the Homeless mourns the loss of Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza who died Monday at the age of 91.

Hurricane Harvey: Five Years Later

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 22:08:47 GMT

It has been five years since Hurricane Harvey flooded Houston and forever changed our city. On this anniversary week, the Coalition is reflecting on Harvey’s impact on homelessness in our community — not only its adverse effects, but also the lessons we learned that helped us to design a nationally recognized response to COVID.

From 2011 to 2017, our annual homeless Count steadily declined every year. We had placed more than 11,200 people into permanent housing since 2012, and we had effectively ended Veteran homelessness in 2015.

The 2018 Count was the first Count conducted after Harvey — and that Count showed a 15% jump in the total number of people experiencing homelessness from the year before.

In fact, there are still people today who attribute their homelessness to Hurricane Harvey. In our 2022 Point-in-Time Count and Survey, conducted in January, one out of every seven people experiencing unsheltered homelessness said the cause of their homelessness to a natural disaster, most commonly Hurricane Harvey.

Harvey affected homelessness in several ways:

People who were already experiencing homelessness, especially unsheltered homelessness, were particularly vulnerable to Harvey because they were exposed to the elements. People in low-lying areas or near bodies of water risked drowning.

For others, Harvey caused their homelessness — whether immediately or later on.

People who were unstably housed — for example, doubled-up staying with friends or family or otherwise staying somewhere their name wasn’t on the lease — were not immediately eligible for FEMA assistance (e.g., hotel vouchers) or might not have been welcomed back in their previous living situation following the shake-up.

Some affordable housing near bayous was irreparably damaged, meaning that some people lost the only housing that was accessible to them. It also meant that the already-tight affordable housing market in Houston became even more so after Harvey, likely leading others to fall into homelessness months or years later for lack of an affordable place to live.

Still others lost jobs or income due to Harvey and fell into homelessness. It was near-impossible for those living at a disaster shelter to get or maintain employment.

The Coalition for the Homeless and its partners in The Way Home helped all of these people in the immediate aftermath of Harvey — and have continued to help in the years since.

Note: There were also many people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Harvey, who temporarily had to stay in shelters; however, access to aid from the Red Cross, private insurance and/or from FEMA ensured they fortunately did not require the help of the homeless response system to get back into their own homes.

How we helped:

Housing for Harvey

Immediately following the flood, staff from the Coalition for the Homeless and other partners of The Way Home set up shop in the George R Brown (GRB) Convention Center, which was used as a disaster shelter.

The Coalition worked with SimTech Solutions to create a triage tool accessible via mobile phones so we could understand who was experiencing literal homelessness at the disaster shelter and learn more about their needs and experiences. This proved to be key in developing our game plan.

Alongside the Houston Housing Authority and the City’s Housing and Community Development Department, we worked around the clock to house people who faced homelessness and lacked access to other resources through two programs: Residences on Emancipation and Housing For Harvey.

Residences on Emancipation was a transitional program managed by New Hope Housing with supportive services provided by SEARCH Homeless Services and was prioritized for the most vulnerable people at the disaster shelter.

Housing For Harvey was dedicated for those who had been living unstably prior to the hurricane, focusing on a Rapid Re-housing model that included rental assistance and focused, housing stabilization case management.

Ultimately, the partners of The Way Home housed 942 people from the disaster shelter at the GRB. Once they were stably housed, we also helped connect them to sources of income.

Housing Harvey’s Homeless (H3)

In the years after Harvey, a large encampment formed in the 900 block of Chartres near Minute Maid Park. It was the city’s largest encampment with more than 100 residents at any given time.

Over the course of several months in 2020, and with funding from the state of Qatar and the Houston Downtown Management District, the Coalition and its partners moved 173 people from the encampment into permanent housing with wrap-around supportive services. Nearly 95% of these individuals were still housed 6 months later.

What we learned

We learned lessons from the response to Harvey that are instrumental in carrying out our work today —especially in responding to the COVID pandemic:

In trying to secure apartments from the private rental market for people leaving the GRB, we came up with the idea for one-time landlord incentive fees (LIFs). LIFs turned out to be an incredibly useful tool in engaging property managers — so effective, in fact, that the federal government took notice!

As other communities across the nation looked to Houston and our innovative COVID response, they asked the federal government to make public funds available to use for these fees. Now, instead of having to use our hard-earned private funds for LIFs, this is an approved expense for public funds. And LIFs have been crucial in allowing us to secure apartments for the Community COVID Housing Program.

Our experience with the encampment at Chartres taught us many lessons we applied in our now-nationally recognized encampment strategy . The availability of physical housing units was sporadic, meaning it often took months to permanently house residents from the Chartres encampment. This slow outflow meant that new people moved in over time, making it tough to close the encampment permanently.

Now, to prevent the “backfill” experienced at Chartres, all residents of an encampment are now rapidly transitioned directly into housing within three to five days! (Note that this follows four to six weeks of advance coordination and leadership by the Coalition and its partners.)

Perhaps the most important lesson learned from Harvey is that we are only as resilient as our most vulnerable community members. We know that when people have access to safe, affordable housing they can lead healthier and more productive and fulfilled lives — and they’re safer when disaster strikes. That’s why the Coalition for the Homeless and its partners in The Way Home work every day to get people out of shelters, off the streets, and into their own homes.

The Takeaway: Has Houston Solved Homelessness?

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 20:47:12 GMT

Featuring the Coalition's James Gonzalez

James Gonzalez, director of program operations at the Coalition, joined Mandy Chapman Semple, former Special Assistant for Homeless Initiatives in the Houston Mayor's office, on a recent episode of "The Takeaway" to discuss Houston's implementation of the Housing First model and how it's helping decrease homelessness across the region.

Listen to their take below or listen to the episode on The Takeaway .

The Takeaway is a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast that reaches more than 2.7 million listeners across 250 stations nationwide.

Emily and Adam's Story: Part Two

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 14:24:43 GMT

CONTENT WARNING: The following content discusses domestic abuse and intimate partner violence. This may be upsetting to some people and triggering to readers with similar experiences.

This is part-two of a two-part series.

Read part one of Emily and Adam's story.

Imagine being so terrified of returning home that you choose to live on the street instead. Between 22 and 57% of all women experiencing homelessness report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. In other words, trauma is not only a consequence of homelessness, but one of the leading precursors to it as well.

This was Emily’s reality. Trauma stripped her of everything — her sobriety, a home, and ultimately her son. It led to a life on the street where she found herself repeatedly retraumatized. The irony did not escape Emily: she spent her days trying to survive and her nights wanting to die. She had only herself to depend on, until she met Adam.

The parallels in their lives were striking. Adam and Emily had both turned to drugs to numb the pain of the past. By the time their paths crossed, both had lost their homes, their identities, and any hope for the future. But hope often springs in the most unexpected places, and for Emily and Adam that place was an encampment under I-45.

Inseparable from the moment they met, the two leaned on one another heavily, forming a remarkable bond. They were desperate to stop using and attempted to do so repeatedly. But that meant going cold turkey, and cold turkey meant getting sick, and getting sick meant not showing up to the jobs they both held while living in the encampment.

Despite the small slivers of light creeping in here and there — like the updates and photographs Emily occasionally received from the family who had adopted her son, or the way Adam made Emily laugh again — they both knew that, without support, this life was not sustainable.

One morning, the Coalition for the Homeless’ outreach team showed up to give notice that the encampment where they were living would be decommissioned soon. They reassured them that anyone who wanted would be moved to the temporary navigation center to wait for permanent housing. They promised to return — a promise neither Emily nor Adam believed at the time — and then they were gone.

Two weeks later, lying sick in their tent during another attempt at getting sober, they were ready to give up. It was all too much. But just a few hours later, the outreach team pulled back up and threw them the lifeline they had promised.

With what little they owned, Adam and Emily allowed themselves to exhale a bit as they stepped into the outreach van. They moved into the temporary navigation center that very day and have been sober ever since. They have been approved for housing and are currently awaiting inspection. Emily is enrolled in EMS classes, while Adam wants to get a job helping those experiencing homelessness as a peer support person with lived experience.

Emily’s son is thriving! He turned three earlier this month and, thanks to all the support, Emily was there as he blew out the candles.

Editor's note (Aug. 17, 2022): A previous version of this blog post misstated Emily and Adam's housing status. This information has been corrected.

Welcome to Our New Board Members!

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 19:07:49 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless is governed by an accomplished Board of Directors . They help guide our future and ensure we are working to fulfill our mission. The Coalition’s success so far has been thanks in large part to the collective experience and wisdom of our Board of Directors.

Join us in celebrating the retirement of board members LaRence Snowden and Alan Dettlaff who completed their service at the end of Fiscal Year 2022. We appreciate their support and leadership.

We also thank our outgoing officers for their service — Chair Lance Gilliam , Vice Chair Chrishelle Calhoun Palay , and Secretary LaRence Snowden — and welcome new officers: Chair Troi Taylor , Vice Chair Chris Hanslik , and Secretary Annette Garber . Griff Godwin will remain our treasurer.

We are thrilled to welcome new board members for FY 2023. Below, we invite you to get to know Devon Anderson, Redick Edwards, Erica Hughes, Tina Arias Peterman, and Kris Thomas.

Devon Anderson

President and CEO of Justice Forward

Redick Edwards

President and Director at Housing Finance Corporate Board

Erica Hughes

Immigration Judge at the Department of Justice

Tina Arias Peterman

Director at Masterson Advisors

Kris Thomas

Commissioner at Houston Housing Authority

Emily and Adam's Story: Part One

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 19:21:32 GMT

CONTENT WARNING: The following content discusses domestic abuse and intimate partner violence. This may be upsetting to some people and triggering to readers with similar experiences.

This is part one of a two-part series.

This was not the life either of them had imagined. Yet there they were, living in an encampment, two tucked tight in a tent built for one. The only predictable thing about Emily and Adam’s home was the roar of cars from above, drivers speeding to the safety of their own homes. This was a safety Adam and Emily had both known well until recently. During the six months they spent under I-45, they attempted to get clean dozens of times. It was a-near impossible feat. Sobriety is complex and challenging even for those with resources. Attempting sobriety while experiencing homelessness comes with an entirely new set of unique and complex challenges.

Raised by her adoptive family in an upper-middle class community, Emily recalls an idyllic childhood: “I never once had to take the bus to school.” Her dad held a corporate position with a tech company for almost 40 years, while her mom took on the job of raising the family. Both loved and supported Emily deeply. Sadly, all that love was no match for what she’d endure at the hands of an abusive partner shortly after leaving home.

Emily’s relationship started off like a fairy tale. But over time her partner’s mask began to slip, revealing a violent, meth-addicted man hiding underneath. Trapped in a cycle of violence and instability, Emily began using meth alongside him to escape the pain.

Shortly after she finally managed to escape her relationship, Emily discovered she was pregnant. Pulled right back into a life with her abuser, she told herself this would change him, that this time things would be different. She had always dreamt of being a mother and was determined to make the relationship work.

Halfway through her pregnancy, her partner choked her until she passed out.

Fearful for the safety of her unborn child, Emily managed to leave once again. Staying with a friend for the remainder of her pregnancy, she remained clean and sober until giving birth to a healthy baby boy. After becoming a mom, Emily felt compelled to find her own birth mother. Upon meeting her, the first thing they did together as a family was meth. Finally, Emily began to understand the origin of her addiction.

She struggled to stay afloat after that. But the responsibility of a newborn, post-partum depression and the weight of her trauma proved too much to carry. Desperate not to feel, her addiction took hold again. Emily knew this was not the life she wanted for her son and made the heartbreaking decision to put him up for adoption when he was 9 months old.

This marked the beginning of Emily’s fall into homelessness. Feeling like there was nothing left to live for, she stopped fighting her addiction and begged it to destroy her instead.

Read part-two of Emily and Adam's story.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for anonymous, confidential online chats, available in English and Spanish.

For resources in Harris County, visit the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council at https://www.hcdvcc.org/

Proud to be featured in The New York Times

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:06:12 GMT

“For me, the big reveal after a year was not that Houston had solved the problem. It hasn’t. There is no one-time fix to homelessness.

“The reveal was something different. It was that in broken America it’s still possible for adversaries to share facts and come together around something contentious and difficult . Public and private, county and city, businesses and nonprofits, conservatives and liberals, the housed and unhoused: In Houston, enough of them have agreed on a goal that seems worth striving for . Working in concert, they have made genuine progress in housing previously unhoused people. And, so far, the benefits of collaboration have fended off the usual forces of entropy. That was an eye-opener and a sign of hope. ”

From "How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own," by Michael Kimmelman, The New York Times , June 14, 2022

More than a year ago, we were approached by The New York Times regarding the launch of Headway , a new initiative dedicated to exploring national and global challenges “through the lens of progress.” Rather than focusing on the problem, Headway explores the solutions.

With rates of homelessness increasing across the country, this social issue became an early contender for Headway founder and editor Michael Kimmelman to delve into. While we anticipate more articles on the issue of homelessness from Headway, we are thrilled that this first piece focuses on our work in Houston.

Since last summer, our staff has worked with the City of Houston and other partners to arrange interviews and meetings with elected officials, government staff, nonprofit partners, and people with lived experience to tell the incredible story of The Way Home and our extraordinary collaboration to address the complex issue of homelessness.

Today, we are excited to share the culmination of this project with you!

"How Houston Moved 25,000 People from the Streets into Homes of Their Own"

Please stay tuned for more!

We hope that you will take the opportunity to share this article and encourage you to tag #TheWayHomeHOU on related social posts.

Our ability to impact homelessness on a level that attracts the attention of The New York Times’ Headway is thanks in large part to our donors. Your generosity has allowed the Coalition to drive programs supported by The Way Home that have reduced homelessness by an unprecedented 63% since 2011 .

We are incredibly grateful for your belief in the Coalition, our mission, and your willingness to champion our vision in which everyone in our community has a safe place to call home.

Preparing for Extreme Heat - Summer 2022

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 21:13:17 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming extreme heat and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

To read more about how we assist people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat, click here .

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Saturday, July 9, at 9 a.m.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

To find out whether the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan has been activated, visit the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Website .

Cooling Centers

Throughout the summer

Beat The Heat Cooling Centers

A Cooling Center is an air-conditioned facility where Precinct 2 residents can go to find relief from the heat. The Houston Health Department operates 11 multi-service centers where residents can go to stay cool. You can find a list of locations and more details here . Or you can view the flyer.

Additionally, Harris County Precinct 2 operates ten (10) Cooling Centers during the summer months.

Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.-12 noon.

Closed for Monday, June 20 (Juneteeth Holiday) and Monday, July 4 (Independence Day Holiday)

For a list of locations, view the flyer.

For the latest updates

The Coalition will share information and resources on its Facebook and Twitter accounts as it becomes available.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening cooling centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps

Extreme Heat Q&A

What does the homeless response system do to prepare for the upcoming extreme heat?

The Coalition for the Homeless works with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from the extreme heat.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — spread the word that we are likely to be hit by extreme heat and hand out hot weather supplies (bottled water, handheld fans, cooling towels, sunscreen, etc.) and offer rides to cooling centers when possible.

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the extreme heat, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston.org and Allison at azapata [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

2022 State of Homelessness Conference and Luncheon

Tue, 17 May 2022 18:30:59 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County hosted the State of Homelessness on April 28, 2022. The half-day conference brought together partners of The Way Home, community members, and stakeholders to learn from local and national experts in the homeless response system. Topics ranged from healthcare and advocacy to pivotal programs pertaining to homelessness across the Houston region.

Over one hundred people attended this year’s conference in person, and an additional one hundred joined in virtually. In-person attendees arrived at the JW Marriott Downtown bright and early and were greeted with plenty of familiar faces. Among them, several elected officials including Houston Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas , District F; Council Member Amy Peck , District A; Council Member Robert Gallegos , District I; and Council Member Sallie Alcorn , At-Large Position 5.

After breakfast, Ashlie Young , manager of landlord engagement at the Coalition and this year’s Master of Ceremonies, shared a beautiful and thought-provoking poem, leaving us ready for a day of community collaboration. (Watch Ashlie perform the poem.)

Coalition board chair Lance Gilliam and board member Troi Taylor took to the stage for a welcome address and discussed this year's theme. "Collaboration is the theme of the day and the underlying value in our success," Gilliam said. "By working together we've managed to become one of the most effective homeless response systems in the country, making the impossible possible." (Watch the welcome address.)

Councilwoman Thomas , Chair of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee, poignantly pointed out that we are all an integral piece of this puzzle. “From the resident who calls 211 after seeing an encampment, to The Coalition, to SEARCH and all the other agencies; Homelessness is a community issue that we are all stewards of,” Thomas said.

(Watch this presentation.)

Dr. Charlene Flash of Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, and Frances Isbell , Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston, gave an in-depth and eye-opening presentation on Homeless Health and Healthcare . After sharing some staggering statistics — including that people experiencing homeless have an estimated reduced life span of 13-32 years — they stressed the need for a collaborative patient-centered model of care from the beginning to end of life, while never turning anyone away for their inability to pay. Flash and Isbell also addressed health disparities in Houston’s underserved communities: people of color, LGBTQ, uninsured, low-income, unstably housed, and homeless population. (Watch this presentation.)

Sydney Carter , program & policy coordinator for the Network of Behavioral Health Providers, presented on Future Policy & Advocacy Opportunities for Housing & Homelessness . Carter explained what it looks like to be an advocate: supporting those who need help, correcting stigmatizing language, sharing one’s own story, and encouraging policymakers to prioritize behavioral health through legislation – and how hugely impactful advocacy can be. She shared five housing-related bills of interest and guided attendees on navigating legislation and contacting our elected officials on important matters while emphasizing the most powerful tools we have: our voice and our vote. (Watch this presentation.)

This year’s State of Homelessness panel was moderated by Marc Eichenbaum , City of Houston Mayor's Office for Homeless Initiatives, and featured Barbie Brashear , Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council; Bob Eury , Central Houston; Mike Nichols , Coalition for the Homeless; and Wayne Young , The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. Expanding on the collaborative theme of the day, each speaker explained their agency’s role in the system and how they work together to do what is best for people experiencing homelessness in our community. Eichenbaum closed out the session by asking about current opportunities that will keep the momentum going and continue to drive impact, as well as the concerns and challenges. (Watch the full panel discussion.)

For our keynote, we were thrilled to welcome the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Jeff Olivet , from Washington, D.C. He began his career doing street outreach and has dedicated the last twenty-five years to helping people experiencing homelessness. Olivet arrived a few days in advance of the conference, eager to explore our city and get to know partners of The Way Home. He also joined the outreach team to visit an encampment and meet the people living there. Olivet asked them about their stories and listened as they told them.

In his keynote, Olivet shared a few stories from his week in Houston. He also touched on the SPARC initiative , his thoughts on Housing First, and network impoverishment. The underlying message of Olivet's talk was that "Homelessness is not an individual failure, it's a systematic one." Watch Olivet's Keynote to learn more about his work and his collaborative vision for the future. As he said, "It's good to celebrate the small victories but we are far from being done." (Watch the 2022 Keynote. )

Coalition for the Homeless staff rounded out the afternoon. Ana Rausch , vice president of program operations, updated attendees on the Community Covid Housing Program (CCHP) . James Gonzalez , director of program operations, and Jonathan Danforth , director of outreach and coordinated access, gave attendees an in-depth look at their encampment work .

(Watch Rausch's presentation.) (Watch Gonzalez's presentation.) (Watch Danforth's presentation.)

Mike Nichols , president and CEO of the Coalition, closed out the afternoon with acknowledgments and a big "thank you" to our 2022 sponsors - CORT , The Valach Family , Zillow , Group 1 Automotive , Houston Methodist , Life Startup Essential , and Amegy Bank . (Watch closing remarks.)

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge visits Houston to announce more than $45 million for agencies of The Way Home

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:28:58 GMT

Partner agencies of The Way Home to receive $45.2 million.

On Monday, March 14, 2022, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Marcia L. Fudge visited Houston to announce Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards for FY 2021.

Multimedia: Watch the press conference: https://fb.watch/bMKvPIMuDI/

Partner agencies of The Way Home — the local homeless response system for Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, of which the Coalition is the lead agency — will receive $45.2 million.

For a complete list of the agencies receiving funding and award amounts, click here .

“It’s time for us to make sure that we — the government, the people who work for you — are doing our part to ensure that we take care of the people who we need to take care of. That’s the job of government — to take care of its people,” said Secretary Fudge .

The more than $45 million is a continuation of past annual grants, with a small increase. This funding allows the agencies of The Way Home to maintain permanent housing and supportive services for people already residing in housing programs.

While the number constantly fluctuates as new clients move in and others move on, as a point of reference, on the night of Jan. 24, 2022 (the night of the PIT count), there were more than 8,500 people in our community living in permanent supportive housing (PSH) and rapid re-housing (RRH). The annual CoC dollars are crucial to maintain their housing.

“The idea of the Coalition for the Homeless that we work with, is to ensure that homeless persons are housed. And the point we want to make today is that homeless persons deserve to have homes. Not just to have a house, or a place to stay, but to have homes,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee , who hosted the press conference at U.S. Vets Houston .

“We could not be more delighted … that [Secretary Fudge] is spending the day here … getting to know the incredible people working across this community to end homelessness … and set the example for communities across the country …” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher .

“As long as we’re working on this, we will ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in our community,” said Lance Gilliam, chair of the board of the Coalition .

“We were proud to have had HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge in Houston to announce federal funding for programs that prevent and end homelessness in Houston," said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition . "This annual federal funding is critical and by far the largest source of funding for our work. It allows the partner agencies of The Way Home, the local homeless response system, to maintain housing for the more than 8,500 people who are currently residing in permanent housing programs.”

Congressman Al Green also attended the announcement event.

The annual Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards are the largest source of funding for the local homeless response system. For the FY 2020 competition, The Way Home received $42.6 million; in FY 2019 local agencies received $41.8 million.

Under the leadership of the Coalition, the funding has increased from $25 million in 2012.

The Coalition is the “collaborative applicant” for The Way Home. This means that the Coalition organized the local funding competition for the direct services agencies.

HUD will distribute funding directly to the awardees.

Coalition for the Homeless’ 2022 Homeless Count Results Suggest Housing-Focused Pandemic Response Kept Numbers Down

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:58:46 GMT

More than 6,630 people housed through the local homeless response system in 2021

The Count was last conducted in January 2021; however, the results of the 2021 Count were not directly comparable to prior years’ results due to changes in methodology necessitated by the pandemic. With the return to standard methodology for this year’s Count, including the use of 480 volunteers from the community and from partner agencies of The Way Home, the Coalition will be able to resume facilitating comparisons with data from 2020 and prior years .

“The intent of the Count is to identify trends in homelessness over time in order to better recognize successes in the homeless response system, as well as areas for growth,” said Dr. Catherine Troisi, Associate Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health and co-author of the report . “It is not possible to locate and survey every single person experiencing homelessness across the Houston area, but the Count captures a snapshot of what homelessness looks like on a given night. When the same methodology is used consistently, we can analyze those numbers year-over-year to identify trends. Each year, the Coalition gains new and critical insights on how Houston’s homeless population has changed over the years.”

The 2022 Count results shed valuable insights on the effectiveness of the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) . Originally announced in July 2020 and initiated in October 2020, Phase 1 of the CCHP uses federal COVID relief funding from the City of Houston and Harris County as well as private philanthropic support to place people experiencing homelessness into housing. The initial goal of Phase 1 was to rehouse 5,000 people by September 2022; as of mid-February, more than 7,720 people had been rehoused. Phase 2 was announced in January 2022 to house 7,000 additional people by 2024.

In 2021 alone, the partners of The Way Home placed more than 3,870 people into permanent housing, which includes permanent supportive housing (PSH) and rapid rehousing (RRH). Including diversion — preventing people “on the verge” from falling into homelessness — more than 6,630 people were rehoused though the CCHP last year.

“In examining the results of this year’s Count, we have gained a deeper understanding of how our homeless response system is succeeding and identified areas for improvement,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless . “The Way Home continues to prove how collaboration among governments, nonprofits, and philanthropy can provide long-term fiscally and morally responsible solutions to homelessness. At the same time, we know that we have more work ahead of us as we strive to solve homelessness in Houston.”

Key findings from the 2022 Homeless Count include:

One out of eight people (13%) experiencing unsheltered homelessness indicated they were homeless due to COVID.
More than 8,500 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home on the night of Jan. 24, 2022.
More than 25,000 people have been placed in permanent housing since 2011.
1,502 people experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count were unsheltered.
1,721 people experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count were sheltered.
The decrease in the sheltered count is likely due to limited availability of beds as a result of the pandemic. Local shelters practiced social distancing and had to decrease density, and some shelters closed completely. In addition, people experiencing homelessness may have been reluctant to stay at a shelter due to fear of the virus.

As in past years, the 2022 Count & Survey data was analyzed by the Coalition in consultation with Dr. Troisi. The full Homeless Count & Survey Independent Analysis is available online here and a two-page fact sheet is available here .

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

To view the slide deck used during the results presentation webinar, click here .

Preparing for Winter Weather - Feb. 2022

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:48:19 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Thursday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m.

For the l atest updates

The Coalition will share information and resources on its Facebook and Twitter accounts as it becomes available.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For information about whether local jurisdictions will be openin g warming centers.

For the latest forecast, visit https://spacecityweather.com/

Winter Weather Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?

The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.

How does COVID complicate the situation?

Typically, during an extreme weather event, our established emergency (homeless) shelters would make room for more people to stay.
Because of COVID, our shelters have already had to reduce capacity to maintain social distancing.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID/outbreaks, many of our shelters will not be able to accommodate additional people that might need shelter from the cold.

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Anyone in need of shelter should call 2-1-1 or the non-emergency line o f their local law enforcement (e.g., police department or sheriff's office) and ask to be put in touch with the homeless outreach team.

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

Operations Updates

A Strong Start to Our 40th Anniversary Year

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:30:51 GMT

A note from Mike Nichols, our President and CEO

This year — 2022 — marks 40 years for the Coalition, and we got our 40 ^th anniversary year off to a great start.

Last week was one of the busiest weeks for the Coalition in recent memory. Here's what we accomplished together.

We led the annual Point-in-Time (“PIT”) Count . We coordinated 480 staff and volunteers across the more than 3,740 square miles of Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties to survey people experiencing homelessness. The count is so important to gauge the success of our programs, to know where more help is needed — and to demonstrate to our community members experiencing homelessness that we care about them. We expect to publicly release the results of the 2022 Count in March.
Read our press release about this year's Count here .

Harris County Commissioners Court affirmed their commitment of $35 million for phase 2 of the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP), on top of the $35 million the City of Houston plans to allocate . The County’s vote followed months and months of conversations and negotiations with City and County officials. Phase one has been a huge success: we have far surpassed our goal of housing 5,000 people and have already housed more than 7,000! (This includes people permanently housed in Permanent Supportive Housing and in Rapid Re-Housing as well as those prevented from falling into homelessness via Diversion.) In phase 2, with the funding from the County, City and State, we will house another 7,000 and continue to be a model for the rest of the country – officially, now that we are part of the national House America Initiative .
Read our press release here .
Watch a video featuring CCHP phase 1 clients here .
Read the cover story from the Houston Chronicle here .

Houston City Council approved the construction of the Housing Navigation Center . The navigation center will be an essential piece of the homeless response system — a place where unsheltered people can stay for a short time as we finalize their permanent housing arrangements. It will allow us to decommission many more encampments and do so more quickly.

Milestones that we met last week will allow us to help thousands of people experiencing homelessness over the next few years and were the culmination of countless hours of work from the Coalition staff and the partners and stakeholders of The Way Home.

We look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary year with you throughout 2022 and continuing our shared work to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Press release: City of Houston and Harris County Announce Unprecedented Investment to House the Homeless

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:37:55 GMT

$100 million program will house more than 7,000 additional people by 2024 and build critical infrastructure to end homelessness

The City of Houston and Harris County Join House America, a federal initiative to address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis

Officials from the City of Houston, Harris County, and the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless on Wednesday announced a $100 million initiative to house 7,000 more people experiencing homelessness and to make critical enhancements that will bring the region closer to ending homelessness. Federal COVID relief funding will be used for the second phase of the Community COVID Housing Program . The housing initiative has already housed a record number of people experiencing homelessness — more than 7,000 people since Oct. 2020.

Multimedia: click here to watch a recording of the press event.

At the announcement, the City and the County also officially signed on to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)’s national House America Initiative.

“In Phase 1, we not only met our goal, but we also beat it and did so in record time,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner . “We are not resting on our laurels, together, we will do more, and we must keep the momentum going. Therefore, Houston and Harris County are doubling down and once again partnering with the Coalition for the Homeless and fellow agencies to launch the largest and most ambitious homeless initiative in the history of the City and County. Together, we can strategically utilize COVID-19 related funding to turn the crisis of the pandemic into an opportunity to reduce homelessness further and save lives.”

“By pulling together in the same direction, Harris County and Houston are showing the rest of America how to get within striking distance of solving an intractable issue like homelessness,” said County Judge Lina Hidalgo . “Our rapid deployment of creative, effective programs is changing countless lives for the better. This is how we make our community stronger, more resilient, and prosperous for everyone.”

“After a lifetime of working in public safety, I have focused on keeping our entire community safe for decades,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “We chose to partner again with the City of Houston and the Coalition for the Homeless on the Community COVID Housing Program because housing the homeless not only protects the homeless, it protects the broader community.”

“Everyone deserves access to a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Access to housing and shelter is a fundamental human right, yet we often treat housing as a commodity,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis . “We have an opportunity to end chronic homelessness in our community. That’s why I am excited to support ongoing funding with the City of Houston and proud that the County will continue to invest in our homelessness system through the Community COVID Housing Program.”

“Although Houston and Harris County just joined the 60+ communities part of House America, they’ve been following the spirit of the initiative,” said Anthony Love, Interim Executive Director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). “They used federal funding for the COVID homeless housing program to set goals and break new records. They permanently rehoused 5,000 people – a year before they expected. The House America community can learn from Houston and Harris County.”

“The Way Home, the local homeless response system, continues to prove out how collaboration among governments, nonprofits, and philanthropy can provide long-term fiscally and morally responsible solutions to homelessness,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County .

Funding for Phase 2 of housing-focused pandemic response

First announced in July 2020 , the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) is a housing-focused response to the pandemic for people experiencing homelessness. Led by the Coalition and implemented by about a dozen homeless service provider agencies , the CCHP pioneered the use of housing as a pandemic response. It has become a model for other cities and counties across the country looking to use federal funding for maximum impact for people experiencing homelessness.

Harris County intends to invest $35 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in Phase 2 of the CCHP, with $29.5 million committed by Commissioners Court this week on top of $5.5 million previously approved. The City of Houston plans allocate at least $35 million — including funds approved by City Council today for a $6.2 million housing navigation center — and helped secure $26 million from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The Coalition will raise additional funding for Phase 2 from private philanthropy, making it a public-private partnership.

Partnership with national initiative

On Wednesday, the City and the County officially signed on to the House America Initiative. House America is a national partnership in which HUD and USICH invite local leaders to “use the historic investments provided through ARP to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach by immediately re-housing and building additional housing for people experiencing homelessness,” according to a release from USICH . This aligns with the approach that the City, County, Coalition, and community partners have been implementing successfully for over a year.

Success of Phase 1 of the Community COVID Housing Program

Through the first phase of the CCHP, the partners of The Way Home — the local homeless response system — have been able to accelerate their work and have housed more than 7,000 people experiencing homelessness — or on the verge of homelessness — since October 2020. The number of people permanently housed through the CCHP exceeds the number of people housed in the two previous years combined.

The initial goal of Phase 1 the housing initiative was to house 5,000 people over two years. Since the official start of the CCHP in October 2020:

More than 1,080 people experiencing chronic (long-term) homelessness have been housed in Permanent Supportive Housing,
More than 3,180 people have been housed via Rapid Rehousing (short-term rental assistance and light case management services),
And more than 2,780 people have been prevented from falling into homelessness via Diversion.
For a total of more than 7,000 people housed Oct. 1, 2020, to Jan. 11, 2022.

Multimedia: click here to meet just a few of the people who have been housed through the Community COVID Housing Program.

Press release: Coalition for the Homeless to Conduct Annual Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness in the Houston Area January 24-27

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 21:08:29 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless —the nonprofit that leads The Way Home , the local homelessness response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties—will lead the annual Homeless Count & Survey to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in Houston and surrounding counties the week of Jan. 24, 2022.

The results of the 2022 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey, also known as the “PIT Count,” will be publicly released in spring 2022 following independent verification by an epidemiologist. The results will shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected homelessness in the region.

Since October 2020, the Coalition has led the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , an initiative that has placed a record number of people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing using federal COVID relief funding.

“From the beginning of the pandemic, we have known that people experiencing homelessness were uniquely vulnerable to the virus,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless. “We also anticipated that more people would fall on hard times and fall into homelessness as a result of the pandemic. Regardless of whether homeless numbers go up or down this year, we know that thousands fewer people are living on the streets or in shelters thanks to our housing-focused pandemic response, the Community COVID Housing Program, which was made possible through the support of the City of Houston and Harris County.”

The Coalition last conducted the Count in January 2021; however, the results of the 2021 Count were not directly comparable to those of years past due to changes in methodology necessitated by the pandemic. The Coalition anticipates returning to the standard methodology in 2022 to facilitate comparisons with data from 2020 and prior years .

The Count offers a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in the region on a given night. This year the “night of record” is Monday, Jan. 24. The Coalition will determine the number of people staying in shelters on that night by pulling records from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) . The unsheltered count takes place the following days—Tuesday, Jan. 25 to Thursday, Jan. 27—when volunteers and staff of local service provider nonprofits canvass the three-county region to survey people living unsheltered, using an app on their mobile devices. They will also collect information about whether people fell into homelessness due to COVID.

Volunteers are invited to participate in the Count by registering online at thewayhome.pointintime.info .

The Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP)

Led by the Coalition, the $65 million CCHP aims to substantially accelerate the placement of people experiencing homelessness in permanent housing as a public health measure. The CCHP is funded by federal COVID relief funding from the City of Houston and Harris County as well as private philanthropic support.

The initial goal of the housing initiative was to house 5,000 people experiencing homelessness—or on the verge of homelessness—over two years. Since the official start of the CCHP in October 2020:

· Approximately 1,040 people experiencing chronic (long-term) homelessness have been housed via a “bridge” to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH);

· Approximately 3,030 people have been housed via Rapid Rehousing (RRH), meaning they have received short-term rental assistance and light case management services;

· And approximately 2,540 people have been prevented from falling into homelessness via Diversion, a program that provides financial assistance, family mediation or creative problem-solving to help individuals keep or regain housing and prevent them from entering emergency shelter.

· A total of more than 6,600 people have been housed from Oct. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2021, and the work will continue through September 2022.

The 2022 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey

The Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, which furnishes the majority of funding for programs that provide permanent housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness in the region. The 2021 application process is anticipated to bring more than $42 million to our area.

Results from the 2022 Count will help track the progress of The Way Home’s ongoing collaborative efforts between local service agencies. The Count results also help the Coalition and partner agency homeless outreach teams in learning where unsheltered people are sleeping for continued outreach throughout the year, illuminate specific demographic and programmatic gaps, and provide additional information needed to end chronic homelessness and continue to improve the local homeless response system.

Eagle Scout Project Helps People Experiencing Homelessness

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 20:27:38 GMT

When Jerron started brainstorming what to do for his Eagle Scout Service Project, he knew he wanted his project to focus on health and medicine. An aspiring physician, Jerron recognizes the importance of preventative care and wanted to provide that for people experiencing homelessness. That’s why he decided to assemble first aid kits for people experiencing homelessness.

Houston Holiday Give Back Guide

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 22:04:01 GMT

Houston Holiday Give Back Guide

Name of agency: Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministries

Point of Contact: Adrianne Roberts

Contact email and phone: aroberts@afcyouth.org ; (832) 460-7681

List of agency needs: Water, blankets, backpacks, socks, feminine hygiene items, hygiene products (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hairbrush, and combs)
Accepting volunteers: Yes

Name of agency: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston

Point of Contact: Karina Hernandez

Contact email and phone: khernandez@catholiccharities.org ; (P) 713-874-6645 (C) 713-5261546

List of agency needs: Baby items, d iapers, formula, bed sets, sheets, hygiene kits, socks, slippers, children’s gifts, gift cards

Accepting volunteers: Yes

Name of Agency: NestQuest Houston, Inc

Point of Contact: Hannah Mannion; Director of Outreach and Development

Contact email and phone: hannah.mannion@nestquesthouston.com , 832-232-8715

List of Agency Needs: Personal hygiene items, diapers, baby wipes, toilet roll, blankets, toothpaste and toothbrushes, baby clothes, kids clothes, books for children K-12

Accepting Volunteers: Yes; volunteers sign up link - https://nestquesthouston.com/volunteer

Name of Agency: Santa Maria Hostel

Point of Contact: Marcia Chaney

Contact Email and Phone: mchaney@santamariahostel.org ; 832-236-8611

List of Agency Needs: d eodorant, lotion, socks (children's and women's), diapers - all sizes, diaper wipes, new underwear - all sizes kids and women's - new casual shoes - women and children

Accepting Volunteers: will accept volunteers on site as individuals and groups

Click here for a full list of The Way Home's partner agencies including contact information, volunteer opportunities, in-kind donation opportunities, and more.

Staff Spotlight: Ashlie Young

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:18:11 GMT

When Manager of Landlord Engagement Ashlie Young joined the Coalition in October 2019, the Landlord Engagement team was a new venture for our organization. It didn’t take long for this team to grow into a powerhouse thanks to Ashlie’s strong leadership and hard-working attitude. Thanks in large part to Ashlie, Houston is paving the way for landlord engagement programs across the country. Learn more about Ashlie and the work she does at the Coalition in this month’s staff spotlight!

Homeless Encampment Response Strategy Released

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:29:54 GMT

Encampments aren’t safe or healthy places — least of all for the people living in them.

The Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) is our region’s $65-million plan to serve 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the next two years to limit the spread of COVID-19. This program has given the Coalition the additional resources to develop and implement a coordinated plan to address unsheltered homelessness by helping people living encampments move into permanent housing.

Working with several partners of The Way Home and local law enforcement , the Coalition’s outreach and project management teams have been able to draw on years of knowledge regarding what does — and doesn’t — work to house people living in encampments.

Over the past year, the Coalition and its partners have been able to decommission six different encampments throughout the City of Houston and Harris County . Contrary to a common misconception, people in encampments will, more often than not, accept permanent housing when it is offered to them. The proof: over 200 people were living in these encampments, and the majority of them are now residing in permanent housing!

The Coalition’s staff has played a key leadership role on this encampment initiative. Decommissioning encampments is a community response that uses a system strategy of coordination across multiple partners and jurisdictions. The Coalition has convened public and elected officials and secured access to system resources to ensure that the tools are available to quickly move people out of encampments and into permanent housing.

This work caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which commissioned a consultant to work with the Coalition’s staff to study our process for addressing encampments and create a “how-to” guide for other cities to follow our example. We are proud to be leading this innovative work that has propelled Houston back into the national spotlight on creative and effective ways to address homelessness. Click here to read the guide.

Encampment Response Strategy Design Team Membership

Welcome, Susan!

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 17:26:58 GMT

The Coalition is thrilled that Susan Bailey-Newell will be joining the Coalition as our Chief Operating Officer (COO) effective November 1, 2021. As COO, Susan will work to measure, track, and improve the organization’s overall strategic and operational performance. This focus will help us define and prioritize our current and future work post CCHP, become a high-performing organization, and remain relevant and value add to the individuals we serve and to our stakeholders.

Staff Spotlight: Cynthia Thomas

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 16:47:05 GMT

When the Coalition announced the $65 million Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) in July 2020, securing these unprecedented funds was just one step of many that accompany such a massive undertaking. Since that time, our finance team, including Director of Finance Cynthia Thomas, has worked diligently to track and manage the many public and private monies that fund the Coalition and other partners as part of this complex program. Now more than ever, Cynthia’s expertise is needed to keep our system funded and running smoothly. We invite you to learn more about valued team member Cynthia!

Preparing for Tropical Storm Nicholas

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 17:21:34 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about Tropical Storm Nicholas and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Tuesday, Sept. 14 @ 8:45 a.m.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For the latest forecast, visit https://spacecityweather.com/

Tropical Storm Nicholas Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas?

The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered are informed about and protected from the storm.
Throughout the day, we have been working with our outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — to help spread the word that we are likely to be hit by a tropical storm this week.
Throughout the year, we also encourage our outreach teams and housing case managers to register their clients in the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) . STEAR is a free registry that helps emergency responders to keep track of people in their geographic area who might need extra assistance in an emergency.
Anyone in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1 or view the Red Cross Disaster Shelters webpage.

How does COVID complicate the situation?

Typically, during an extreme weather event, our established emergency (homeless) shelters would simply make room for more people to stay.
Because of COVID, our shelters have already had to reduce capacity to maintain social distancing.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID/outbreaks, most of our shelters will not be able to accommodate additional people that might need shelter from the storm.
However, people living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross .

Is shelter space be available for people currently living unsheltered?

Yes. People living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross .

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Anyone still in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1 or 2-1-1.

Visit the Red Cross’ website to find an open shelter near you: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.htm l

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers. As such, leading up to the storm, we worked to coordinate The Way Home's outreach teams, who encouraged unsheltered homeless individuals in voluntary evacuation areas to access emergency shelter.

Once we are able, we will assess the needs of our partners who serve people experiencing homelessness.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

If you need help

Following Tropical Storm Nicholas, if your agency is in need of supplies (e.g., cleaning supplies) or a connection with other local service providers (e.g., nonprofits like the Food Bank or government entities), please contact Aubry at avonck [at] homelesshouston [dot] org and Sara at smartinez [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

We cannot guarantee help, but just as we make these connections for our partners in non-emergency times, we will do our best to do so in response to the hurricane.

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during Tropical Storm Nicholas, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston.org and Caybryn at csouthern [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

Welcome to Our New Board Members!

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:58:05 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless is governed by an accomplished Board of Directors. They help guide the Coalition’s future and ensure we are effectively working to fulfill our mission. The Coalition’s success so far has been thanks in large part to the collective experience and wisdom of our Board of Directors.

Join us in celebrating board member John McCauley who completed his service at the end of last fiscal year. We so appreciate his support and leadership over last three years.

We are thrilled to welcome new board members for FY 22. Below, we invite you to get to know Ashley Allen , Chris Hanslik , and Shannah Stephens . Scroll down to see a full list of our board.

FY 2022 Board of Directors

Lance Gilliam, Chair

Chrishelle Calhoun Palay, Vice Chair

LaRence Snowden, Secretary

Griff Godwin, Treasurer

Teddy Adams
Ashley Allen, Ph D

Cynthia Alvarado, CPM®

Ric Campo

Alan Dettlaff, PhD

Doug Foshee

Annette Garber
Chris Hanslik

Andy Icken

Santhi Periasamy, PhD
Shannah Stephens

Troi Taylor
Alexander Triantaphyllis

Ken Valach

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is Live!

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:57:40 GMT

The NOFO dropped! The Way Home Continuum of Care partner agencies know very well what this announcement entails, but the general public may not be familiar with what this means or why it’s so important. Read on to discover why the NOFO is essential for our local homeless response system and our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

What is the NOFO?

Once a year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition. HUD recently opened this year’s competition which is expected to award over $2.6 billion to renew existing grants to over 7,500 community-based programs across the nation that serve people experiencing homelessness. Just last year, the NOFO brought more than $42 million into our local community! These resources are invaluable for providing permanent housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.

Donor Spotlight: Houston PetSet

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:51:15 GMT

When the Coalition Outreach Team goes out into the community and interacts with people experiencing homelessness, they often hand out hygiene kits, water, and other items to help those living unsheltered. Thanks to a generous donation from Houston PetSet , they are now also equipped with food, collars, leashes, and bowls for pets owned by those experiencing homelessness.

Houston PetSet was founded in 2004 with a mission to end homelessness and suffering of companion animals and elevate their status in society. The organization envisions a world where companion animals do not suffer and are valued. To accomplish this, Houston PetSet works with animal welfare groups, elected officials, and a variety of stakeholders to develop solutions, including funding free spay and neuter surgeries, transport of homeless animals to areas of the country where they can be readily adopted, and providing critical animal welfare grants to partners who work directly with animals daily.

National estimates indicate that between 10 and 25 percent of people experiencing homelessness have pets. With Houston having over 3,000 individuals staying in shelters or encampments on an average night, that means between 300 and 750 pets in our region are cared for by owners experiencing homelessness.

Extreme Heat and Unsheltered Homelessness

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 20:14:01 GMT

Texas summers can be relentless. Triple digit temperatures and high humidity don’t just cause discomfort; heat stroke can be deadly. Under certain circumstances, even sunburn, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion can be debilitating. While most local residents can seek respite with air conditioning and an ample supply of running water, those experiencing unsheltered homelessness may have little protection from the elements.

How do local nonprofits assist people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat?

The best way to help people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to weather extreme heat is to help get them housed. That’s why our local homeless response system’s primary focus is to help people experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing. This work has led to over 24,000 people being permanently housed since 2012. Still, over 3,000 individuals experience homelessness at any given time in our area and approximately half of those individuals are living unsheltered.

Outreach teams, including the Coalition’s outreach team, go into our community during times of extreme heat to assist these individuals living unsheltered. These teams educate individuals experiencing homelessness on safety during extreme heat. They distribute bottled water, handheld fans, cooling towels, sunscreen, and other supplies to people living unsheltered. Outreach team members, many of whom are First-Aid and CPR certified, educate individuals on harm reduction techniques to help protect from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If outreach team members do recognize signs of heat stroke or other serious medical issues, they will call EMS.

These visits do the crucial job of keeping individuals safe in the wake of extreme heat, but also help build relationships and rapport between clients and outreach team members. These relationships, if maintained over time, often lead to an individual growing trust with our team members and agreeing to start the housing process and connect to long-term services.

Historically, day shelters may have expanded capacity during times of extreme heat. However, expanding capacity in shelters has not been possible since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to adhere to CDC social distancing guidelines.

How does local government assist people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat?

The homeless response system has been purposefully built to help people experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing. In times of extreme weather or natural disaster, we look to our local offices of emergency management to provide shelter for all our community members, and that includes people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. As members of our community, people experiencing homelessness have the same right to access disaster shelters as anyone else.

Below, you can view the City of Houston’s plan for when extreme temperatures hit.

City of Houston:

The Heat Emergency Plan activates when the heat index, a computation of air temperature and humidity, reaches 108 on two consecutive days.
The City may activate Cooling Centers to help those residents who may not have adequate air conditioning to stay safe when temperatures are high. The centers, usually housed at libraries, recreation centers, multi-service centers and other facilities that are open to the public, are available during their normal business hours.
When the City’s Heat Plan is in effect, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) provides transportation free of charge to designated cooling centers for individuals who need them. Residents who need transportation can call 311 to request service.
To check if the Heat Emergency Plan has been activated at any given time, visit https://houstonemergency.org/ .

We also work with other jurisdictions within our local Continuum of Care including Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties as needed.

How can I assist people experiencing homelessness during extreme heat?

If you are concerned about individuals experiencing homelessness in times of extreme heat:

Have water, electrolyte powder packets, handheld fans, and/or washcloths available in your car to hand out.
Donate to the Coalition or other nonprofits who provide outreach to people experiencing homelessness.
If you expect someone may be experiencing heat stroke or another serious medical issue, please call 911.

Staff Spotlight: Emily Learned

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 21:06:42 GMT

Development Specialist Emily Learned joined the Coalition in September 2020. Along with the rest of the Development team, she works to engage with our donors who help keep the mission of the Coalition alive. Her good-natured spirit and hard-working attitude make her an invaluable member of the team. We invite you to get to know Emily!

Unpacking HMIS

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 15:47:56 GMT

Unpacking HMIS (Homeless Management Information System)

In 2020, more than 45,000 people accessed some type of homeless or prevention service in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Each of these 45,000 people have a unique story. Because of how robust our local homeless response system is and how many clients we serve, it is essential that we have a database that aids us in collecting relevant data on our clients in order to best serve them.

What is HMIS?

A Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a database used to record and track client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons. An HMIS ties together homeless service providers within a community to help create a more coordinated and effective housing and service delivery system.

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other planners and policymakers at the federal, state and local levels use aggregate HMIS data to obtain better information about the extent and nature of homelessness over time. Specifically, an HMIS can be used to produce an unduplicated count of homeless persons, understand patterns of service use, and measure the effectiveness of homeless programs.

HUD requires all agencies receiving federal funds from the McKinney-Vento HUD Program for use in serving the homeless community to participate in the HMIS. Starting in 2011, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) providers are also required to participate. Agencies who provide services and/or shelter to the homeless community but who don’t receive federal funding can still apply and get access to use HMIS subject to Coalition review and approval.

Who is responsible for HMIS?

The CoC Program Interim Rule ( 24 CFR Part 578 ) assigns responsibility for the HMIS to the CoC. It makes clear the the CoC is ultimately responsible for HMIS, and not the agency that gets the grant because the grant is awarded on behalf of the CoC.

The CoC must designate a single HMIS system for the geographic area and a single eligible applicant as the HMIS lead. The HMIS lead is the only applicant eligible to apply for CoC funds are the HMIS program component. The management of HMIS is delegated to the HMIS lead agency, but the CoC maintains the oversight role. The TX-700 CoC’s (more commonly known as The Way Home ) HMIS is staffed at the Coalition for the Homeless. The Coalition’s HMIS staff is responsible for the administration of the HMIS software and providing technical assistance to participating agencies and end-users.

Agencies that participate in The Way Home CoC’s HMIS are referred to as “participating agencies.” Each participating agency needs to follow certain guidelines to help maintain data privacy and accuracy. The guidelines listed in this document do not replace the more formal and legally binding agency agreement that each agency signs before program implementation.

How does HMIS make our system better?

Before 2012, agencies worked in silos and thus were unable to effectively communicate, analyze data, and relay information. Agencies had no way of knowing what services an individual had already received or where they had received it. They could not share case plans or outcomes. Sometimes individuals were receiving services that may not have been the best intervention for them, but it was what was provided at the door on which they happened to have knocked.

The implementation of HMIS was a huge help in breaking down those barriers while still preserving client confidentiality. Our system now provides a community-based approach to assessing and referring people for services, which is all done electronically through the HMIS. When individuals are assessed through Coordinated Assessment, they are put on a waitlist based on vulnerability and prioritized for housing. They are then referred to any organization that fits their needs according to their assessment. This collaboration makes our agencies more effective and our clients more primed to succeed. HMIS Data is reported to HUD to communicate how well the system and its projects are doing.

Having access to HMIS represents a strategic advantage for service providers. The HMIS software we use allows multi-level client data sharing between organizations, as well as client case coordination and electronic referrals. Our locally developed information-sharing model can prevent service duplications and enable collaboration between various homeless service providers, while limiting access to sensitive data. Client privacy is very important to us.

In addition to the standard data collection and reporting functionalities, the HMIS software includes a comprehensive case management module, bed management, performance measurement tools, ad-hoc reporting, software customization options, etc. Lastly, providers already in HMIS are better positioned to apply for future funding opportunities, as many national and local funders now require HMIS participation.

There are currently over 900 active users from around 100 different organizations capturing data in The Way Home Continuum of Care.

What does HMIS tell us? How does it help us better serve our clients?

While much of the work of HMIS is behind the scenes, it truly is the core of our local homeless response system. Every piece of data is essential in order to make data-driven decisions and track how many people have been permanently housed, how many are still experiencing homelessness, and how many we still need to provide services for.

A client’s HMIS record tells their story; each agency that provides services to a given client is another chapter to their story. An example of a “story” for a client experiencing unsheltered homelessness could be some outreach enrollments, some shelter enrollments, and an end result being housed in Rapid Re-housing or Permanent Supportive Housing .

HMIS Training and the National Human Services & Data Consortium Conference

In April 2021, our HMIS team presented at the National Human Services & Data Consortium Conference. Data System Manager Kelita Beechum and Data System Specialists Agnes Asigbey and Lindsey Grubbs represented the Coalition for the virtual presentation which was attended by nearly 600 individuals.

The presentation focused on improving HMIS training curriculum and delivery. They shared our system’s methods of conducting training. While trainings were completed in-person prior to the pandemic, the team shared how they transitioned to virtual trainings. In the beginning, this required a lot of experimentation, but the team adapted quickly. Platforms used include GoToMeeting, Zoom, and Microsoft Team. The platform used is based on how many people attend and what screen sharing needs are required.

Virtual trainings have actually increased training attendance. These trainings can accommodate more individuals, and it’s more accessible. Because HMIS is so complex and so are our clients, we are grateful for a system that values good data and effective training. These training sessions (more than 10 are offered monthly) cover everything from new user basics to more complex functions and reporting. Click here to view a calendar of the many HMIS trainings offered.

The Coalition is proud of our HMIS team!

Staff Spotlight: Lindsey Grubbs

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 18:04:43 GMT

Many of our partners across The Way Home Continuum of Care recognize Data System Specialist Lindsey Grubbs as their instructor for Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) training. Get to know a little more about valued Coalition staff member Lindsey in this month’s Staff Spotlight!

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: Cypress, TX

Q: What do you love most about Houston?

A: I have lived in the Houston area my entire life! Houston is home to me and will forever have my heart. I could not imagine living anywhere else.

Q: What made you want to work in the area of homelessness?

A: I was an agriculture major in college and had always planned on working in agriculture. When I was about to graduate college, I was on the hunt for a job, and a temporary assistant position at the Coalition kind of just feel into my lap. Now, four and a half years later and three position changes I am still here and absolutely LOVE it!

Q: Can you tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

A: I am one of the Data System Specialists for the Coalition. In this role, I am responsible for all provider facing, customer service-oriented duties including agency and user performance, troubleshooting, and help-desk maintenance as it relates to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). I assist with help desk management with a thorough understanding of the HMIS product (Client Track) and the CFTH policies and procedures for the system’s usage. I also conduct HMIS Trainings for HMIS users and review and update existing training modules and materials.

Q: Are there any specific projects you are working on right now?

A: Right now, we are currently trying to finish up with site visits to all participating agencies. They are very time consuming, but very important. Site visits are done for all NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) participating agencies. During the site visit, the HMIS Representative will document information on checklists based on HMIS requirements. The information gathered will serve as a basis for the site visit summary report. At the end of the site visit, we will conduct an exit interview to discuss any preliminary findings or concerns. From that report, they receive a score that goes towards their NOFA.

Donor Spotlight: Mark Richardson

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 17:52:10 GMT

The Coalition is consistently impressed with the creative ways our donors find to fundraise for our cause. We could not fulfill our mission without passionate people like Mark Richardson, more commonly known by his gaming name "Snowmanity." Mark regularly uses Twitch, the video game streaming platform, to raise money for the Coalition. We hope by reading Mark’s story, you will feel inspired to find creative ways to support homeless services in your community!

CCHP Explained: Supplementary Programs

Fri, 21 May 2021 17:51:01 GMT

On July 1, 2020, the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Coalition for the Homeless announced a joint $65-million plan called the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , which will serve 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the course of two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This four-part series, CCHP Explained, will dive into how we are serving those individuals and families through our COVID response: two permanent housing programs ( Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing ), one new pilot intervention ( Diversion ), and four additional programs (Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelters, Mental Health Case Management, Enhanced Street Outreach, and Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation).

Over the past four weeks, we’ve been thrilled to share with you this innovative program. This work could not be done without the dedicated collaboration between our many private and public partners. Our region is proud to be leading the way in innovation for ending homelessness and responding to the pandemic. Today, join us for the last entry in our series as we dive into the four additional programs that round out the CCHP by accelerating access to permanent housing.

Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelters

The shelters in The Way Home Continuum of Care work hard to offer safe accommodations to as many people experiencing homelessness as possible. At the onset of COVID, social distancing guidelines added an extra challenge in keeping individuals safe. In the interest of the health and safety of clients and staff, shelters had to decrease capacity.

Emergency shelters helped curb the spread of COVID amongst people living in these congregate settings. Two auxiliary/social distancing emergency shelters—one men’s shelter operated by The Salvation Army of Greater Houston and a women’s shelter operated by Catholic Charities —were established following CDC guidelines. These shelters replaced some of the beds lost in other shelters due to decreased capacity and gave our existing shelters more space to allow for proper social distancing.

Housing assessments are also done for those staying in the emergency shelters, getting them on the waitlist for the right permanent housing program for them. Thanks to increased resources provided by the CCHP, including our Bridge Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing programs, many people from these social distancing emergency shelters are being permanently housed.

Mental Health Case Management

Enhanced Street Outreach

Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation

Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation was put in place to ensure that individuals housed prior to COVID did not see any of their housing or services disrupted at such a precarious time. CCHP resources were able to preserve these PSH units. Permanent Supportive Housing preservation was offered to all existing PSH providers.

Missed part one? CCHP Explained: Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing

Missed part two? CCHP Explained: Rapid Re-housing
Missed part three? CCHP Explained: Diversion

Questions about the CCHP? Contact CCHP@homelesshouston.org .

CCHP Explained: Diversion

Tue, 11 May 2021 20:11:18 GMT

This four-part series, CCHP Explained , will dive into how we are serving those individuals and families through our COVID response: two permanent housing programs ( Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing ), one new pilot intervention (Diversion), and four additional programs ( Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelters, Mental Health Case Management, Enhanced Street Outreach, and Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation ).

Today, join us as we dive into Diversion .

The Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) will accelerate the work of The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) , which is the homeless response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, by serving approximately 5,000 individuals between October 2020 – September 2022. Of these individuals, we anticipate approximately 2,000 clients to be served through the Diversion program.

What is Diversion?

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness , diversion is “an intervention designed to immediately address the needs of someone who has just lost their housing and become homeless. Diversion is a client-driven approach; its goal is to help the person or household find safe alternative housing immediately, rather than entering shelter or experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It is intended to ensure that the homelessness experience is as brief as possible, to prevent unsheltered homelessness, and to avert stays in shelter.”

The Way Home CoC utilizes Diversion to prevent people from entering homelessness and avoiding the trauma that comes with it. Diversion is generally a three-month program; by the end of the program, our agencies strive for our clients to be stabilized and self-sufficient. Diversion asks, “what do you need and what do you want?” and case managers help our clients get there.

How does Diversion work?

Diversion is not a housing program; it is a short-term intervention. In order to be enrolled in the Diversion program, an individual must first complete an assessment and meet the criteria. If criteria is met, the individual will then be assigned a case manager who will work with them through the three-month program. Case managers empower their clients to explore options and engage in conflict resolution with friends or family if appropriate and in some cases may offer financial assistance to prevent homelessness or shelter stay.

Diversion relies on active listening and creative problem-solving by the case managers. Whatever barriers are standing in the way of a client remaining stably housed will be addressed. Interventions are determined on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of a client. Here are some examples of Diversion in action:

Family reunification – ex. An individual moves from Houston from across the county but has trouble connecting to income or housing. We can help pay for transportation costs to help them reconnect to their support system.
Conflict mediation – ex. Two family members living together have had a disagreement. We provide conflict mediation to determine how these two can work out their issues and live peacefully together.
Payment for background and credit checks
Landlord fees
Utility deposits
Transportation repairs – ex. An individual’s car needs a repair so they are unable to go to make it to work, potentially losing their income. We can assist with the car repair so they can maintain their job and housing.
Grocery cards
Fees for assistance securing IDs, birth certificates and social security cards
Certifications or license fees related to school or employment
Work or education-related assistance

Successes To-Date!

Missed part one? CCHP Explained: Bridge to Permanent Supportive H ousing

Missed part two? CCHP Explained: Rapid Re-housing

Questions about Diversion or other aspects of the CCHP? Contact CCHP@homelesshouston.org .

Check back next week for our fourth and final CCHP Explained blog to learn about the four additional programs that make up the CCHP: an Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelter , Mental Health Case Management , Enhanced Street Outreach , and Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation .

CCHP Explained: Rapid Re-housing

Fri, 07 May 2021 16:28:55 GMT

This four-part series, CCHP Explained , will dive into how we are serving those individuals and families through our COVID response: two permanent housing programs ( Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing), one new pilot intervention ( Diversion) , and four additional programs ( Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelters, Mental Health Case Management, Enhanced Street Outreach, and Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation ).

Today, join us as we dive into Rapid Re-housing .

The Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) will accelerate the work of The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) , which is the homeless response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, by serving approximately 5,000 individuals between October 2020 – September 2022. Of these individuals, we anticipate approximately 1,700 to be housed through the Rapid Re-housing, or RRH, program.

What is Rapid Re-housing?

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness , Rapid Re-housing is a program that “provides short-term rental assistance and services. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self- sufficiency, and stay housed. It is offered without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of criminal record, or sobriety) and the resources and services provided are typically tailored to the needs of the person.”

The Way Home CoC utilizes RRH to place those currently experiencing homelessness into a unit quickly and assigns them a case manager so they may work toward self-sustainability. The goal is that the individual can maintain housing on their own at the end of the 12-month program, so this permanent housing program is prioritized for people who do not need long-term assistance, but need a brief period of rental assistance and case management to get back on their feet. .

Rapid Re-housing was first introduced in the Houston region in 2015. It began as a program for families with dependents under 18 experiencing homelessness. There were far fewer established agency connections and the amount of rental assistance provided was at the discretion of the case manager. Over time, RRH opened to individuals. The amount of rental assistance provided has become standardized, and supportive services have expanded to include income, mental health assistance, legal aid, and more.

While 15 agencies provide RRH everyday as part of The Way Home, six local agencies are providing RRH programs through the CCHP: BakerRipley , Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. , Catholic Charities , Endeavors , SEARCH Homeless Services , and Spring Branch Community Health Center .

How does Rapid Re-housing work?

Individuals must be assessed for housing through Coordinated Access to be considered a candidate for RRH. Whereas Permanent Supportive Housing clients must be experiencing chronic homelessness (experiencing homelessness for over a year and have a disability), RRH clients must be experiencing literal homelessness at the time of their referral, but do not have to be experiencing chronic homelessness.

Once an individual has been enrolled in the RRH program, they are connected with a case manager. Some clients have never been on a lease or it has been a long time since they have, so the case manager will assist the client with the rules and responsibilities of living in an apartment. If needed, they are also on-hand to become a mediator/liaison between tenant and landlord. Case managers have a wealth of resources to assist with additional needs such as connecting to income, mental health services, legal aid, and more.

Rapid Re-housing is a rental assistance housing program which means clients must pay a portion of their rent and utilities. Clients are expected to work toward self-sufficiency with the assistance of their case manager. After 12 months, the client should have the tools and skills to be able to remain stably housed, allowing them to exit the program and truly begin their new, independent life.

Successes To-Date!

Thanks to CCHP funding and resources, we have housed 1,302 individuals through Rapid Re-housing since October 1, 2020. Without CCHP funding, our traditional pace would have housed around 150 individuals in this same period. This significant increase in the number of individuals served is a testament to the power of a homeless response system that values collaboration; no single agency could have housed this many people while working independently.

All 1,302 individuals so far have their own unique story to tell. Toni Benson-Atkinson, manager of housing with the Coalition, shares pride in the system that helped make these stories happen, and joy in what it means for each person’s future.

In the words of Toni, “due to the diversity of clients served by Rapid Re-housing, success is measured in various ways. The program assists young adults, families, couples without children, and single individuals. Clients who have never had a lease of their own and others who haven’t had a lease in many years. Clients enter the program with a wide variety of barriers that have prevented them from obtaining and maintaining stable housing. The goal of Rapid Re-housing is to provide clients with a safe and stable environment while assisting them to become more self-sufficient, working to overcome their barriers, and working towards the housing solution that is best for them, all with the assistance of a case manager and other available community resources. Giving clients a hand-up and offering them the opportunity, encouragement, and education to remain successfully housed.”

Continue to part three of our four part series - CCHP Explained: Diversion

Missed part one? CCHP Explained: Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing

Questions ab out the Rapid Re-housing program or other CCHP programs? Contact CCHP@homelesshouston.org .

A Home for Harrison - A CCHP Success Story

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Thu, 06 May 2021 20:53:31 GMT

A Community COVID Housing Program Success Story

CCHP Explained: Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 16:50:31 GMT

On July 1, 2020, the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Coalition for the Homeless announced a joint $65-million plan called the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , which will serve 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the course of two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This four-part series, CCHP Explained , will dive into how we are serving those individuals and families through our COVID response: two permanent housing programs (Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing ), one new pilot intervention ( Diversion ), and four additional programs ( Auxiliary/Social Distancing Emergency Shelters, Mental Health Case Management, Enhanced Street Outreach, and Permanent Supportive Housing Preservation ).

Today, join us as we dive into Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing.

The Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) will accelerate the work of The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) , which is the homeless response system in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, by serving approximately 5,000 individuals between October 2020 – September 2022. Of these individuals, we anticipate approximately 1,000 to be housed through the Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing, or Bridge to PSH, program.

What is Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing?

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness , Permanent Supportive Housing is “an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of [people experiencing chronic homelessness]. The services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and connect people with community-based health care, treatment, and employment services.” In order to meet the chronic homelessness definition, an individual must:

have a qualifying disability; and
reside in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or an emergency shelter; and
have experienced homelessness either continuously for one year OR experienced four episodes of homelessness in three years.

How does Bridge to PSH work?

Once a person is assessed for housing through Coordinated Access and then referred to the Bridge to PSH program, they are assigned a navigator. One of the first steps in navigation is assistance in securing needed documentation such as documentation of homelessness, documentation of disability, identification, and birth certificates. Navigators also assist with various challenges clients may be experiencing on their path into housing, such as substance abuse issues, mental health barriers, and overcoming criminal backgrounds.

Next, clients need a place to live. CCHP funding has allowed the Coalition to expand our landlord engagement team . This team works hard to build relationships with landlords across the city and county and has secured hundreds of new properties since the start of the CCHP. This means that our clients have options to choose from when moving into the Bridge to PSH program, increasing their likelihood of remaining successfully housed.

Once the navigator has helped a client successfully move in, the navigator then introduces the client to their case manager. The case manager helps the client with their life moving forward including connecting them to mental health supports, income, and more.

Throughout the process, Coalition staff members, including Sable Harris-Buck and Sandra Hoelscher , work behind the scenes to ensure all operations at our partner agencies are running smoothly. They help partners identify issues, problem solve, track data, and manage the program on a big picture scale.

Successes To-Date!

Continue to part two of our four-part series: CCHP Explained: Rapid Re-housing
Continue to part three of our four-part series: CCHP Explained: Diversion
Continue to part four of our four-part series: CCHP Explained: Supplementary Programs

Questions about the Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing program or other CCHP programs? Contact CCHP@homelesshouston.org .

Staff Spotlight: Chris Sapp

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 18:02:32 GMT

100K in 100 Days Campaign

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 18:51:24 GMT

100K in 100 Days

The Coalition for the Homeless is pleased to announce the kickoff to our 100K in 100 Days annual campaign. The campaign will run from March 23rd thru June 30th. Funds raised will allow us to activate our partners and prioritize resources needed to reach our ultimate goal: that everyone in our community has a safe place to call home.

As part of our 100K in 100 Days challenge, our generous Board of Directors has also pledged to match donations from individuals dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000 . This means that your gift will make double the impact , helping us house people and families in crisis even more quickly.

During the campaign we will be sending out weekly helpful tips and sharing best practices on how to help spread the word on this impactful campaign.

To start today, there are four simple ways to help:

Make a gift today! Your donation will mean so much to us but will mean even more to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Every dollar received during this campaign is automatically doubled thanks to our Board of Directors 100% match.

Become a fundraiser! Sign up for a peer-to-peer fundraising page. You can access step-by-step instructions by clicking here .

The Peer to Peer function allows for you to customize a unique way to give back by hosting a birthday fundraiser or virtual fundraising dinner party with your friends and family.

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn to like and share our content over the next 100 days and beyond.

A simple share or a like of our post can help us reach new networks and provide new opportunities to advance our mission and vision.

Missed our campaign announcement? Sign up for our monthly e-Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Coalition news.

The CFTH newsletter is a great source of information and provides insights on the day to day work the Coalition is leading to implement, convene, and serve as a catalyst to developing real and permanent solutions.

Join us today so we can ensure that everyone in our community has a safe place to call home.

2021 Homeless Count Results Suggest Housing-Focused Pandemic Response Kept Numbers Down

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:42:00 GMT

One in seven unsheltered individuals surveyed cited COVID-19 as the reason for their homelessness

Houston, Texas (March 24, 2021) — The Coalition for the Homeless’ 2021 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey found a total of 3,055 individuals experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 19, 2021 — 1,545 people staying in shelter (51%) and 1,510 people living unsheltered (49%) — in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, Texas.

Due to methodology changes enacted to protect the health and safety of all parties involved in the Count, and because of the unique circumstances created by the Coronavirus, the results of the 2021 Count are not directly comparable to those of years past.

While direct comparisons to previous years cannot be made, the Homeless Count data and information from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS, administered by the Coalition) can be used to draw reasonable conclusions about the pandemic’s impact on homelessness in the Houston region. For example, the number of sheltered individuals might have been higher if not for factors such as: limited bed availability due to social distancing protocols, and the potential reluctance of those experiencing homelessness to stay in a shelter due to fear of contracting the virus.

The Homeless Count was also able to shed some initial insights on the impacts of COVID on new episodes of homelessness. On the night of the Count, one in seven people experiencing unsheltered homelessness cited the Coronavirus as the reason for their homelessness, many of them specifically citing job loss or reduction in work hours and/or eviction as the triggering event.

The ongoing eviction moratorium, even if only a temporary measure, has likely prevented more people in the region from falling into homelessness.

Data also suggest that the unsheltered number may have been higher if not for the innovative Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , a $65M housing-focused pandemic response that will serve approximately 5,000 people experiencing homelessness by fall 2022.

“While we don’t yet know the full scope of how many people have fallen — or will fall — into homelessness due to the pandemic, we believe that without the Community COVID Housing Program, the number of people experiencing homelessness in our region on the night of our Count would very likely have been higher,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition .

Last year, the Coalition partnered with the City of Houston and Harris County to create the CCHP in order to accelerate the work of the local homeless response system, The Way Home Continuum of Care. Between Oct. 1, 2020, which marked the launch of CCHP, and Jan. 19, 2021, the night of record for the Count, almost 800 people — most of whom were previously unsheltered — were permanently housed.

The City of Houston and Harris County have allocated $39 million and $18 million in federal CARES Act funding to the CCHP, respectively, representing an unprecedented coordinated effort on the part of the City and the County to address homelessness in the region. Because of underlying health conditions and lack of access to facilities, people experiencing homelessness are more susceptible to COVID and, if infected, more likely to experience serious complications or death.

“It appears that we have avoided a surge in homelessness — for now,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner . “This is of no coincidence, but due to the wise and targeted investment of new sources of funding; our usage of permanent housing as an infectious diseases control response; and the ingenuity and hard work of our homeless response system. Addressing homelessness is a top priority for the city, and we are proud to allocate substantial resources to this innovative program. But the pandemic is not over, and we are not out of the woods yet. Now is not the time to let our guard down. Continued investment in homelessness prevention and response will be necessary to keep a homelessness crisis at bay.”

"The CCHP is the most comprehensive and evidence-based investment in addressing homelessness in our region’s history,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . “The early results of the program are a promising sign that we are moving in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean we will rest on our laurels. I recognize that addressing a challenge as complex as homelessness will require sustained effort, and we look forward to continuing our work with all involved.”

The Coalition coordinates the annual Count on behalf of The Way Home. The Count informs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the effectiveness of collaboration and homeless programs in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The annual Count cannot provide an exact number of people experiencing homelessness for several reasons, including the daily fluctuating number and the large size (3,700+ square miles) of the area being canvassed. However, it is considered a critical metric and is highly effective at illustrating trends over time. The Count results are combined with additional data points, like the information stored in the HMIS, to gauge progress of the local homeless response system. After the pandemic, the Coalition intends to return to methodologies used in years past in order to be able to draw more direct comparisons and view trends in homelessness over time.

As in past years, the 2021 Count & Survey data was analyzed by the Coalition in consultation with Dr. Cathy Troisi, associate professor, University of Texas School of Public Health. The full Homeless Count & Survey Independent Analysis is available online here and a one-page fact sheet is available here .

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide leadership in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org .

The Way Home is the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org .

For media interviews/inquiries please contact Madison Mann, CKP, at madison@theckpgroup.com .

Additional Resources:

Can People Experiencing Homelessness Receive a Stimulus Check?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 22:05:16 GMT

In recent days, articles have circulated that outline the process for individuals experiencing homelessness to receive stimulus checks. The Coalition has received several inquiries about the accuracy of these articles and how we can get the correct information to people experiencing homelessness.

Case managers at SEARCH Homeless Services helped us better understand the process and what it means for people experiencing homelessness.

The only way that people experiencing homelessness can receive their stimulus payment is by filing a tax return, even if they don’t normally file taxes or are not required to file a tax return. If they did not receive any or received less than the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments (also known the EIP, or stimulus check), they must file a 2020 tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.

If the person already has a bank account or direct deposit info, they can provide that to the tax preparer. If they do not have a bank account, the tax preparer can provide a pre-paid debit card with direct deposit info that can be used when filing. Once the IRS processes the return, they will receive the direct deposit on that debit card.

Where can people experiencing homelessness find a tax preparer and file their tax return?

There are many free volunteer income tax centers in our area. Search by zip code online at https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/ . See below for three Houston locations:

South Texas College of Law

1303 San Jacinto

Houston, TX 77002

713-659-8040

Languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese

Appointment Required

University of Houston Downtown

320 N. Main Street, Suite 410-F

Houston, TX 77002

713-221-5015
Languages: English, Vietnamese, and Spanish

Appointment Not Required

Hours: Th-Fr 10:00am-4:00pm

Sat 10:00am-2:00pm

BakerRipley Ripley House Campus

4410 Navigation Blvd

Houston, TX 77011

713-273-3755
Languages: English and Spanish

Appointment Required

For more detailed assistance, clients can also contact the United Way MyFreeTaxes Helpline at 1-844-322-3639 or visit their website .

2021 Arctic Storm

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:50:49 GMT

Homelessness is a public health emergency every single day of the year. When disasters like hurricanes and freezes come along, that emergency becomes even more urgent. Just like we did during Hurricane Harvey, the Coalition mobilized during the 2021 winter storm to assist in providing shelter, transportation, and resources to people experiencing homelessness while also keeping the community at-large informed about our efforts and the efforts of our public and private partners.

On Thursday, February 11, various Coalition staff members began critical communications and meetings with the City and County to understand what the local plan was for responding to the incoming cold weather. At the same time, outreach teams were notified that they would need to start preparing individuals living unsheltered for the freeze and to notify them about transportation to warming centers.

Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference on Friday, February 12 announcing that The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management would be opening the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) as a warming center in the afternoon on Sunday, February 14. The Houston Health Department asked the Coalition to provide volunteers for staffing support at the GRB, and in turn, Coalition President/CEO Mike Nichols emailed partners asking for staff volunteers. Staff from The Beacon , Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. , SEARCH Homeless Services , Temenos , and the Coalition stepped up to volunteer to staff the GRB. Other Coalition staffers met with Harris County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) on the 12th and they announced that they would be opening several libraries throughout the county as warming centers.

Officials: Recent homeless count, permanent housing initiative may have saved thousands of unsheltered Harris County residents from cold , Community Impact Newspaper

Winter Storms Bring Deadly Risks for the Homeless , Bloo mberg CityLab

Bitter Texas freeze hits most vulnerable hardest , AB C News

2 million Texas households without power as massive winter storm drives demand for electricity , T exas Tribune

Staff Spotlight: Brandon Oliver

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 18:40:07 GMT

The staff at the Coalition is second-to-none. This month, we invite you to get to know Senior Associate of Outreach Brandon Oliver .

Q: Where are you from originally?

Houston, Texas

Q: What do you love most about Houston?

The diversity in culture and how we always pull together in the most important times, especially after a disaster.

Q: What made you want to work in the area of homelessness? Can you tell us about your past experiences working in the homeless response system?

I’ve always had a heart for the homeless, my grandmother fed homeless clients downtown for years. She would make tacos and we would pass them out! This is was the beginning of something that I had no idea would eventually turn into a career. About six years ago, I had a friend who worked for Star of Hope and she had a brand new outreach position open. I applied and it was the best decision of my life.

Q: Can you tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

I’m a Senior Associate of outreach and we currently are focusing on the unincorporated areas of Harris County where there are limited social services that are being provided. We go out Monday through Friday to engage with clients. The hope is that during these interactions, we will build enough rapport with them to ultimately walk this journey with them until they are housed.

Q: Tell us about your experience during the winter freeze.

It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life! Seeing so many people in need, not all homeless, but mostly homeless all gathered in one place was surreal. I staffed the George R. Brown Center warming shelter along with the mayor’s office, Office of Emergency Management, and other social service agencies. I believe we were able to touch many lives during this time and prayerfully we will house some clients because of that week-long engagement!

Q: What is the most inspiring part of your job?

Being able to touch, reach and encourage people that there is more for them beyond the streets/shelters.

Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

I sing!

Q: What makes you proud?

When I’m able to walk with someone through their homeless journey; the day they get their keys is always one of the proudest moments for me!

Q: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

I kind of already feel like one at times because some of the obstacles that come up against us in outreach and our clients have obstacles that can seem impossible to overcome but we always find a way! If I did have a superpower, it would be the ability to make people happy no matter what they are facing. I’ve dealt with all kinds of abuse as a child but today I stand tall knowing there was and still is more for me. I would want to give them that ability to overcome through joy and peace.

Q: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

I have a wife, two children, and two dogs. We all live together, along with my mother, under one roof!

Ms. Bobbie and the Downtown Housing Surge

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:44:58 GMT

In January, the Coalition outreach team, with the help of public and private partners, set out to permanently house 32 people living in an encampment in Downtown Houston. Most housing surges like this one require the help of many partners. This one was no exception and even included the help of a rather unusual partner!

One of the key activities when someone moves into permanent housing is transportation to their new home. Once those living in these encampments had packed their belongings, they were provided with Yellow Cab Taxi vouchers in order to travel to their new apartments.

Despite each voucher having a $15 balance, the drivers were unable to process the cards and clients were temporarily unable to travel to their new homes. One driver, however, was determined to resolve the issue.

Ms. Bobbie, a Yellow Cab driver who drives the only pink taxicab in the Houston area, learned that the computer system in their cabs was not updated for drivers to use the vouchers. Bobbie was not concerned about being paid on the spot; however, and proceeded to transport the majority of the 32 people who had been living at the encampment. She went above and beyond to make sure that everyone was comfortable and even stayed with some of the more vulnerable clients to ensure that they were getting connected to the right people at each property.

And more than just transporting people from the encampments to their new homes, Ms. Bobbie was determined to resolve this issue with Yellow Cab and brought her concerns to her manager. But her advocating didn’t stop there. Bobbie continued to make her voice heard throughout the company; soon, her concerns were heard by Yellow Cab’s national leadership team. Bobbie was notified that the Yellow Cab’s computer system would be updated immediately, and this update would allow all their drivers to accept the taxi vouchers in-person throughout the nation.

32 clients moved into housing during the Downtown surge and Bobbie helped transport the majority of them. Bobbie’s kindness and compassion inspire everyone around her, including us at the Coalition; we are grateful to her and are honored to consider her an ally and a friend!

Special thanks to the many partners who assisted with this housing surge:

Clutch Consulting

HPD Homeless Outreach Team

SEARCH Homeless Services

The Harris Center

Career and Recovery

Healthcare for the Homeless

Salvation Army

Houston Police Department’s Differential Response Team (DRT)

The City of Houston

Houston’s Downtown Management District

The Beacon

Coalition for the Homeless celebrates Harris County's FY21 budget

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 23:32:49 GMT

Yesterday, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to adopt its FY 2021 budget. As part of that budget, the County has allocated $2.6 M for the homeless response system. This is a huge victory because it is the first time Harris County has allocated funds from their general fund for the homeless response system. The $2.6 M will be used to fill existing system gaps.

This is also a promising first step toward what we hope will be an annual allocation from the County of $13.9 M starting in FY 2022, which is what was recommended by the Harris County Homeless Task Force in their report that was unanimously accepted by the Court over the summer.

This victory was made possible thanks to the hard work of so many partners, including the leadership of agencies of The Way Home, who stepped up to publicly show their support; our friends at the County, including the members of the Court and their staffs, the Community Services Department, and the Budget Management Office; as well as our own staff at the Coalition.

We look forward to the work ahead to continue to make progress.

Winter Weather Alert

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:49:22 GMT

We will use this page to share information about resources for people experiencing homelessness during the arctic blast as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at 12 p.m.

Winter Weather Resources

The Texas Division of Emergency Management has developed a map for people to find the closest warming shelter near them and to view warming centers across the state of Texas. For additional information, assistance, or resources call 2-1-1.

The Red Cross will also post information about emergency shelters on the "find open shelter" section of its website: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html

Local emergency management authorities

Media inquiries

Media inquiries regarding warming centers should be directed to the appropriate office of emergency management. Our local OEMs are responsible for emergency cold-weather sheltering.

For media inquiries regarding what the homeless response system is doing to prepare for the cold front, please share a link to this page and/or contact Catherine Villarreal at cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org .

The Coalition responds to Governor Abbott's budget

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 00:02:07 GMT

We are glad to see that the Governor’s Budget includes plans to reduce homelessness across the state. Homelessness was a public health crisis even before COVID, and the pandemic has only drawn more attention to how important it is that every Texan has a safe place to call home.

If the governor truly wants to reduce homelessness, we strongly encourage him to pursue proven strategies, in particular, funding for supportive housing units plus services. This approach has served our area well: in our Houston-area Continuum of Care (which includes Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties) we have been able to decrease homelessness by 54% since 2011.

Conversely, a camping ban is tantamount to criminalizing homelessness. We believe it is inhumane to tell people they cannot occupy public spaces if they have literally nowhere else to go. We know from experience that permanent housing and proven services that promote long-term success and stability are the answer. It’s the humane answer to homelessness, and it is the fiscally responsible thing to do to. Making state HHSP funding contingent on the enforcement of camping bans will only undermine local efforts to solve homelessness.

We agree with the governor that a data-sharing network that connects homeless response systems across the state is a good idea, and we are glad to see that he recommends funding for this work.

Reflecting on the Progress & Challenges of 2020

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:46:23 GMT

A Letter from Coalition President/CEO Mike Nichols

That’s why I’m so proud of the work of The Way Home Continuum of Care , and our greater Houston community at large.

From nonprofit organizations to government partners to philanthropy and beyond, we have worked together to accomplish a lot for our most vulnerable neighbors:

With the City of Houston and Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston: A dedicated COVID testing process for people experiencing homelessness ;
With the City of Houston and Salvation Army of Greater Houston: An auxiliary shelter, to help de-densify emergency shelters to slow the spread of COVID;
With the City of Houston and Harris County: A quarantine and isolation facility for people experiencing homelessness to recover from COVID, or to await the results of a COVID test
With The Harris Center, the City of Houston, and Harris County: a new respite, re-entry and rehabilitation center where patients with acute mental health conditions can stabilize before transitioning to permanent housing ;
With the help of Harris County: A unanimously approved Homeless Task force report, which included a recommendation that Harris County allocate general funds to support homelessness programs for the first time in our region;
With many current partners of The Way Home, new service organizations, the City of Houston, Harris County, and private philanthropy: The $65 million Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , which will help 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the next two years.

And on top of all that, we:

Housed:

886 people in Permanent Supportive Housing
895 people in Rapid Re-Housing

Were also able to continue to serve:

Almost 6,000 people who had previously been placed in PSH
Almost 2,000 people who had previously been placed in RRH

As we look ahead to 2021, the primary challenge before us is to continue our region’s great work to secure and move people into sustainable permanent housing programs — work that is accelerated through CCHP.

We also look forward to:

Officially launching a Diversion program in the Houston/Harris County area for the first time;
Continuing to expand access to quality affordable housing;
Advocating for more funding and more equitable treatment for people experiencing homelessness;
Advocating for change in Medicaid to give broader services to people experiencing homelessness; and
Addressing racial equity across our CoC.

Just as hope for an end to the pandemic is right around the corner with the roll-out of a vaccine, hope for an end to chronic homelessness in our region is right around the corner, too. With the influx of funds made available for COVID response, we have chosen to prioritize permanent housing , rather than temporary solutions like hotels , for our most vulnerable, which sets us on a path to effectively end chronic homelessness. That’s a decision we can all be proud of.

The Coalition for the Homeless is honored to serve as the lead agency for The Way Home. I look forward to continuing our work together with all of our partners in the Continuum of Care across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties; our government funders; our public and non-profit service providers; our philanthropic funders; our adjacent system partners; and our volunteers to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Mike Nichols

President & CEO

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Annual Point-In-Time Count Press Release

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:15:57 GMT

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TO CONDUCT ANNUAL COUNT & SURVEY OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE HOUSTON AREA JANUARY 19-29

The annual Count will incorporate new COVID-19 guidelines and practices

Houston, Texas (January 13, 2021) – The Coalition for the Homeless and staff from The Way Home partner agencies will conduct the 2021 Homeless Count & Survey from Tuesday, Jan. 19 to Friday, Jan. 29. The annual Count will identify the number of both sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness across Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County. Results will be released this spring.

While overall methodology will remain the same as in years past, there will be changes to procedures and protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outreach teams will be comprised solely of staff from the Coalition and The Way Home agencies; no community volunteers will participate. Other COVID-19 safety measures include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE); the forgoing of large, centralized staging locations; and the use of digital rather than physical maps.

“In spite of the pandemic, we have decided it is important to conduct the Count — perhaps even more so this year because we want to know how COVID has impacted homelessness and because we want to be able to measure results of the Community COVID Housing Program,” said Michael Nichols, President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless.

The annual Count provides a snapshot of homelessness on a single night in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The Coalition has conducted the Count at the same time and in the same way for the past several years in order to identify trends in homelessness year-over-year. Because of changes enacted to protect the health and safety of all parties involved, the results of the 2021 Count may not be directly comparable to those of years past.

“The Count will still give us an understanding of how The Way Home Continuum of Care, our local homeless response system, is performing — even in an ongoing global pandemic,” said Nichols. “We will use these insights to inform both our overall strategy and COVID-19 response moving forward.”

While it is not known how many people in the region have fallen or will fall into homelessness due to the pandemic and resulting economic downturn, the Coalition recently partnered with the City of Houston and Harris County to create the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) . The CCHP proposes to accelerate the work of the local homeless response system to quickly and permanently house approximately 5,000 people by 2022 to keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe and healthy and to build a more resilient community. (To read more about the CCHP, please access the press release here.)

About the 2021 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count

As in years past, the PIT Count will be divided into two parts to identify sheltered and unsheltered persons. The data for the sheltered portion of the Count is collected on a single night, January 19, which is the official “night of record” for this year’s Count. The unsheltered portion of the Count will take place January 20-22 and January 25-29. Over the course of those eight days, outreach teams will conduct brief, conversational surveys with people on the street to confirm that they were unsheltered on the night of January 19 and to document their housing needs. Outreach teams will also offer Coordinated Access Housing Assessments on the spot to people interviewed, including veterans, families, and youth/young adults experiencing homelessness and people experiencing chronic homelessness.

The annual Homeless Count is a HUD requirement for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, which brought more than $41 million in Fiscal Year 2019 to multiple homeless assistance programs in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. As lead agency to The Way Home , the Coalition for the Homeless coordinates the community application for this funding each year. Funds received are distributed to homeless service partners to provide permanent housing, outreach, and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness.

Results from the 2021 Count will help in tracking the progress of The Way Home’s ongoing collaborative efforts between local service agencies. The Count results also: help the Coalition and partner agency outreach teams in learning where people are sleeping for continued outreach throughout the year, illuminate specific demographic and programmatic gaps, and provide additional information needed to solve chronic homelessness and continue to improve the region’s homeless response system.

During the 2021 Count, hundreds of The Way Home partner agency staff will depart from various locations across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties rather than a centralized staging location in order to protect the health and safety of all participants. Media should contact Madison Mann, madison@theckpgroup.com , to request photos and b-roll or to secure phone or video-call interviews during the weeks of the Count.

###

For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here .

The Coalition for the Homeless is a non-profit, 501(c)3 whose mission is to provide leadership in the development, advocacy and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org .

The Way Home is the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org .

The Gift of Giving

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:55:13 GMT

The Gift of Giving

As we look to 2021 with bright and optimistic eyes ahead, we want to take time to reflect with gratitude on a year of giving in 2020.

The COVID pandemic made 2020 a year like no other, which has brought more change than we could have imagined. This year, one of our goals as a development team was to create true partnerships with all our donors, from monetary donations to in-kind goods received. At the onset of COVID, we counted on groups and organizations like NACC Disaster Services. The NACC team, led by Pastor Jose Ortega, answered our call for help, and provided food, essentials, and warehousing for donations received. In addition to NACC, countless groups donated to our request for hygiene, basic essentials, and PPE items including The Village Connect, Open Gate Mission, BOMBAS, B-Strong, University of Houston, The Ismaili Muslim Community Collaboration, the Houston Food Bank, and many more community individuals and businesses/organizations.

As a hint of the region's future ahead, we were delighted to hear from so many youth community members reaching out to our organization and asking how they can best help. Many of these groups, including Klein Forest High School’s National Honor Society, have been instrumental in setting up in-kind and monetary donations in their community.

Additionally, monetary gifts and donations to the Coalition and our Community COVID Housing program continue to help make significant impacts on homeless solutions in our community. Thanks to generous donors, we are one step closer to a community where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

These are challenging times, with much work to do, and we cannot do it without community support. From our Staff, Board of Directors, and those whose lives you have touched, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has provided gifts, contributions, investments, and support to the Coalition for the Homeless. We look forward to continuing to work together in 2021.

Thank you for helping to shape the future of the Houston Region! To learn more about giving to the Coalition, click here or contact Vice President of Development Sara Martinez at smartinez@homelesshouston.org .

Staff Spotlight: Yanira Chavez

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:14:51 GMT

Every other month, we invite you to learn more about our talented and caring staff. This month, meet Accounting Specialist, Houston native, experienced cruiser, and craft expert Yanira Chavez .

Q: Can you tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

My title is “Accounting Specialist” which entails a mix of Accounts Receivable (AR), Accounts Payable (AP), and Payroll. I am currently working on Special Projects that will help our paperless system become more seamless. I also have been training our new employees in the Accounting department with AP and AR. Since we have grown significantly, we now have more than doubled our Accounting Team.

Q: What made you want to work in the area of homelessness?

As a child I used to wonder why people experienced homelessness. I did not understand how it happened or why. As an adult I became more educated about homelessness and the causes, which made me want to do something to help. If what I did today helped a person in need, then I know today was a good day.

Q: What are some projects/a project you are working on right now?

I am currently working on Special Projects that are helping our Accounting Department go completely paperless. This does not sound like a big job, but believe me when I say, it is! Since the pandemic, I had to find a way that we could all work safely. I came in the office and found ways to get everyone in Accounting what they needed without anyone else having to come in so that we could all continue to work without missing a beat while staying safe at the same time. Even though we did have plans to go paperless later in the year, it happened sooner than we had planned.

Q: What is the most inspiring part of your job?

The most inspiring part about my job is that my job does not only help support my family, but it also helps others in need. It is a huge passion of mine to help others, so the fact that I am working not only for myself and my family, but for others that are in need is a great joy.

Q: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

My superpower would definitely be lightning speed! I could accomplish so much more in a day because 24 hours just isn’t enough!

Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

My hobby outside of work is all crafts! I can make anything from paper flowers to huge balloon arches and lots of other fun things. I design shoes, t-shirts, and anything else that can hold some paint and glitter! My favorite thing is making party treats like candy kabobs, cotton candy, and lots of other yummy and fun stuff!

Q: How has COVID impacted your life outside of work?

COVID has given me more love and gratefulness for my loved ones, as I see so many people sadly lose theirs. COVID has taught me that time is precious and every day I should do my best to make it count.

Q: What song best describes your life?

“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. It reminds me of how much I have overcome in my life and how far I have come as a person.

Q: What makes you proud?

I am very proud to say that my hard work and accomplishments have paid off and have given me a way to provide a happy home for my family.

Q: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

I love cruising! If I could retire and spend the rest of my days on a cruise ship, I could say I had the best life ever!

Homelessness 101: Housing is Healthcare

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:11:33 GMT

Homelessness 101: Housing is Healthcare

For years, the Coalition for the Homeless has championed the belief that housing is healthcare - but what does that mean?

Mental and Physical Benefits of a Home

When people have access to safe, affordable housing, their mental and physical health improves for many reasons:

Protection from exposure to outdoor elements
Stress levels reduce dramatically
Access to preventative physical and mental healthcare
Access to medication and proper medication storage
More stable personal and sexual relationships
Regular schedules mean more regular meals and nutrition
Access to personal hygiene and sanitation

COVID-19 and Homelessness

In the context of the global pandemic, the belief that housing is healthcare has become even more critical. Without a safe and decent home, people cannot comply with recommendations on how to slow the spread of the virus. People experiencing homelessness also run a higher risk of contracting COVID and if they do, they have a high risk of complications or even death.

COVID-19 is not only a significant threat to those already experiencing homelessness; rises in unemployment, an unsteady economy, and the eviction moratorium currently scheduled to end at the end of 2020 mean that many in our community may be on the verge of homelessness.

And studies have shown that even housing instability (trouble paying rent or mortgage, overcrowding, moving frequently, staying with relatives, or spending the bulk of household income on housing) increases the odds of negative health outcomes. This type of housing instability can lead to depression, anxiety, poor health, and food insecurity.

Housing First Impact on Healthcare

Medicaid Expansion

Supportive housing is a non-clinical driver of improved health outcomes. Due to the proven physical and mental health benefits of supportive services in permanent housing, Medicaid expansion allows nonprofits to create sustainability for these services by billing them to Medicaid.

To date, most states in the country have elected to expand Medicaid. Texas has yet to expand Medicaid, something many homeless advocates speak out against . Lack of expansion means valuable, available federal funds ( perhaps as much as $5.4 billion ) are not making their way into our communities. Far too many dollars are being left on the table that could be used to provide supportive housing for members of our community.

What We Can Do

Holiday Giving Guide

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:18:45 GMT

How and where can you give back?

During the holiday season, the Coalition receives many inquiries from people interested in lifting others up in the spirit of giving back. Our Holiday Giving Guide shows how you can give back through opportunities posted by our partner agencies who are in need this holiday season. The holidays are a splendid time to give and showcase compassion for one another. By volunteering or donating items, you can help make the holidays a little brighter for someone in your community.

Name of agency: Avenue 360

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Diane Cervenka

Contact email and phone: dcervenka@avenue360.org | 713.206.8956

List of agency needs: Food, pajamas, socks, slippers, adult diapers, hygiene products

Accepting volunteers: Yes (painting and participating in quality checks)

Name of agency: The Beacon

Best point of contact to coordinate gifts: Ron Marshall or Damon Wells

Contact email: rmarshall@beaconhomeless.org or dwells@beaconhomeless.org

List of agency needs: Gently used blankets and coats, packages of new socks, cloth or paper facemasks

Accepting volunteers: Yes, but limiting number of volunteers per shift to 7. Dates most needed: December 18th, 21st, 26th, 27th, and 31st

Name of agency: The Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Brianna Kyles

Contact email and phone: bkyles@tbotw.org | 713.472.0752 ext. 151

List of agency needs: See needs list

Accepting volunteers: Fully booked for December

Name of agency: Campus of Hope

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Shay Wyatt

Contact email and phone: shelter@campusofhopeonline.org | 281.639.5099

List of agency needs: Food, paper plates, kitchen plates, men’s pants, men's jeans, men’s other clothes/shoes, hygiene items, used van or car

Accepting volunteers: Yes (building repair, appliance repair, bible teaching evenings)

Name of agency: Collaborating Voices

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Kathy Tatum

Contact email and phone: collaboratingvoices@gmail.com | 832.449.8687

List of agency needs: Toys, blankets, socks, hygiene products, RV/trucks, fruits/veggies, food, cell phones, h ats, clothes, gift cards, direct payment on our furniture account Houston Furniture, bookbags, purses

Accepting volunteers: No

Name of agency: Community Assistance Center

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Renee Blacklaws

Contact email and phone: renee@cac-mctx.org | 936.494.4144

List of agency needs: New blankets, unopened boxes of hot chocolate

Accepting volunteers: Yes, but limiting the number of volunteers in the building at one time

Deadline: December 10th

Name of agency: God's Lovely Butterflies Maternity Home

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Darlene Kearney

Contact email and phone: godslovelybutterflies@gmail.com | 832.264.7491

List of agency needs: Diapers (Newborn-2t), formula, wipes, other baby items

Accepting volunteers: No

Name of Agency: Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council

Best Point of Contact to Coordinate Gifts: Deborah Alexis

Contact Email and Phone: dalexis@hcdvcc.org | 713-261-2356

List of Agency Needs: Cutlery, pots, pans, plates, cups, towels, sheets (queen, full, and twin size), pillows, comforters, blankets, cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, cleaning rags, disinfectant spray, etc.), grocery store gift cards, or gift cards to Target, Walmart, or Big Lots.

Accepting Volunteers: No

Name of agency: Harmony House, Inc

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Preston Witt

Contact email and phone: preston_witt@harmonyhouse.org | 713.221.6213

List of agency needs: hygiene kits, socks, underwear, coats, work boots, clock radios

Accepting volunteers: No due to COVID

Name of agency: Healthcare for the Homeless

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Sharon Agee

Contact email and phone: Sharon.Agee@bcm.edu | 713.286.6047

List of agency needs: Blankets, hygiene kits, shoes, socks

Accepting volunteers: N/A

Name of agency: Main Street Ministries

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Carrie Sadler

Contact email and phone: csadler@msmhouston.org | 281.833.3505

List of agency needs: Clorox wipes, small bottles of hand sanitizer, disposable masks, devotion books

Accepting volunteers: Yes

Name of agency: Montrose Grace Place

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Courtney Sellers

Contact email and phone: courtney@montrosegraceplace.org | 832.239.0824

List of agency needs: Blankets, coats, beanies, gloves, backpacks, sleeping bags

Accepting volunteers: No

Name of agency: Santa Maria Hostel

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Marcia Chaney

Contact email and phone: mtapp@rocketmail.com | 832-236-8611

List of agency needs: Socks, new shoes, underwear, all sizes, sweatshirts, gently used coats/jackets, beanie caps

Accepting volunteers: Unable to accept volunteers at this time due to COVID.

Name of agency: The Salvation Army

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Sarah J. Smith

Contact email and phone: Sarah.J.Smith@uss.salvationarmy.org | 713.878.9374

List of agency needs: Blankets, twin bed sheets, sweatpants, sweatshirts

Accepting volunteers: Yes, please visit www.salvationarmyhouston.org/volunteer

Name of Agency: SEARCH Homeless Services

Best Point of Contact to Coordinate Gifts: Molly Connor, Volunteer Coordinator

Contact Email and Phone: mmartin@searchhomeless.org | 713-276-3063

List of Agency Needs: COVID-19 Amazon wish list here! Bottled water is currently our highest priority, and you can filter/sort by priority using the menu at the top right of the Amazon webpage.

Accepting Volunteers: Not for the remainder of December

Name of agency: Temenos CDC

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Eva Thibaudeau

Contact email and phone: ethibaudeau@temenoscdc.org | 713.882.8274

List of agency needs: Socks, hats, mittens/gloves, hygiene items, microwaveable noodles/meals/rice/etc., linens, $5.00 and $10.00 gift cards to Walgreens/CVS/Starbucks/McDonalds/etc.

Accepting volunteers: Yes

Name of agency: U.S. VETS - Houston

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Kyra Randall

Contact email and phone: krandall@usvets.org | 832.986.8217

List of agency needs: Socks, ponchos, backpacks, blankets, coats, undershirts, thermal underclothes, snacks, blankets

Accepting volunteers: Case by case basis

Name of agency: Volunteers of America Texas

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Morris Cole

Contact email and phone: mcole@voatx.org

List of agency needs: Mask, s ocks ( male & female adult), & hygiene kits

Accepting volunteers: Yes

Name of agency: YES to YOUTH – Montgomery County Youth Service

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Shelia King

Contact email and phone: shelia.king@youthmc.org | 281.292.6471

List of agency needs: Blankets, toothpaste, masks, hygiene kits, shoes, socks, new twin XL sheets, new pillows, new throw blankets, gift cards to Walmart/Target/Academy, cleaning supplies, paper products, hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap.

Accepting volunteers: Yes, please visit https://www.sayyestoyouth.org/volunteer

Name of agency: We Care Community Housing/ GLH Compassionate Hands

Best Point of contact to coordinate gifts: Dean Paisley

Contact email and phone: Glhcompassionatehands@gmail.com | 832.962.1622

List of agency needs: Food, blankets, toothpaste, masks, hygiene kits, shoes, socks, jackets

Accepting volunteers: No

If you are a member in good standing with The Way Home CoC and would like to be added to this list, please sent the above information to Emily Learned at elearned@homelesshouston.org

Donor Spotlight: Port City Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 21:49:11 GMT

From Our Archives: Domestic Violence and Homelessness

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:20:20 GMT

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Coalition for the Homeless Responds to USICH's new strategic plan, “Expanding the Toolbox”

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 19:28:01 GMT

New USICH report disheartening, partisan, disregards the facts

Earlier this week, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released its new strategic plan, "Expanding the Toolbox: The Whole-of-Government Response to Homelessness."

We're disheartened by the partisan nature of the USICH’s new strategic plan. By denigrating Housing First, the plan appears to be trying to pit political philosophies against each other, instead of looking at the facts or data, or consulting the experts, to solve homelessness in our country.

The fact is, Housing First is a set of policies that allows us to set aside the problematic concept of “housing-ready” in favor of “housing as a human right” — and it has proven to be effective. Housing First means that our homeless response system works to provide needed, customized wraparound services to our most vulnerable residents while they are in housing — not making them wait for housing until they are deemed “worthy” by a service provider.

In fact, contrary to the USICH plan’s assertions, it is Housing First that has allowed us to have so much success in reducing homelessness in The Way Home Continuum of Care in the Houston area (which encompasses Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas). Since 2011, The Way Home has placed more than 19,000 people in permanent housing, 85% of whom have remained successfully housed. This represents a 53% decrease in overall homelessness.

Read our partners' responses

Texas Rental Assistance Pilot

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:21 GMT

The Texas Supreme Court issued Emergency Action 27 in Texas counties as a pilot for an Eviction Diversion Program - to start Monday, October 12, 2020.

What is it?

Through the 27th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (which provides $127 million for evection prevention, as well as $4.2 million for legal assistance), The Supreme Court of Texas established the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP), with funding allocated through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) by Governor Greg Abbot.

The TEDP is a voluntary program which could help eligible Texas tenants remain in their homes and off the streets, while also assisting participating landlords to find alternative actions to eviction. The goal is to reduce the number of evictions and entries into homelessness by developing alternative solutions to non-payment rent issues. If the tenant and landlord are each eligible for the program, and both agree to participate, renters could receive up to six months of back rental assistance. Assistance can also be used to pay the full contracted rent that is past due (up to five months), and the remainder may be used to pay for subsequent months of assistance (up to a total of six months).

Who is participating in the pilot?

The TEDP is planned to be effective on Monday, October 12. The Office of Court Administration has selected the following counties to participate in pilot program:

Who is eligible?

The TEDP was developed to assist all eligible Texas tenants, who have been sued for being behind in their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This diversion program could help tenants stay in their homes for up to six months, and provide landlords with alternatives to eviction. See the eligibility requirements below.

Landlord Eligibility Criteria :

Assistance for rent no older than April 2020
Rent for household assisted may not exceed the THDCA maximum limits
Bank account required and must accept direct deposit

Please Note :

Units that are owned by a unit of government may be ineligible
Units that are already receiving project-based assistance or public housing units are ineligible

Tenant Eligibility Criteria :

Household income at or below 200% of poverty
Household has been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Please note, tenants are ineligible if they :

Are receiving tenant-based voucher assistance
Are in a unit receiving project-based assistance
Are in public housing

Where can I find more information?

Click here to view information on the TEDP, developed by the Texas Judicial Branch
Call 855-270-7655 (toll-free hotline) for individuals seeking legal assistance
Click here to view information on the TEDP, developed by the TDHCA
Call 800-525-0657 or 512-475-3800 (pick option 4) for more information on the TEDP
Click here to view how to receive help as a Texas resident

"Pancakes & Solutions" 2020 World Homeless Day Virtual Brunch

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 21:54:11 GMT

On Saturday, October 10, 2020, the Coalition for the Homeless recognized the ten year anniversary of World Homeless Day . Our traditional in-person fundraising and awareness event was transitioned into a virtual brunch, allowing individuals to stream the event from the safety of their homes. This unique format also means that our virtual brunch is still available for streaming at any time , increasing the accessibility of this event for all. Donations are still encouraged —we are halfway toward our online goal of $25,000 and could use your help getting there!

Board Chair Lance Gilliam welcomed the audience, providing a short history of the Coalition and remembering Rabbi Karff . Coalition President/CEO Mike Nichols reminded us all of the unique role of the Coalition as lead agency to The Way Home , particularly our role in the Community COVID-19 Housing Program (CCHP) .

Introduced by Coalition VP of Development Sara Martinez, Keynote Speaker Chris Gardner discussed his unique perspective on the impact of COVID-19 and how powerful friends, family, and community can be in times of struggle. He inspired us to remember “the power of one” and the impact each of us can have on our community.

Our very own Manager of Landlord Engagement Ashlie Young spoke a stirring poem, a portion of which can be found below:

“Could you imagine?
Living in a world for years with no access.
Basic necessities were not within an arm’s reach.
Roaming the same community that seems to bypass you every week.

Feeling unheard and unseen.
Tugging at your pride and dignity.
Banking on your life for the chance of just one possibility
Not a hand up, but a heart out.”

We were also thrilled to honor Alan Watkins, former Chairman of the Board at the Coalition, as our 2020 Community Advocate Honoree. In President/CEO Mike Nichols’ words, “Alan is a true example of leadership on tackling social issues and achieving results.” Thank you, Alan, for your continued commitment to our community.

Mike finished off the presentation with a call to donate. Read his inspiring words and consider making your gift today .

“I know the stories of direct services – serving turkey dinners on Thanksgiving, handing someone a warm coat – those are the heartwarming stories that open pockets wide. The work of the Coalition is a little but harder to illustrate, but it culminates when the partners of The Way Home work together to give someone the keys to their own apartment. Their new home. And, thanks to the Coalition we’ve been able to do that more than 19,000 times since 2012.”

Thank you to our speakers for generously sharing their time, our sponsors for ensuring this event was free to attend, and all who viewed and shared our virtual brunch. We appreciate the part you have played on our journey to make homelessness brief, rare, and non-recurring.

As always, thank you to our generous sponsors for their ongoing support of the Coalition.

Staff Spotlight: Lynn Lohr

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 14:54:54 GMT

Born and raised in Houston, Chief Operating Officer Lynn Lohr (second from left with fellow Coalition team members) has dedicated much of her life to improving the lives of those in our community. Read more about Lynn's incredible life and the inspirational work she has done with the Coalition since 2009 in this month's staff spotlight.

Advocacy Alert: Tell the TDHCA that proposed changes to the QAP would hinder our progress!

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 23:22:39 GMT

Proposed changes to the Qualified Action Plan would make it much harder to secure housing for people with criminal backgrounds

Recently, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) proposed a change to the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) that would require that supportive housing tax credit properties refuse to house individuals with criminal backgrounds (temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the crime).

This change to the QAP would severely, adversely impact the ability of homeless response systems across the state to secure supportive housing for their clients, which in turn would lead to increased recidivism and increased homelessness. This would be concerning at any time, but is especially concerning during a global pandemic.

We encourage all member agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care — particularly faith-based organizations — as well as any other concerned individuals to submit a comment to TDHCA opposing this rule change.

How to submit your comment

Please direct all input related to the QAP to TDHCA Multifamily Policy Research Specialist Matthew Griego. Written comments may be submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Attn: Matthew Griego, QAP Public Comment, P.O. Box 13941, Austin, Texas 78711-3941, or by fax to (512) 475-1895 , Attn: Matthew Griego, QAP Public Comment, or by email to htc.public-comment@tdhca.state.tx.us . Any input must be provided by Friday, October 9, 2020, at 5 p.m. Austin local time.

Helpful links

TDHCA's public comment center: https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/public-comment.htm

Markup of QAP (scroll to page 14 and look at the definition of Supportive Housing at the bottom of the page): https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/multifamily/docs/21-QAP-StaffDraft.pdf

Questions to consider in writing your comment

How would this affect your ability to perform your work (e.g., to be able to house clients experiencing homelessness, or to fill vacant units, as applicable)?
Do you have any data about what percentage of your clients would be affected by this rule change? Specifically, do you have data on the number of people in your programs who have criminal backgrounds?
Do you have any data (or anecdotes) to help illustrate the fact that people with a criminal history make good tenants / do not pose a threat to other residents?

Suggested messages to include in your comment

We hope you will draw some inspiration from these messages, but please put the ideas in your own words in your comments.

The Way Home Continuum of Care (the local homeless response system, made up of 100+ agencies) has made great progress in solving homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.
Since 2011, we have placed more than 19,000 people in permanent supportive housing.
This represents a 53% decrease in overall homelessness since 2011.
This has made the Houston area a national model.
This progress would not have been possible had rules such as the one proposed in the draft QAP been in place: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)’s proposed change to the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) would require that supportive housing tax credit properties refuse to house individuals with criminal backgrounds (temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the crime).
Note that the proposed change to the QAP specifically changes the definition of supportive housing to exclude people with criminal backgrounds. People who need supportive housing are our most vulnerable, e.g., people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, and people with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, which means this change affects the most vulnerable Texans.
A disproportionate number of people experiencing homelessness have criminal backgrounds. This is no coincidence; many people fall into homelessness because they are released from the criminal justice system and have nowhere to go. The data:
More than 50,000 people enter shelters directly from correctional facilities each year
People who have been incarcerated are 13x more likely to experience homelessness when compared to the general public [1]
This would disproportionately affect Black / African American people experiencing homelessness and their ability to be housed at tax credit properties.
People who identify as Black or African American are disproportionally represented in both the homeless and criminal justice systems due to systemic and structural racism
Homeless system numbers: Black/African American people represent:
19.9% of the population of Harris County
56.2% of people in the CoC experiencing homelessness
Almost every one of our PSH/supportive housing developments would be affected by this rule, i.e., all future developments that will apply for tax credits. That amounts to 600 units in our pipeline that would be affected by this.
The change to the QAP would mean that people experiencing homelessness with certain criminal backgrounds would remain unhoused for longer periods of time, which is a particular concern during a global pandemic.
Would take us longer to house clients with criminal backgrounds because we wouldn’t be able to find them units for which they would be eligible. People would remain on the streets longer while we tried to find private landlords who could accommodate them.
During COVID, it’s especially important to get people into housing where they can “stay home, stay safe.” Any policy that creates delays could adversely affect public health.
Providing permanent housing is cheaper than sending someone back to prison, and it’s also cheaper that allowing someone to remain on the streets.
Annual cost of incarceration in Harris County = (to come)
Annual cost of someone living unsheltered in Harris County = recently estimated to cost $91,000/year
Annual cost of providing permanent housing to someone in Harris County = $17,000

[1] https://www.urban.org/features/five-charts-explain-homelessness-jail-cycle-and-how-break-it

Regarding the CDC's Temporary Halt On Evictions

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:41:15 GMT

The eviction moratorium is welcome news but doesn't go far enough to protect people living unstably housed.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it would be putting a moratorium on residential evictions nationwide through the end of the year to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

We agree fully with the National Low Income Housing Coalition's CEO Diane Yentel who said:

"A uniform, national moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent is long overdue and badly needed. ... the very least the federal government ought to do is assure each of us that we won’t lose our homes in the middle of a global pandemic: the administration’s action would do so and will provide relief from the growing threat of eviction for millions of anxious families.

" But while an eviction moratorium is an essential step, it is a half-measure that extends a financial cliff for renters to fall off of when the moratorium expires and back rent is owed. This action delays but does not prevent evictions. Congress and the White House must get back to work on negotiations to enact a COVID-19 relief bill with at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance . Together with a national eviction moratorium, this assistance would keep renters stably housed and small landlords able to pay their bills and maintain their properties during the pandemic." (Emphasis ours.)

At the Coalition, we will continue to push for Congress to pass a relief bill, and we encourage you to join us in doing so.

Is the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) still necessary if there's an eviction moratorium?

Yes. The CCHP is absolutely necessary to protect the health of people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

One of the major components of the program involves housing people who were experiencing homelessness prior to the pandemic . It is especially important that we find permanent housing for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness (e.g., who live on the street and sometimes in encampments) so that they have a home where they can "stay home and stay safe." In addition, congregate shelter is not an ideal living situation when we are looking to limit the spread of a highly contagious virus.
Unfortunately, in spite of the eviction moratorium, there will be some individuals and families who will still fall into homelessness as a result of the economic impacts of COVID. We will be ready to assist eligible households through CCHP as well.
Moreover, the CDC's action does not prevent evictions; it delays them until the end of the year. The CCHP is a two-year program that will be available to assist eligible households that may fall into homelessness after the eviction moratorium has ended.

What do renters need to do to be protected?

The Texas Housing Network has a helpful guide for those seeking protections under the new moratorium.

Here are some key facts from the order as identified by Coalition staff:

What does this new eviction moratorium Order do?

Between Sept. 4-Dec. 31, 2020, Owners of properties may not:

Evict any covered person from any residential property in any jurisdiction to which this Order applies during the effective period of the Order.

(“Covered person” means any tenant or resident of a property who provides a declaration under penalty of perjury to their landlord, or the owner of the residential property.)

What must Renters do?
Sign a declaration and give it to their Landlord.

Renters must declare they:

Have used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing;
Expect to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), was not required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) pursuant to Section 2201 of the CARES Act;
Are unable to pay the full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
Are using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit, taking into account other nondiscretionary expenses;
Eviction would likely make the individual homeless— or force the individual to move into and live in close quarters because the individual has no other available housing options.

Declaration form (via CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf
Declaration from (via Texas Homeless Network [THN]): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RGo46p-b7TO3DT8-Wvlojtr174NZkIqNLizpflhjJA0/edit

What this Order does not cover

This order does NOT:

Relieve any individual of any obligation to pay rent, make a housing payment, or comply with any other obligation that the individual may have under a tenancy, lease, or similar contract.
Prohibit the charging or collecting of fees, penalties, or interest as a result of the failure to pay rent or other housing payment on a timely basis, under the terms of any applicable contract.

Nothing in this Order prevents evictions based on a tenant, lessee, or resident:

Engaging in criminal activity while on the premises;
Threatening the health or safety of other residents;
Damaging or posing an immediate and significant risk of damage to property;
Violating any applicable building code, health ordinance, or similar regulation relating to health and safety; or
Violating any other contractual obligation, other than the timely payment of rent or similar housing-related payment (including non-payment or late payment of fees, penalties, or interest).

Resources for landlords and tenants:

COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Flyer (English), updated 09/25/2020
COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Flyer (Spanish), updated 09/25/2020
BakerRipley COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program- https://www.bakerripleyrenthelp.org/
COVID-19 Tenant Guidance: Rent Repayment Plans https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/COVID-19-Tenant-Guidance-Rent-Repayment-Plans.pdf
Tools for Landlords with Tenants Impacted by COVID-19 https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/COVID-19-Tools-for-Landlords-Tenants-Impacted-by-COVID-19.pdf

The Coalition for the Homeless supports the recommendations of the Harris County Homeless Task Force

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 19:46:13 GMT

Yesterday, the Harris County Homeless Task Force presented its final report and recommendations to the Harris County Commissioners Court, and the Court voted unanimously to accept it.

As lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) — the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties — the Coalition has been working with the Task Force since it convened in October 2019.

Led by Jim Nutter, director of projects at the Harris County Budget Management Department, the Task Force made a series of 11 recommendations in the report. The Court made a commitment to proceed with three of the recommendations immediately including by allocating $5 million for a facility to serve the respite, rehab, and re-entry needs of those with serious behavioral health needs who are also experiencing homelessness.

We proudly support the Task Force’s recommendations, in particular recommendation #1: that the County make an annual investment of $13.9 million to advance The Way Home's work to implement permanent housing programs and make further reductions in overall homelessness. This investment will help to sustain key operations within the homeless response system that otherwise are not or cannot be fulfilled by federal funding.

The Court is expected to consider the annual commitment during its budgetary process this fall.

“We are grateful to Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who called for the creation of this Task Force; to the entire Commissioners Court, who voted unanimously to accept its final report; and to Jim Nutter, who led its work,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition. “We are glad to have been included in this planning process. We stand behind these recommendations and look forward to the Court voting to enact them at the appropriate time.

“We are also heartened by the recent collaboration we have seen between Harris County and the City of Houston to address the issue of homelessness in our community, and we look forward to that collaboration yielding further results.”

The $13.9 million investment is necessary in addition to the $18 million the County has committed for the Community-wide COVID-19 Housing Program (CCHP) because the CCHP is a limited-time (two years) program intended as a direct response to COVID.

Moreover, the funding that has been allocated for the CCHP does not include any funding for new permanent housing units in Houston or Harris County. Before COVID, we estimated that the system would need approximately 1,900 additional permanent supportive housing (PSH) units and approximately 1,165 additional rapid re-housing (RRH) units to meet the needs in the CoC geographic region (i.e., Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend counties). Because the CCHP will not add to the inventory of PSH and RRH in our region, these needs remain and may only be exacerbated by COVID.

Used as a supplement to federal funding, an annual investment from the County of $13.9 million would support rental subsidy and case management for 878 additional units of housing. The recommendation is based on the system needs identified in The Way Home’s Five-Year Plan, which will be finalized and released in early 2021.

Preparing for Hurricane Laura

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 23:07:14 GMT

We will use this page to post and share information about Hurricane Laura and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.

We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.

Updated Wednesday, August 27, 2020 @ 7 p.m.

Local Emergency Management Authorities

For the latest forecast, visit https://spacecityweather.com/

Hurricane Laura Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for Hurricane Laura?

The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered are informed about and protected from the storm.
For the past several days, we have been working with our outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — to help spread the word that we were likely to be hit by a hurricane this week.
On Wednesday, August 26, we worked with the City of Houston to activate about a dozen outreach teams to visit encampments in areas that are most at-risk during Hurricane Laura (i.e., in Harris County’s Zip-Zones A and B , which are under voluntary evacuation orders). People living unsheltered in these areas were offered transportation via Houston METRO buses to a “refuge of last resort.”
HPD patrol units have also been out offering transport to shelter to people living unsheltered.
To reach those living unsheltered in unincorporated Harris County, the County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Teams have been going out to encampments for the past week. They have moved many people to safety and have secured shelter locations for those remaining.
Anyone still in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1.
Throughout the year, we also encourage our outreach teams and housing case managers to register their clients in the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) . STEAR is a free registry that helps emergency responders to keep track of people in their geographic area who might need extra assistance in an emergency.

To learn more about the City of Houston’s efforts to help people living unsheltered prior to Hurricane Laura, watch Houston Mayor’s Sylvester Turner’s Aug. 26 press conference (fast forward to the 11 minute mark).

What is a “refuge of last resort?”

A “refuge of last resort” is meant to provide shelter as the storm passes through and will not remain open afterwards.

How does COVID complicate the situation?

Typically, during an extreme weather event, our established emergency (homeless) shelters would simply make room for more people to stay.
Because of COVID, our shelters have already had to reduce capacity to maintain social distancing.
For this reason, and because we know some people have fallen into homelessness as a result of COVID (although we won’t know exactly how many until next year’s Point-in-Time Count), we may have more people living unsheltered than we did before COVID.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID/outbreaks, most of our shelters will not be able to accommodate additional people that might need shelter from the storm.
However, people living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross .

Is shelter space be available for people currently living unsheltered?

Yes. People living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross .

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Anyone still in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1.

Visit the Red Cross’ website to find an open shelter near you: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html

I would like to help.

To Volunteer

Visit https://volunteerhouston.org to explore volunteer opportunities related to Hurricane Laura.

To Donate

Once we are able, we will assess the needs of our partners who serve people experiencing homelessness.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

If you need help

Following Hurricane Laura, if your agency is in need of supplies (e.g., cleaning supplies) or a connection with other local service providers (e.g., nonprofits like the Food Bank or government entities), please contact Renee at rcavazos [at] homelesshouston [dot] org and Caybryn at csouthern [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

We cannot guarantee help, but just as we make these connections for our partners in non-emergency times, we will do our best to do so in response to the hurricane.

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during Hurricane Laura, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston.org and Caybryn at csouthern [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

The Coalition Mourns the Passing of Rabbi Samuel Karff

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:37:46 GMT

As one of the “Three Amigos,” Rabbi Karff helped to form the Coalition in 1982.

The Coalition for the Homeless mourns the loss of Rabbi Samuel E. Karff who died Saturday at the age of 88.

In the early 1980s, Houston experienced a major economic downturn during which thousands of people lost their jobs and experienced homelessness. Service providers and local government agencies then scrambled to coordinate community-wide strategies and serve people in need.

In 1982, Houston Mayor Kathryn Whitmire and Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay along with area homeless service providers realized that a neutral coordinating agency was needed to liaise with government, support homeless service providers, and advocate to the public on behalf of those experiencing homelessness. Reverend William Lawson, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza and Rabbi Karff — affectionately known as the “Three Amigos” — came together to unite faiths in a response to homelessness. They presented to Mayor Whitmire the need for what was then called the “Campaign for the Homeless.” From there, the Coalition for the Homeless was born.

“There is a word in Yiddish that best describes Rabbi Sam Karff. Sam Karff was a ‘mensch.’ He epitomized the best characteristics of a human being: kind, generous of spirit, thoughtful and thought-provoking,” said coalition President and CEO Michael Nichols. “For 40 years, Rabbi Karff was my spiritual guide, role model, and friend. Whenever I had an opportunity to hear Sam speak or have a conversation with him, it was meaningful and significant to me. As we mourn his passing, he is remembered by his actions: including helping start the Coalition for the Homeless as well as both the Health and Human Spirit Program — the precursor to the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics — and the Sacred Vocation Program (SVP) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.”

Rabbi Karff was an outspoken advocate for equality, civil rights, and social justice. Houston is a far better place for his having lived and worked here. Our condolences are with his family.

Advocacy Alert: Voice Your Support for a Comprehensive Housing Package in the Next Coronavirus Bill

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 20:11:59 GMT

Let the Senate know that we need a comprehensive housing package in the next coronavirus bill!

The Coronavirus AID, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as CARES ACT, was a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed in response to the economic downfall created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As negotiations continue over the next coronavirus relief bill, we're asking for you to support those in our community who are experiencing homelessness and/or facing housing instability as a result of COVID-19.

Please read below to see how you can be part of the change and ensure those in our community stay safe, healthy, and housed!

Take Action!

Now is the time to call the Senate and let them know that we need a comprehensive housing package as part of the bill!

You can support those in our community who are experiencing homelessness or facing housing instability as a result of COVID-19 by calling the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies .

To contact the Majority (Republican) subcommittee staff’s office, call 202-224-5310 and leave a message for Chairman Susan Collins.
To contact the Minority (Democrat) subcommittee staff’s office, call 202-224-7281 and leave a message for Ranking Member Jack Reed.
You may call either; we encourage you to call both! Just be sure to remember which you’re calling so you use the correct Senator’s name.

If a staff member answers the phone, they should be prepared to take your comment. If no one answers, you may leave your comment as a voicemail. Please view the suggested script below to assist you with talking points for your message!

Staff Spotlight: Yvette Fuentes

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:25:55 GMT

Coalition for the Homeless opposes proposed change to Equal Access Rule

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:50:50 GMT

A new Proposed Change to the Equal Access Rule would allow shelters to refuse services to people who are transgender, putting them in danger.
Join us in opposing the proposed change!

Keep reading for more information and to learn how you can take action!

The Equal Access Rule is a federal regulation intended to ensure that programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are open to all eligible individuals and families regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. It was updated in 2016 to strengthen protections for people who identify as transgender. *

On July 23, 2020, HUD proposed a change to the Equal Access Rule that would allow emergency shelters to create policies to refuse admission to people whose gender identities do not match their biological sex.

We want to be clear: at the Coalition for the Homeless, we believe trans rights are human rights, and we strongly oppose the proposed changes to the Equal Access to Housing rule because the rule change would allow shelters to refuse services to people who are trans and gender non-conforming. Our goal is to create a community where homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring, and that cannot happen when trans people are singled out and denied services.

The proposed rule change is abhorrent. Safe access to shelter is truly a matter of life and death for people who are transgender; trans people are at a higher risk of experiencing violence . Also, national data from the 2019 Point-In-Time Homeless Count shows that homeless trans adults are more likely to be unsheltered (63%) than cisgender adults experiencing homelessness (49%), which suggests there are already barriers to accessing shelter for this population.

The protections provided under the Equal Access rule are critical to ensuring safe access to shelter for people who are transgender; the proposed changes to the rule would allow shelters to turn trans people away, putting them at serious risk of harm.

While housing trans people according to their gender identity does not pose a safety issue to others, failing to do so puts transgender people in danger.

Transgender people experiencing homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties

At the local level, according to the data in our Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), 215 (or 0.4%) of the approximately 55,000 people served by our homeless response system — and 37 (0.4%) of the approximately 10,000 served by a local shelter — in 2019 identified as trans or gender non-conforming.

It’s important to remember that, because trans people face discrimination and violence as a result of their gender identity, they may be reluctant to volunteer information about themselves. For the same reason, trans people may be reluctant to seek out shelter or services from the homeless response system if they feel that they are not wanted or welcomed.

As a result, we believe these numbers under-represent the number of trans people experiencing homelessness in our region because of the stigma they face. National data suggests that 1 of 3 transgender people experience homelessness at some point in their lifetime, as compared with approximately 1 of 500 cisgender men.

However, the size of a given population is beside the point; emergency shelters provide a basic human need — shelter — in the face of a housing crisis. Everyone should have the right to access that service.

Take Action!

We encourage all partner agencies of The Way Home — and any and all interested community members — to take action against the proposed rule in the following ways:

By submitting a unique public comment before Sept. 22. Housing Saves Lives has a comment portal to help you draft and submit a comment. HUD is legally required to respond to each unique comment they receive before they can implement a Final Rule.
Learn more about how to submit an effective comment with these resources from regulations.gov or from The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee . Take note: “A single, well-supported comment may carry more weight than a thousand form letters!”
By encouraging your networks to make comments, too, by using the Housing Saves Lives partner toolkit to get the word out.

Remember: Submitting comments is NOT considered lobbying.

*We use the terms “trans” or “transgender” throughout this communication as shorthand for the vast spectrum of ways people may describe their gender identity, including but not limited to, transgender woman, transgender man, non-binary or genderqueer. We encourage you to learn more from the National Center for Transgender Equality.

We need your creativity for our first annual t-shirt design contest!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 15:09:11 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless is excited to announce its first ever t-shirt design contest as part of its annual World Homeless Day event!

City of Houston, Harris County and Coalition for the Homeless Announce Joint $65M Plan to House 5,000 People Experiencing Homelessness

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 22:58:20 GMT

Coordinated permanent housing initiative will limit the spread of COVID-19

The City of Houston, Harris County, and the Coalition for the Homeless today announced a joint, $65-million plan to house 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the next two years to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Community-wide COVID-19 Housing Program (CCHP) represents an unprecedented coordinated effort on the part of the City and the County to address homelessness in the region.

Due to underlying health conditions and a lack of access to facilities, people experiencing homelessness are more susceptible to the novel coronavirus and are at higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms.

The CCHP will permanently house people who are currently experiencing literal homelessness (e.g., living in shelters, encampments or on the streets) as well as those who may fall into homelessness as a result of the economic effects of the coronavirus.

“This program is vital to protect the health of at-risk, homeless individuals, prevent potential communal spread to other populations, and assist those forced into homelessness by COVID-19,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner . “This crisis response program will also have a major long-term impact, permanently housing 5,000 individuals experiencing homelessness and significantly reducing our homeless population to record lows. Homelessness knows no geographical boundaries. I am grateful for the County’s partnership, for this is truly a watershed opportunity that will benefit all who call Houston and Harris County home.”

The City of Houston has dedicated $29 million and Harris County has allocated $18 million to this groundbreaking endeavor. The City and County are utilizing a variety of federal funds, including significant funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“Together, we are making the single largest investment in addressing chronic homelessness in our region’s history,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . “Meaningful change happens when we work together to think outside the box, shift paradigms and invest in innovative solutions. This is the beginning of a new approach here in Harris County and it’s going to take continued effort from all of us. I look forward to applying solutions that are compassionate, that work, and that save taxpayer dollars in the long term.”

“I made a commitment early in my administration to address the issue of homelessness in Harris County, and for that reason I am grateful to the Coalition for the Homeless, the partner agencies of The Way Home, my fellow members of Commissioners Court who voted in favor of the funding, and the City of Houston for their financial commitment,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia , who brought the funding request before the county court on June 30, where it was approved unanimously. “Our combined investment will dramatically reduce chronic homelessness in the City of Houston and throughout Harris County, and I am confident it will become a model for others to emulate. Now more than ever, with the current COVID-19 crisis putting so many people’s living situations at an increased risk, having access to stable housing options is vital for the entire community’s health.”

“During this unprecedented time, taking care of the most vulnerable among us must be a priority,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis . “The continuing economic crisis could push even more people who were already struggling before the pandemic deeper into poverty and possibly homelessness. I am proud that this collaboration will help us address this challenge by providing stable housing for 5,000 individuals and families over the next two years. Caring for those most in need makes our entire community healthier and safer.”

The Coalition for the Homeless helped to coordinate the planning efforts and will lead the implementation of the CCHP, expected to begin in August. The nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless is the lead agency to the local homeless response system The Way Home.

“We are so appreciative that the City and the County have decided to join forces in this effort,” said Mike Nichols, president & CEO of the Coalition . “We will continue to work with them on implementation and to secure the remaining funds. Together with the service providers of The Way Home, we will build a healthier, more resilient community and make tangible progress toward our goal of making homelessness in our region rare, brief, and non-recurring.”

The CCHP will include several forms of intervention depending on individuals’ level of need, including the following:

Diversion: A program to help approximately 2,000 people maintain or regain housing so that they do not have to enter emergency shelter. Assistance may be financial (i.e., up to three months’ rent) or may include family mediation or creative problem-solving.
Rapid rehousing: Short-term (up to 12 months’) rental assistance and light services for those who do not require intensive case management, for approximately 1,700 newly homeless people.
A “bridge” to permanent supportive housing (PSH): Housing for approximately 1,000 people currently experiencing chronic homelessness — including those living unsheltered and/or in encampments — while they await a PSH unit.

The CCHP also involves expanding homeless outreach to those living unsheltered outside of Houston’s urban core; mental health case management for high-risk individuals; and additional support for emergency shelters, including those for survivors of domestic violence, to help them implement CDC health and safety recommendations.

This ambitious program will also require private philanthropic support in strategic areas where public funding cannot be used and that will keep people successful in housing over the long term. Local property managers will also have a key role to play in solving homelessness.

The 2020 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey, the results of which the Coalition released June 23 , found approximately 3,700 people experiencing literal homelessness in Harris County, including approximately 2,200 sheltered and 1,500 unsheltered. The night of record for the 2020 Homeless Count was January 27, 2020; the Count represents the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single day in the region.

It is not known how many people in the region will fall into homelessness as a result of the coronavirus. The CCHP proposes to quickly and permanently house as many people as possible, as soon as possible, so that the local homeless response system will be prepared to meet the needs of the newly homeless in the coming months.

2020 Homeless Count results show the need for additional resources

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:19:12 GMT

Homeless experts anticipate an uptick in homelessness as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic

“The fact that the unsheltered count has remained relatively unchanged the past three years points to that fact that our programs work, and, as a system, we have been able to fully maximize the housing resources available to maintain a steady state, which, in 2019, meant we secured permanent housing for more than 2,000 people,” said Michael C. Nichols, president/CEO of theCoalition for the Homeless. “However, 1,600 people sleeping on the street is not acceptable, and we won’t be able to make further progress as a homeless response system without a considerable influx of resources.”

The 2020 Count results show the effectiveness of The Way Home programs and that the key to solving homelessness is permanent housing combined with supportive services. More than 5,800 individuals, veterans and families have been placed in permanent housing in since Harvey. However, progress has plateaued as the number of unsheltered individuals has remained relatively steady during the same period: 1,614 (2018), 1,614 (2019) and 1,656 (2020). To address the potential inflow from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ultimately return to the progress that was being achieved prior to Harvey, the local homeless response system will require additional financial resources.

“Our permanent housing programs are more important now than ever for several reasons,” said Ana Rausch, vice president of program operations at the Coalition for the Homeless. “First, getting people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing protects them from COVID-19 and limits community spread. For them, housing is healthcare. Second, we won’t know the extent of

COVID-19’s impact on our region until next year’s Count, but we are expecting an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness as the economic effects of the pandemic are felt over the coming months, and we want to be prepared to meet their needs. Finally, as we brace for an active hurricane season in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, if we can reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, our community will be more resilient when the next disaster hits.”

Additional key findings from the 2020 Homeless Count include:

30% of the adult population experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count met the definition of chronic homelessness, meaning they have experienced homelessness for more than a year and have a mental and/or physical disability
32% of the adult population experiencing homelessness self-reported suffering from a serious mental illness
26% of the adult population self-reported substance use disorder
267 Veterans experiencing homelessness were counted in the 2020 Count, compared to 376 Veterans counted in 2019
People identifying as Black or African American are disproportionately represented, making up 56.2% of the total population experiencing homelessness, but only 19.9% of the Harris County population
Nearly 56,000 individuals touched HMIS in 2019. Of those, approximately 23,000 accessed a program specifically for those experiencing literal homelessness.

Additional Resources:

As in past years, the 2020 Count & Survey data was analyzed by the Coalition for the Homeless in consultation with Dr. Cathy Troisi, associate professor, University of Texas School of Public Health.

Media Contacts:

Julia Davis, The CKP Group

julia [at] theckpgroup [dot] com

Catherine B. Villarreal, Coalition for the Homeless

cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston [dot] org

The Coalition stands with those speaking out against racism and racial injustice

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 21:35:32 GMT

In recent days, across our country, people have been speaking out against racism and racial injustice. We at the Coalition for the Homeless stand with them. Black lives matter!

This issue hits close to home for us. Not only because Houston was the longtime home of George Floyd, but because as we work to serve people experiencing homelessness, racial inequity is not an abstract concept. It is the reality we see every day.

The fact is that African Americans are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in our community. People who identify as Black or African American make up 22.5% of the population of the greater Houston region but 57% of those experiencing homelessness.

This disparity is the result of decades of structural oppression and systemic racism. It is upsetting and unacceptable. It also compels us to action.

We are committed to improving racial equity within our local homeless response system - both in terms of access to services and positive outcomes. We will continue to examine our data to learn where we can do better. We are also committed to including input from voices that are reflective of the communities that we serve.

We look forward to working with our partners in the homeless response system to create positive change.

Alan C. Watkins

Chairman of the Board

Coalition for the Homeless

Michael C. Nichols

President and CEO

Coalition for the Homeless

Coalition President/CEO invited to participate in Mayor Turner's COVID Task Force

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:48:05 GMT

On April 23, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established his Health Equity Response (HER) task force to focus on providing at-risk and vulnerable communities - who the coronavirus has disproportionately impacted - with additional information, supplies, and services.

The Coalition thanks Mayor Turner for inviting our President/CEO Mike Nichols to join the task force.

"As lead agency of the Houston region's homeless response system, the Coalition has worked for nearly four decades to help our most vulnerable citizens access critical services and housing to improve their quality of life," says Nichols. "I am honored to be a part of Mayor Turner's HER task force to promote equitable and rapid access to information, supplies, and services for marginalized groups in our community."

"The COVID crisis has again revealed the need for improved equity in healthcare for our vulnerable populations," continued Nichols. "The Coalition supports the expansion of Medicaid in Texas and believes that healthcare funding should include dollars for housing and other non-medical programs that are shown to improve social determinants and healthcare outcomes."

Click here to view the Mayor's press event announcing the HER task force.

Click here to read about the Mask Up! initiative led by the task force.

Donor Spotlight: CORT Furniture

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 06 May 2020 17:55:53 GMT

Coalition donors make a huge positive impact on the work to solve homelessness in the Houston region. Their support means the Coalition can continue to align funding, agencies, and work so we can end homelessness for people and families as quickly as possible.

This month we would like to point our donor spotlight on CORT Furniture for their continued partnership and generous support of our mission!

CORT began its local partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless in 2015 by joining our Landlord Marketing workgroup to provide expertise and financial support for our work to recruit apartment properties for the homeless response system. CORT has also been a proud sponsor of many Coalition events, including last year's "Pancakes and Solutions" World Homeless Day Breakfast!

Across the US, CORT is a business and philanthropic leader in their industry. They make houses - both temporary and permanent - into homes by providing high-quality delivered and assembled furniture and home goods. CORT also supports many Permanent Supportive Housing projects and partner agencies throughout Houston and the country by offering top customer service.

CORT has also stepped up in a leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing furniture for organizations like FEMA and for traveling nurses and healthcare workers.

In addition to the financial support that CORT provides to the Coalition, their employees forge meaningful bonds with us (and the other agencies they partner with!) and always go above and beyond for our local homeless response system.

The staff and Board of Directors at the Coalition are proud to count CORT Furniture and its team members as friends and supporters - thank you for your generosity!

A letter from our President/CEO

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 19:15:03 GMT

Dear Friends,

As we begin 2020, I wanted to take time to reflect on my first year with the Coalition for the Homeless.

I joined the Coalition last January, excited to bring a business perspective to the work of solving homelessness. I strongly believe that the programs and resources exist to solve homelessness in our community – we just need to coordinate more effectively and efficiently.

I was quickly impressed by the level of collaboration already underway in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. More than 100 partners have been working together through The Way Home since 2012 with meaningful results: more than 18,000 people have been housed with an 84% success rate. The Coalition is fortunate to work with outstanding partners and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them better over the last 12 months.

I also learned a great deal about the unique role that the Coalition plays in the community. As a financial and management intermediary, the Coalition plays a valuable role as the conductor of the local homeless response system symphony. Just like a symphony has musicians and instruments, the Houston region has wonderful nonprofits, funders, and programs working directly with those experiencing homelessness.

However, the Coalition plays an essential role as the coordinator and convener, leading the collaboration and planning, and developing and directing funding and resources that make Houston so successful at solving homelessness.

Over the last year I’ve been fortunate to work with a very talented team of individuals at the Coalition who work tirelessly every day to implement homelessness solutions. Both they and our Board of Directors have worked beside me to improve the organization’s financial stability and implement a new operating model to ensure that we are being as effective and efficient as possible.

In November, the Board removed “Interim” from my title and named me President/CEO. I am thrilled to continue working with the Coalition and some of our priorities for the coming year include:

continuing to develop staff talent,
growing in the areas of public advocacy and communications,
aggressively exploring sustainable areas of funding for our local homeless response system, from healthcare groups, pay for success programs, and others,
developing new programs for those experiencing homelessness who have serious mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders and need higher levels of care, and
ensuring the financial and funding sustainability of the Coalition.

I believe that Houston could be the first major city in the US to solve homelessness. We are a one-of-a-kind place with a yes-we-can spirit. I also believe that the success of our local homeless response system is dependent upon the success of the Coalition.

We can achieve our vision of a Houston region where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. I look forward to working with you to get us there.

Sincerely,

Michael C. Nichols

President/CEO

Homeless Court: How One Program Is Changing Lives

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 01:38:19 GMT

If you were to ask Scot More, Program Analyst for the Coalition for the Homeless, what his favorite part of his job is, he will tell you without even batting an eye, “Homeless Court,” even though it only makes up about 10 percent of the work he does every day. As I sat down to do my usual staff spotlight interview for the month of May, Scot refused to let me highlight his personal accomplishments (this is no shock to anyone who knows him), but asked me to instead focus on a program that has been close to his heart for over 13 years.

What is Homeless Court?

Homeless Court is a special Court session for homeless defendants to resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses and warrants within the City of Houston’s Municipal Courts. The idea for a homeless court system began in San Diego, California in 1989, and was adopted in the Houston area in 2006.

Homeless Court has been able to build partnerships between the courts, local emergency shelters and homeless service agencies, to help individuals experiencing homelessness resolve misdemeanor offenses without being taken into custody with alternative sentencing options.

Participants in Homeless Court sign up on a voluntary basis by requesting to be a part of the program through a local homeless service provider. Homeless Court addresses all class C misdemeanor offenses within the City of Houston. Some of these offenses could include – failure to pay bus fare, traffic

violations, or sleeping in a public park.

Alternative Sentencing

“A lot of people experiencing homelessness are afraid of the court system,” said Scot. “They don’t believe that they won’t go to jail until they actually go through the process.” Scot works as the Homeless Court liaison for the Coalition and says a lot of the time he is there mainly to help calm people’s nerves.

One of the biggest proponents of Homeless Court is that no participant will be taken into custody against their will. And this component is something every judge, defense attorney, prosecutor and homeless service agency has agreed on.

Scot says the biggest hurdle for clients is simply showing up. Once they are there, the judge will offer the participant an alternative sentencing option. Usually this sentence will be community service or activities in the shelter program in which the participant is enrolled in*. Each shelter has its own requirements for participants to access the Homeless Court program.

The three judges currently presiding over Homeless Court are Judge Leigh St. Germain, Judge Imelda Castillo, and Judge Grantham Coleman.

What Actually Happens During Homeless Court

This week I had the opportunity to observe a Homeless Court Docket at the City of Houston Municipal Court. When I arrived, many of the participants were already there, each meeting with Scot individually as he got them checked in and gave them any necessary documents. Presiding over this docket was Judge Castillo, with approximately 20 individuals scheduled to participate.

Before the session was started, Scot once again assured each person that the judge would be waiving all fees and ordering each person community service for the hard work they had done and would continue to do. Scot also provided additional resources for those who needed them.

Judge Castillo then began to call participants up one by one. For every person she called to the stand, she dug deeper than their record, and got to know them on a more personal level. Judge Castillo asked questions about how their programs were going, what their plans were for the future, and if they were happy with their current situation. She never treated any of the participants like they were a criminal but showed compassion for the fact that they had fallen on hard times and were trying their hardest to move forward.

“I have been presiding over Homeless Court dockets for about 11 years,” said Judge Castillo. “It is so incredibly rewarding to see people making positive changes to their lives and becoming more stable.” Judge Castillo says by waiving these types of fines or warrants, the participants have one less thing to worry about and it helps each of them become more productive citizens.

Dawn, one of the individuals who participated in this docket, says the amount of relief she feels is indescribable. “You have no idea what a weight this is off our shoulders,” said Dawn. “I can now go get my license renewed, which means I can finally go apply for jobs, and start the next chapter of my life.”

*Note: individuals must sign up to participate in Homeless Court through a local shelter or homeless service agency.

**If you have any additional questions about Homeless Court, please reach out to Scot More at smore@homelesshouston.org .

Staff Spotlight: Meet Mike Nichols!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 01:43:27 GMT

Michael (Mike) Nichols, Interim CEO/President of the Coalition for the Homeless, joined the organization in January of this year. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Mike moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend law school and eventually served as a Georgia State Representative. He then made his way to Houston in 1981 to serve as General Counsel for the Sysco Corporation.

Abbie: What made you interested in fulfilling the role as Interim CEO for the Coalition?

Mike: First, I saw an opportunity to help an extremely important organization (the Coalition) solve one of Houston’s most significant social issues. Second, I saw an opportunity to help improve the government’s approach on the issue of homelessness. The Coalition is in many ways a private/public partnership, and it concerned me that sometimes philanthropy can mask bad government. There is an opportunity to help government and philanthropy work in partnership more effectively. And third, my youngest daughter is a case worker in Seattle, also working in the homeless service system there.

Abbie: Have you always worked for nonprofits? If not, what made you decide to enter the nonprofit world?

Mike: This will actually be my second time working at a nonprofit; I also served as Interim CEO at the Houston Parks Board. Through my career, I have also been able to volunteer for a number of nonprofits. I served as Chairman of the Board of the Houston Food Bank, Chairman of the Board of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and as an officer of Congregation Beth Israel. I am also currently a board member of the American Jewish Committee.

Abbie: Since you started at the Coalition, what has been your favorite thing about working here and what has been your greatest challenge?

Mike: I would have to say my favorite thing has been the ability to meet the incredible people who are committed to helping our most vulnerable populations.My greatest challenge is understanding a very complex system of homeless solutions, an even more complex system of funding these solutions, and trying to make these systems work as effectively as possible.

Abbie: What are your goals for the future of this organization?

Mike: I really want to help strengthen the organization’s financial position and its reporting so it can grow to support the number of current and future projects that it’s responsible for leading. I also want to work towards improving relationships with our service providers and our funders. And lastly, I would really like to help our employees and their partners work together as seamlessly as possible.

Abbie: Now for the fun questions! What is one thing you would like to mark off your bucket list?

Mike: I’m a swimmer and I would really like to swim from our cabin on Lake Livingston to Pine Island and back, which is about 4 miles!

Abbie: What is one fun fact about yourself?

Mike: I really love to write down memories and short stories. Some stories I have written about include growing up in Birmingham and then a more fictional one about a magical ability to re-do your life.

Our Five Commitments – What Do They Mean?

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 01:47:43 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless is committed to providing the highest level of service in five key commitment areas: Teamwork, Communication, Problem Solving, Customer Service, and Trust & Dedication. But what do these words mean to the staff who work at the Coalition every single day?

Teamwork

“The Coalition would be nothing without teamwork. There is an exhaustive amount of leg work that goes into each person who gets housed in our system. It’s a combination of frontline staff, program managers, upper management, funders, system support staff, blood, sweat, and tears. The work on the front end is a huge lift and what comes AFTER you get someone their keys is a whole other endeavor. None of it would be possible without teamwork.” – James Gonzalez, Senior Project Manager

Communication

“If you are going to lead a successful system, like The Way Home, you must create an environment with open communication. People are proven to be more effective and navigate through life with a higher morale when they feel that they are being heard. Understanding and helping to develop open communication with your peers, employees, and colleagues plays a vital role in any workplace/home/school environment. Effective communication in my mind is the most important part of the 5 commitments of the Coalition and we hope to encourage true, empathetic communications around our everyday work.” – Renee Cavazos, Development Coordinator

Problem Solving

“I think it makes sense that the Coalition would have “Problem Solving” as one of its five commitments; homelessness is definitely a complex societal issue (or “problem”) and our daily work centers on how we can work to solve it. Even within the broader issue of homelessness, the Coalition constantly tackles smaller issues like advocating for more affordable housing and identifying funding for direct service programs. I’d make the argument that we are excellent problem solvers – a 51% reduction in homelessness since 2011 and more than 16,000 people housed since 2012 are pretty impressive! We’ve led in the creation of an incredibly effective and efficient homeless response system and are now looking at leadership and problem solving in new areas like prevention and advocacy, which will help make our system even more effective!” – Sara Brown, Director of Development & Communications

Customer Service

“Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners. They are our customers and we strive to provide them with the best possible service. We are proud to be able to work with so many wonderful organizations. This works happens not just in day-to-day meetings and workgroups, but also in large scale events and implementation of policies and procedures. Our partners trust that we will lead them in the right path towards ending homelessness in our community. Their trust is something that we believe is very valuable and maintaining this trust is our number one priority.” – Ana Rausch, Senior Research Project Manager

Trust & Dedication

“We are held to a high standard due to our role as lead agency to ensure that, as a community, we are forging a path that is fair for our clients and in-line with the regulations we have been charged to uphold. Trust is something you have to build, and I think we’ve worked to do that during my tenure here, by being completely transparent in our role and relationships as we to drive our region toward solving homelessness.” – Concetta Scerbo, Senior Manager of Grants & Compliance

Staff Spotlight: Meet Concetta Scerbo!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 02:55:20 GMT

Concetta Scerbo, Senior Manager of Grants & Compliance, has been with the Coalition for the Homeless for almost five years. A native Houstonian, Concetta attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where she received a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance and went on to pursue a Masters of Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Abbie: Tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

Concetta: As the Senior Manager of Grants & Compliance, I manage all of the public grants that the Coalition receives, and perform all of the procurement activities performed by community partners. I also coordinate local grant competitions, such as HUD NOFA & TDHCA*, and I support all of the HMIS and Project Team staff by tracking the activities they perform and the grants they are funded by.

Abbie: What made you decide to go into this type of work?

Concetta: I really enjoy having a pulse on the activities happening in my community, and with something as visible as homelessness, I thought there was no better agency to work with than the Coalition. I previously worked in the Air Force, and I enjoyed being able to ensure the safety of the war-fighter with the projects I managed.

Abbie: What would you say you favorite thing about working for the Coalition is?

Concetta: I would honestly have to say it’s the people I get to work with. From the vast number of partner agencies I get to work with, to the diverse staff members at these different agencies, and of course Coalition staff, it really is my favorite part of my job.

Abbie: Are there any specific projects you are working on right now?

Concetta: My biggest projects right now are Rapid Re-housing grant management, Coalition grant management, and coordinating some other changes we are making in our organization to better manage all of our contracts.

Abbie: If there was one thing you’d like to mark off your bucket list, what would it be?

Concetta: I would really love to hike Machu Picchu one day in Peru and hang out with some llamas. It’s something that would be so outside of my comfort zone and that’s why I want to do it!

Abbie: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

Concetta: I find the most satisfaction in volunteering within my community and one of my commitments is on the Special Children’s Committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR). It’s really fun to be involved with children, as well as adults, who have disabilities and be able to introduce them to HLSR!

*HUD NOFA is the Notice of Funding Availability which is a notice published each year in Grants.gov for HUD’s Discretionary Funding Programs. The TDHCHA is the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Michael Fraley!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 02:57:58 GMT

Michael Fraley, Project Manager with the Coalition for the Homeless, has been with the organization for two years in February. Originally from a suburb of Detroit in Columbus Township, Michigan, Michael moved to Houston to be closer to family in 2017.

Abbie: Where were you living and working before you moved to Texas in 2017?

Michael: After I graduated from Grand Valley State University, I pursued a master’s degree from Ball State University in Student Affairs and Higher Education. From there I moved to Vermont where I lived for 10 years and worked at the University of Vermont. I was eventually hired as a property manager for low-income housing and that’s how I kind of entered this world. I also worked at a homeless nonprofit agency doing short-term Rapid Re-housing.

Abbie: Tell me about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

Michael: Right now I am a Project Manager. Originally I was brought into the organization to work with youth/young adult programs, but my role since then has changed. Now I concentrate more on program compliance, making sure our subrecipients ’ work align with grant requirements.

Abbie: What made you go into this type of work?

Michael: I really enjoy running a functional system to help individuals get into housing. Even though the Coalition is an administrative agency and I am further removed from direct service, the reward of seeing someone get those keys and get into a home of their own is such a joy.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing about working for the Coalition is?

Michael: I really like the autonomy that the Coalition gives. I love that we are creating a system to end homelessness in our Continuum of Care and I can be a part of the work that is done daily. I also enjoy working with other homeless service providers and partners of The Way Home to address homelessness as a community.

Abbie: Are there any projects you are working on right now?

Michael: I actually just finished coordinating the Community Conversation so there will definitely be ongoing work with the findings from that event. I’m really focusing on my new compliance role and putting structure together for subrecipients, auditing where it’s needed, and making sure all the necessary boxes are getting checked.

Abbie: What would you tell someone who was unfamiliar with The Way Home homeless service system?

Michael: I think the work we do goes largely unseen because it’s not always noticeable. Also, I wish more people knew that it only takes one major life event to become homeless and it can happen to anyone, at any time.

Abbie: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

Michael: While living in Vermont, I owned and operated my own artisan jam business for six years called the Green Jam Man. I made over 120 flavors of homemade jam and marmalade and even won a Good Food Award!

Welcome Home Fund Impact 2018

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:04:27 GMT

The Welcome Home Fund is a restricted fund that is managed by the Coalition for the Homeless that supports the work of The Way Home by removing barriers for people moving into permanent housing. The Welcome Home Fund provides Welcome Baskets full of home goods, furniture, and one-time financial assistance for things like deposits that other funding sources may not cover.

The Welcome Home Fund would not be an available resource if it was not for our incredible individual donors, private foundation supporters, and community partners leading in-kind donation drives.

As we begin our work in 2019, we first wanted to look back on the accomplishments of the Welcome Home Fund in 2018.

Our Accomplishments In 2018

First and foremost, because of your commitment, we removed barriers for more than 650 individuals and welcomed them home in 2018. Specifically, we:

provided 430 individuals with crucial funds to assist with the payment of rental applications, deposits, and utility deposits;
furnished 100 apartments for clients in apartments throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties;
supplied over 600 Welcome Baskets to partner agencies of the Way Home for their clients moving into permanent housing;
worked with 15 various faith-based organizations, schools, and businesses to host Welcome Basket in-kind drives; and
connected groups doing other, non-Welcome Basket in-kind donation drives to partner agencies in need

Before the creation of the Welcome Home Fund, case managers and housing navigators often had to scramble to find “extra” money in their budgets (or even pay out of their own pockets!) for things like home supplies and deposits. To see just how impactful the Welcome Home Fund is, check out the video below filmed with our partner Avenue 360 and someone recently housed through The Way Home.

In total, more than $275,000 in funding and in-kind goods were collected by the Coalition in 2018 and disbursed to direct service provider partners of The Way Home so their clients could move into permanent housing.

Looking To The Future

We will need over $375,000 in monetary and in-kind support to match the move-in projections for individuals and families leaving homelessness in 2019.

All donations are welcome! In 2019 we will continue our work as the “hub” for direct in-kind community donations to partners of The Way Home. We will also help provide in-kind drive supplies including boxes and flyers to any organizations, clubs, or groups willing to host a Welcome Basket drive. This is a great way for your group of colleagues, students or friends to support the work of the Way Home.

Be sure to follow The Coalition and The Way Home on social media to stay up-to-date on our successes and information on how to take action! We are also planning on kicking off a number of education initiatives and campaigns to help community members learn how to maximize the impact of their donations and generosity, and empower the public to “be the key” to ending homelessness. Stay tuned for more information on these projects!

Lastly, if you have any suggestions or inquiries about the work of the Welcome Home fund we invite you to connect with Renee Cavazos, the Development Coordinator for the Coalition at rcavazos@homelesshouston.org . We’d love to hear your ideas!

Thank you again to everyone who has supported our work – without you, we would not have been able to create warm and welcoming homes for nearly 700 people in 2018. With a 51% reduction in homelessness since 2011, the partners of The Way Home have proven that we accomplish more when we work together toward shared goals. You are a critical part of that success and we are excited to work with you in 2019!

2018 Community Conversation Recap

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 03:49:05 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless, as lead agency to The Way Home , facilitated a Community Conversation on Tuesday, November 27. The goal of the Community Conversation was to gather input from community stakeholders to create a new strategic vision for the year 2020 and beyond!

With over 200 people in attendance, members of the community spent a full day brainstorming topic areas for The Way Home to tackle in the future. Attendees had the opportunity to gather in small groups throughout the day to discuss topics they felt were most important and those they wanted to learn more about. Those who attended included community members, CEO’s, national Leaders from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) were in attendance, as well as partner agency CEOs, individuals formerly or currently experiencing homelessness, faith leaders, funding partners, and other community members.

“I think it went really well,” said Michael Fraley, Coalition Project Manager. “We had a lot of different subject areas that people discussed – 38 to be exact! Once those topics areas are narrowed down, The Way Home Continuum of Care Steering Committee will take a look at everything, and work thoroughly to develop a plan by 2020.”

A survey was also sent out after the Community Conversation to see which of the 38 topics that were discussed were the most important for the future. The Steering Committee will also take these recommendations into consideration during the planning process.

Michael says that workgroups will be formed soon to address some of these topics and areas of work, and that community members will have the opportunity to join those workgroups and be a part of the planning process. “We really want this new plan to be community focused,” said Michael. “This is not meant to be the Coalition’s plan – it’s the community’s plan.”

Eva Thibaudeau, Vice President of Programs for the Coalition, says being able to see partners come together to identify areas of need and create roadmaps forward on some of the toughest issues facing the homeless response system was really inspiring. “As I heard from our national leaders (USICH and NAEH) and local thought leaders and witnessed the synergy in the room, it made me feel as though everything is possible,” said Eva. “Coming out of this event, I feel even more confident that we have the right players at the table, so our community can continue to tackle the social problem of homelessness with forward-thinking, person-centered, evidence-based responses.”

All updates regarding the planning process will be available in CoC Steering Committee meeting minutes, which you can find here .

Staff Spotlight: Meet Andreia Thomas!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 06:00:00 GMT

Andreia Thomas, Grants Accountant with the Coalition for the Homeless, started with the organization in 2017 after previously working in the nonprofit sector. Originally from Bahia, Brazil, Andreia moved to Houston in 2006 for – in her words – “all things marriage and love.”

Abbie: Where did you grow up and what brought you to Houston?

Andreia: I’m originally from the Northeast area of Brazil, known as the State of Bahia. I lived there my entire life until I moved to Houston in 2006 for marriage, love, and other family plans.

Abbie: How long have you worked for the Coalition?

Andreia: It’ll be a year next month. I was laid off last year, in June, and I used to work for a company that also provided help. Whenever I lost that job I knew I wanted to stay in this sector and started searching for positions available in nonprofits, and that’s how I found myself here.

Abbie: Tell me a little about your role with the Coalition and what your day-to-day looks like?

Andreia: As a Grants Accountant, our day-to-day is reviewing and submitting reimbursement requests for the funders. And then we also process a large number of other requests for other recipients.

Abbie: What made you decide to go into this type of work?

Andreia: Well I have always like numbers and like that numbers can tell a story. You can figure out different issues and situations from the numbers. You can also learn about the story of the company and where it started to where it is now. Those type of things are really interesting to me. I received my Bachelors in Business Administration from a college in Brazil and am currently working on my Bachelors of Accounting from the University of Minnesota online; I have about a year and a half left for that one.

Abbie: Are these any projects you are currently working on?

Andreia: Right now my main project is learning as much as I can about grants, I was just recently put into this role. Especially learning about the regulations, what is required so we can comply, and how we can decrease the amount of findings or errors we have.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing about your job is?

Andreia: I really enjoy the reporting part of it. It’s funny to some people, also may be a little weird, but I love forms and filling them out correctly. Or even filtering out what is not correct on certain forms is fun to me.

Abbie: Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

Andreia: It has nothing to do with accounting! But I absolutely love fashion and sewing. I am currently starting my own brand of skirts called ‘Rosa Camara’ which is Portuguese and means Cool Rose in English. I have completed the project of starting an online store and am now working on the legal part with trademarks and everything else. I also want to eventually invest into finishing school and pursue a CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification so I can mingle business and accounting.

Abbie: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

Andreia: I’m a big Star Wars girl. So, I love Yoda. And I also love comics! Mostly Marvel and X-men. When I was a kid I used to collect comic books. My dad would take my sister and I to the booth in our neighborhood and we would buy Superman and X-men comics.

Coalition Strategic Planning and Leadership Update

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 06:00:00 GMT

Dear Coalition for the Homeless Friends and Family:

In 2012 our region accepted the national challenge to end Veteran homelessness by 2015, chronic homelessness by 2018, and family and youth/young adult homelessness by 2020. With more than 100 nonprofit partners, businesses, government agencies, and more, the Coalition built a strong system known as The Way Home. This system has effectively ended Veteran homelessness in our region and is considered a national leader in solving homelessness.

As many of you are aware, the Coalition has been reviewing our strategic direction and seeking input into what would best serve Houston and our surrounding communities over the next several years. The most significant finding from our strategic review is that Houston is ready for the Coalition to take the leading role in public education and advocacy on behalf of those experiencing homelessness. For more than six years we have been successfully “leading from behind” as we built our system and drove local collaboration. It is now time for the Coalition to become the public voice and face as an advocate for those experiencing homelessness, so the Houston region can continue to be a national leader and find solutions to these complicated issues.

As the Coalition Board of Directors studied our organization and the community’s needs, we took a close look at our organizational structure and available resources. We have determined that as we move into this new direction, we will do so with fresh leadership at both the staff and board levels.

The first major change is that Marilyn Brown will be leaving her position as President/CEO of the Coalition. On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to express our sincere appreciation for the outstanding leadership that Marilyn has provided during her tenure with the Coalition. Since 2012, she and her team have driven the collaboration that led to The Way Home being a nationally-recognized homeless response system which, during her tenure, has reduced homelessness by 51% and moved more than 15,000 people out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

Marilyn and the Coalition also stepped up in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and led in the planning of a disaster recovery housing program that, with the help of other partner agencies of The Way Home, prevented homelessness for nearly 1,000 individuals and helped our region’s recovery efforts. Most recently, Marilyn’s leadership helped secure significant funding for two of our partner agencies from a national foundation.

The work is not complete but under Marilyn’s leadership, the Coalition has moved our system closer to the goal that no one should ever have to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days and is now in the position to take on the leading role in public education and advocacy.

The second major change is that Wendy Adair is stepping down as Chair of the Coalition’s Board of Directors and I, Alan Watkins, will be returning to serve in this position. We sincerely appreciate Wendy’s leadership on the Board, particularly in leading our strategic direction initiative.

An interim President/CEO will be named in January. Until that time, Lynn Lohr, former Board Treasurer, has agreed to serve as interim COO and will oversee the general activities of the organization. In 2019, the Board and I will launch a national search for our next President/CEO.

I want to thank you for your partnership and support. I look forward to working with you in 2019 and beyond as the Coalition embarks on this era of growth.

Sincerely,

Alan Watkins and the Board of Directors

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Staff Spotlight: Meet Nancy Heintz!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT

Nancy Heintz, Project Manager for Montgomery County with the Coalition, started with the organization in August of 2016. Originally from Conroe, Texas, Nancy said her experience volunteering with, and becoming President of the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition, is what led her to the role she’s in today.

Abbie: Can you tell me about your role as Montgomery County Project Manager and what it entails?

Nancy: As the Montgomery County Project Manager, I help people in Montgomery County understand the work being done with and through The Way Home. Montgomery County didn’t join The Way Home until 2016 – way after Harris and Fort Bend County had already been working together. So, most of my time is spent bringing groups together for conversation in Montgomery County and getting them up-to-speed. I also help facilitate conversations for peer support for best practices and how to model the work being done, you know kind of connecting the dots for folks and what is available for them – both organizations and people experiencing homelessness alike.

Abbie: What made you decide to work in the homeless service system?

Nancy: I had prior experience volunteering for the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition as part of outreach for my ministry and was President for them as well. I had worked for the church for 30 years and my job there was ending. I think it was kind of a God thing because my job there ended on a Monday, and I was hired on at the Coalition for the Homeless by Friday. At the time Eva (Vice President of Programs for the Coalition) wanted to create a staff position for someone who actually lives in Montgomery County as a way to connect agencies with the work of The Way Home, and it ended up working out!

Abbie: Are there any projects you are currently working on?

Nancy: Right now, the regional team is working with school districts and their data sharing when it comes to the annual Homeless Count & Survey. We’re also focusing on this new connection with the justice system and some of their issues they may have when it comes to criminal activity and homelessness, and how it all relates.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing about working for the Coalition is?

Nancy: I think it’s been a new learning curve for me which has made me want to work longer. I also really just enjoy the atmosphere here and being able to see what happening and what is going to happen in the homeless service system.

Abbie: What has been your favorite project you’ve been a part of so far?

Nancy: I think I would have to say the Coordinated Access Assessment of chronically homeless individuals which has resulted in them being housed with Volunteers of America (VOA). Those are the kind of results that will add a lot of weight to our conversation and can show the change that can have a great impact.

Abbie: Now for a more light-hearted question, if you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Nancy: I think I would have to say Martin Luther King Jr. He was such a peaceful change-maker. I would have loved to have some sort of engagement with him or even hear him speak in person. To be at his “I Have A Dream” Speech in Washington D.C. would have just been incredible.

Abbie: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

Nancy: Well my grandkids are kind of the fun thing about me right now! Being able to be a Nan for them. I have three and they’re all little, their ages are about one and a half to five years old.

Looking Back At The 2012 Charrette And Where We Are Now

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT

In 2012, a planning committee that included the Coalition for the Homeless put together a two-day event known as the Charrette, to shape a new strategic plan for the homeless service system in our community. With over 300 community stakeholders (including government partners, nonprofits, community members, etc.) participating, the strategic action plan we know today came to fruition.

Since then, homelessness in our community has been reduced by 51 percent and over 15,000 individuals have been housed through The Way Home. Because the current plan only goes through 2020, the Coalition as lead agency to The Way Home , will be facilitating a Community Conversation to once again gather input from community stakeholders, with the hopes of creating a new vision for 2020 and beyond.

As precursor to the event, we reached out to those who participated in the original Charrette in 2012, to gather their thoughts on the impact this had on our homeless service system and the current work we are doing, and what they hope will come out of the upcoming Community Conversation.

“The Charrette in 2012 was memorable for me in regard to bringing together a diverse group of providers from both the public and private sectors, as well as constituents impacted by homelessness, who were not accustomed to being in the same room,” said Joel Levine, Executive Director of Harris County Protective Services . “That was the first time I saw the Coalition move from working with agencies funded through the Continuum of Care, to expanding their reach to involving the community as well.”

Thao Costis, President/CEO of SEARCH Homeless Services , also agrees that the 2012 Charrette was a huge game changer for Houston. “It kickstarted the transformation of our responses, and the realization that we can have a Houston without homelessness,” said Thao. She hopes after November 27, there will be new momentum built and clear strategies utilized to tackle specific needs in our community, while continuing to keep innovating to achieve our audacious goals.

Gary Grier, who was the Project Manager for the 2012 Charette on behalf of the Coalition, said that this event is what jump started what would become what we know as The Way Home. “The Charrette had a huge attendance and scope with over 330 participants representing 158 agencies,” said Gary. “It was something that a formerly fragmented system could coalesced around to build a system approach.”

Six years later, homelessness in our community has changed and there are new acute issues that need to be addressed. Our community also needs a plan that will pick up where our current one leaves off in 2020. Preston Witt, Chief Services Officer of Harmony House , who participated in 2012, hopes one outcome of the Community Conversation will be ensuring people are able to more easily be connected to housing resources and programs to be able to exit the shelter system into housing. He also hopes that new permanent housing models for individuals with severe mental health, and medically compromised and medication non-compliant individuals, will be explored.

Welcome Home Fund Receives Gift From Chris Paul Family Foundation

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless’ Welcome Home Fund was chosen as one of two beneficiaries of the Chris Paul Family Foundation “Celebrity Server” Dinner held on Sunday, October 28.

Presented by Apollo Jets at Mastro’s Steakhouse, Chris Paul Family Foundation’s “Celebrity Server” drew sports and entertainment influencers and philanthropy leaders for a four-course meal, live auction, and musical performance by critically-acclaimed violinist Lee England, Jr. Celebrity servers included Chris Paul, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Eric Gordon, Clint Capella, and Dallas Keuchel.

The Chris Paul Family Foundation gala resulted a $25,000 gift for the Coalition’s Welcome Home Fund. On behalf of The Way Home , the Coalition for the Homeless’ Welcome Home Fund provides furniture, Welcome Baskets and financial assistance to multiple partner agencies, so their clients can exit homelessness and move into their new home.

During the event, the Coalition presented a video that highlights the system-wide benefit of the Welcome Home Fund, featuring interviews with Nathaniel, a formerly homeless individual, and Yvonne, a case manager with The Way Home partner agency, Avenue 360 Health and Wellness . The video was one of the highlights of the event!

Thanks to the generosity of community members and foundations, the Welcome Home Fund provides approximately 1,000 Welcome Baskets to partner agencies and their clients each year.

On behalf of The Way Home, the Coalition for the Homeless is thankful to the Chris Paul Family Foundation and its staff for their support and for presenting us with this incredible opportunity to turn houses into homes for those leaving homelessness.

The Chris Paul Family Foundation strives to positively impact individuals and families by leveling the playing field in education, sports, and life. The foundation provides resources that enrich and strengthen healthy development of strong communities. Recognized as a leader in the area of philanthropy, the Chris Paul Family Foundation will continue to use its platform to impact communities nationally and globally. For more information, visit www.chrispaul3.com/foundation/ . For more information on the Welcome Home Fund, visit www.thewayhomehouston.org/take-action/give/ .

Domestic Violence and Homelessness – Where We Are Now

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Over the course of a year, 1.3 million women in the U.S. will experience domestic violence, but less than 10 percent of survivors will ever report what has happened to them. In 2017 in Texas, there were over 200,000 incidences of family violence reported, and 136 women were killed. Of those 136 women who were murdered, 39 of them lived in Harris County. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Coalition has led The Way Home in a collaborative effort with Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) and the Houston Housing Authority to try to make a change.

What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors by an adult or adolescent against their intimate partner. These behaviors can include physical, sexual, psychological and economic attacks, and can present differently in each case.

Domestic violence survivors are some of the Houston region’s most vulnerable population. Most survivors face extreme danger when trying to leave the toxic relationship, and even if they are able to get out, most face the barrier of trying to find stable housing because they may have just left their whole life behind.

In October 2016, there was an opportunity to create a coordinated access system that allowed for domestic violence providers, homeless service providers, and the local housing authority to work together collaboratively to make permanent housing more accessible to those experiencing domestic violence. This new system would allow for a survivor to be able to access services, no matter where they were.

“It doesn’t matter what agency you are at, where you have your assessment, the doors are still open to you,” said Barbie Brashear, Executive Director of HCDVCC. “Agencies are now able to start working together collaboratively in a way that had never been seen before in this area.”

According to James Gonzalez, Senior Project Manager at the Coalition, this was the first time there has been a real and meaningful relationship between domestic violence providers and The Way Home homeless response system. “We thought, how can domestic violence services support us in the homeless system, because there are survivors on both sides.”

Though there are over 72,000 calls to local law enforcement annually about domestic violence cases, there are less than 350 available emergency shelter beds. Through this new domestic violence coordinated access system, the goal is to make homeless resources and permanent housing easily accessible to all and put the needs of the survivor at the forefront – essentially, this collaborative is working to make the process as easy as possible for the survivor.

One of the key parts of this system is the creation of a new role, known as the Mobile Advocate. Susan Hickey, who has been a client advocate for more than 20 years, has been in the role of Mobile Advocate for about a year now.

“Usually if a case manager has a client that discloses what they are going through, or they have a sense that some sort of family violence going on, that’s where I will step in,” says Hickey, an employee with HCDVCC. “I will then receive their contact information, meet with them at a neutral location if circumstances allow, and try to get to know them and let them feel comfortable around me.”

Hickey says it could take a few visits before she will learn about what their specific needs are because each family or individual is different. She is currently working with approximately 30 individuals and says her average day is typically spent meeting with clients around the Houston area, being as flexible as possible to be there to meet their needs, and doing everything in her power to try to get them away from the situation they may currently be in.

“In terms of the homeless service system, my role revolves around helping clients connect with the right agencies,” says Hickey. “I want to be able to help case managers learn more about what their client may be going through, teach them how to spot the signs of domestic violence, and understand why this sort of thing may happen.”

Hickey says she hopes she can be a support system for homeless service case managers and for their clients as well. She says that even though she knew a little bit about homelessness beforehand, working with these case managers and their clients has allowed for her to become a better advocate.

“The best part of my job is being able to meet clients I may not have been able to meet in the past, and sit and learn about them, and kind of help them put their life back into order,” says Hickey. “I always tell the client, I am just holding the flashlight so you can see where you are going, you’re the one driving the car.”

To learn more about the work being done by HCDVCC, you may visit their website at https://hcdvcc.org/ .

Homelessness 101: Street Guide v. Help Card

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Two critical resources offered by the Coalition for the Homeless to those who need help are the Street Guide and the Help Card . These two resources are similar in that they both offer information on local assistance programs; however, the Street Guide is meant act as a primary resource to those experiencing a literal homelessness crisis, and the Help Card should be used as a secondary resource by people once in a shelter or housing program, or even by case managers looking to connect their clients with support services.

The Street Guide was created in collaboration with Rice University’s Design for America program in 2015. Rice DFA approached the Coalition about creating an easy to use and maintain resource that would provide the most critical information to people facing a homelessness crisis. The result was a simple printed document that is just a single page front and back, but has a wealth of information on local homeless assistance programs that includes addresses, hours of operation, and even nearby METRO routes. Every program listed on the Street Guide is connected to Coordinated Access and has assessors on-site to conduct housing assessments with those experiencing homelessness. Housing assessments help us gather information on a client’s unique situation and make a referral to the right permanent housing program to help end their homelessness.

For those who may not have access to the internet, copies of the Street Guide can be picked up at the Coalition for the Homeless’ offices, just call ahead first so we can be sure to print the most recent and up-to-date copy of the guide. Many partner agencies also print Street Guides and keep them in their offices and lobbies.

The Street Guide is often handed out by street outreach partners of The Way Home, if someone experiencing unsheltered homelessness doesn’t want to seek shelter right then and there, the outreach teams can leave a street guide with the individual in case they want to seek services later. Community members can also print and keep copies of the Street Guide on hand in their vehicles or bags, to hand out to those they see who may be experiencing homelessness out and about in the Houston region, as long as they feel safe doing so.

The Coalition’s other resource, the Help Card , is more robust resource with less critical – but still important! – resources. The Help Card is a tool that can be utilized not only by formerly homeless individuals, but case managers, partner agencies, and even the public.

The Help Card has a unique background and was first created by students volunteering at HOMES clinic after they found themselves searching for the same resources over and over again. They first published their work in resource book format in 2002 as a fundraiser for their organization. Healthcare for the Homeless of Houston (HHH), a parent organization of HOMES Clinic, eventually took over the project and created a services card that was then passed on to the Coalition. From there, the Coalition was able to transform the services card into what is now known today as the Help Card. The original format was a single page, front and back, with contact information of wide variety of homeless service providers in our community.

Because of the evolution of technology and the constantly changing information in the homeless service system, the Help Card was put into a digital format for more efficient use which would allow information to updated as needed. This also created an opportunity for the Coalition to increase the amount of information contained in the Help Card and create a more streamlined process for keeping the resources up-to-date. This integration was a collaboration between the Coalition and UT Houston Medical Student, Camille Keenan. Camille approached the Coalition independently about a way to digitize the Help Card. She also independently applied for and received an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship grant to be able to complete the project. Even though Camille is now doing her medical residency in the Dallas area, she is still always on standby and willing to help the Coalition keep the Help Card up-to-date!

Case managers, social workers, and nonprofit employees can use the Help Card to provide those experiencing homelessness with up-to-date information about the resources that are available to them. Help Card resources can be tailored to a specific individual and what their needs are at the time. Community members can also use the Help Card as a way to learn more about the homelessness in our area and find out how to get involved with one of The Way Home’ s direct service partner agencies.

The Help Card lives on the Coalition website. The Help Card is searchable by zip code and there is a wide variety of categories featured on the Help Card such as Drop-In Centers, Hospitals, Clothing, Income/Job Training, just to name a few. Each category then has a sub-category that lists the names of organizations who provide that specific resource. Once you click on the name of the organization, the Help Card lists the phone number, website and short About section to learn more. The Street Guide can also be accessed through the Help Card.

Both the Help Card and Street Guide are essential resources utilized by the Coalition and partner agencies of The Way Home. While the Street Guide is used for those experiencing literal homelessness, the Help Card has a multi-functional use and is essential for those who have recently been placed into a program and are looking for additional resources. To access either the Street Guide or the Help Card, click here .

Staff Spotlight: Meet Sara Brown!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By: Abbie Wright, Digital Content Coordinator

Sara Brown, Senior Manager of External Affairs and Special Projects with Coalition for the Homeless, started with the organization in 2013. Originally from the small town of Farmington, West Virginia, Sara moved to Houston in August of 2007 through a year-long volunteer program with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Abbie: Can you tell me a little about your background before starting at the Coalition?

Sara: I’m from a very tiny town in West Virginia, there’s only one stop sign and 300 people. I went to Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia where I graduated with a BA in History in 2007. I moved to Houston in August 2007 through a volunteer program with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. It’s similar to AmeriCorps but with a spiritual twist to it. I applied to the southern region with hopes of getting placed in New Orleans originally. But when I got the placement list, an opportunity with Bering Omega Community Services (an HIV/AIDS service organization) in Houston spoke to me. So that’s where I ended up applying to and that’s how I ended up here!

Abbie: What is your role at the Coalition and what does the day-to-day look like for you?

Sara: I am the Senior Manager of External Affairs and Special Projects. Basically if it has to do with communications it runs through me and my team. Anything from external communication with partner agencies or the public, to internal communications and things like the website, newsletters, media inquiries, messaging, etc. The unique thing about my current position is the special projects part. When I first joined this organization, my role was two-fold as I was special assistant to the CEO, so part of my job then was communications and part was office administration. We realized we really needed two people for those jobs, so I shifted more to communications and we hired someone to help with office management. Now; however, I am back to helping on the administration side again in a different capacity, working on office operations, implementing systems, and making the office run more efficiently and effectively.

I really enjoy my job because it always keeps me busy and is challenging. I can utilize my creative side and have fun with the communications part of it. And I can also utilize my analytical side and be really logical with the special projects part. It’s nice to be able to feed both of those desires and you don’t always get that in a job.

Abbie: So what made you go into this line of work?

Sara: Honestly, my time spent at Wheeling Jesuit University made me realize I wanted more than just a job that paid the bills. They really focused on educating students for life. It was more than just an academic education because you learned how to be a person for other people. I wanted to do something I could be proud of, where I could look back and say I have tried to make this world a better place. And now I have been working in nonprofits for over 11 years.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing about working for the Coalition is?

Sara: I think my favorite thing, and it’s something I’ve been impressed by since I got here, is that no day is ever the same. I’m never bored here. And I don’t think I will ever get the chance to work at a place like this again. What we’ve accomplished as a community and the Coalition’s role in that is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. Going from a system that was so segmented and broken, to where we are today is incredible. We all work together collaboratively now, with no challenge every being too big. We tackle some really complex issues and it’s been really cool to be a part of that transformation!

Abbie: What has been your favorite project to-date?

Sara: I would have to say being a part of creating both the original Action Plan for The Way Home and the new Action Plan update. I probably wouldn’t have named those as my favorites at the time they were being worked on, because they were massive and complex projects, but I am really proud of the finished projects because both of those plans encompass so much of the history and the amount of work we’ve been able to accomplish. That was also my first very large graphic design project and it was a sense of accomplishment having it look as clean and polished as it did at the end.

Abbie: What are your current hobbies outside of work?

Sara: I love to do New York Times crosswords, I do one every day. I also like to knit and crochet, I’m currently working on blanket. I spin in my free time as well and I’m a super huge fan of trashy reality TV. DVR-ing and catching up on my housewives is high on my priority list and helps me escape for just a little bit. I’ve also always been a big reader and re-reader of books; I read my favorite book “East of Eden” once a year, and I’ve read the Harry Potter series through at least 10 times – if not more!

Abbie: What is one fun fact about yourself?

Sara: Honestly, I’m a super huge nerd at heart. Not only was a mathlete from elementary school through high school, I was a die-hard ‘BOOK IT!’ kid through Pizza Hut back in the 1990s. I credit ‘BOOK IT!’ for fueling my love for reading and pizza so much that I now have a pizza tattoo!

Staff Spotlight: Meet James Gonzalez!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By: Abbie Wright, Digital Content Coordinator

James Gonzalez, Senior Project Manager with Coalition for the Homeless, started with the organization in 2016 after working in the homeless system previously. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, James moved to Houston to complete his graduate program in social work from the University of Houston and never turned back.

Abbie: Can you tell me about your role with the Coalition and what it entails?

James: I’m a project manager so my day-to-day is lots of meetings, e-mails and phone calls. What is really nice about my role is that I can stay closely connected with clients in order to figure out what’s happening on a system level. I work a lot with case managers, but also with their supervisors discussing funding issues, staffing issues or even talking about data. My main focus is on Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and Domestic Violence (DV). I don’t lead the work, but I work closely with an agency similar to the Coalition in the DV world called HCDVCC (Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council).

Abbie: What made you want to go into this type of work?

James: I love the social justice aspect of social work. There are so many obstacles people face throughout life and imagine trying to better yourself without having a place to live. It would be impossible. I started at SEARCH Homeless Services, Inc. and was the team lead of a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project. I was also always really interested in the macro-systems work.

Abbie: What kind of projects are you working on right now?

James: Right now I’m working on family RRH, as well as helping DV providers with coordinated access.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing is about working for the Coalition?

James: I’m really just a big nerd so it’s perfect for me. I get access to all of this system data through HMIS and I’m able to facilitate changes with that. I’m also a case manager at heart so being able to work closely with other case managers is really valuable to me.

Abbie: What has been your favorite project to-date?

James: When we are able to get RRH Plus vouchers it’s really meaningful to me. And being able to share that with our RRH and DV teams is so great. There’s not as much subsidy access for those groups because it will usually go to individuals who may be experiencing chronic homelessness. I love being able to help RRH families stabilize and give them a permanent opportunity.

Abbie: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

James: I mean there’s a difference between who I would like it to be versus who it would be. I’d love to see Jake Gyllenhaal play me but lets be real, it’d probably end up being someone like Kevin James.

Abbie: What is a fun fact about yourself?

James: I am truly huge Harry Potter nerd! I’ve read all the books and seen all of the movies. And I am of course a Gryffindor.

Homelessness 101: Person-Centered Language – What is it?

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Imagine you are driving down the street and you happen to see someone standing on the corner, they may appear to be homeless. What is the first thought in your head? How would you describe them in that exact moment? In most cases, someone would say that is a ‘homeless person.’ Instead of creating the automatic bridge between you and that individual, there is a better way to use person-centered language instead.

What is person-centered language? Person-centered language seeks to focus on the person first, and the disability they may experiencing last. That situation or disability does not define who they are. The way we speak or write about someone greatly influences the images and attitudes we form about them, leaving behind a positive or negative impression for others ( Blaska, 1990 ). So instead of saying a homeless person, you would say that is a person or individual who is experiencing homelessness.

“Our society, in general, likes to put people in boxes because that’s how our brain filters it,” said James Gonzalez, Project Manager at the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston. “And when that happens, you lose sight of who that person really is because you are trying to figure out what category they belong in, instead of understanding who they are.”

A lot of the time, someone may think, “This could never be me, I would never end up in this situation,” and because of this mentality, a barrier is created between you and the person on the street corner. But the reality is homelessness could happen to anyone. Sometimes one paycheck can be the deciding factor in whether there is a roof over your head, or not. The more someone is able to distance themselves from the situation, the less likely they will feel like it could actually be them one day. And the more the situation is avoided, the further away we get from changing anything.

Too frequently, we also get lazy. Sometimes person-centered language cause make sentences longer, more time-consuming to create, and harder to articulate. The easy way out is to use shorthand, or slang. We live in a world where technology has taught us to communicate in the shortest, most simple way possible. But what is adding a few more words to address someone who is experiencing homelessness correctly? These individuals are your fellow Houstonians, they’re your neighbors.

Person-centered language doesn’t just apply to someone experiencing homelessness either. It can apply to someone with a disability too. Instead of saying that is a disabled person, you could instead say that is a person who has a disability. The same applies to someone with obesity. That is not an obese person, it is a person who is affected by obesity. If we allow these characteristics to define an individual, all we are doing is dehumanizing them and further adding to the stigma. And although each of these people may be experiencing something completely different, they all have one thing in common: their disability or current situation does not define who they are.

So the next time you come across someone who may appear different than you, who may be struggling with something you don’t necessarily understand, remind yourself that their current situation is not the entirety of who they are. Take one second to remind yourself that at the end of the day, we are all human beings, and there is more to them than what meets the eye.

Hurricane Harvey: One Year Anniversary

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Through both the Residences on Emancipation and Housing For Harvey programs, The Way Home partners were able to prevent homelessness for nearly 1,000 people immediately after Hurricane Harvey. Though the efforts of these homeless service providers may have helped prevent a massive influx of people experiencing homelessness, the disruption to the system was certainly devastating.

According to Marilyn Brown, President/CEO for the Coalition, “While the Housing for Harvey program was extremely successful, the post-Harvey efforts were a major disruption to our regular homeless services and planned work for 2018.” Alvin Migues, Director of Emergency Disaster Services for Salvation Army Texas also added, “Everything went out the window because everyone focused on Harvey, we were working from an emergency operations perspective and not a day-to-day- operations status. We had 5,000 spontaneous volunteers to respond to Harvey. You can imagine the time and effort required to manage those folks.”

In May, the Coalition held a State of Homelessness Breakfast to announce the results from the 2018 Homeless County & Survey . For the first time since 2011 there was an increase in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals on the night of the 2018 Count; the number increased from 1,163 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness on a single night in 2017, to 1,614 on a single night in 2018. 18 percent of the people experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of the Count said that Hurricane Harvey was the cause of their homelessness.

Statewide data from Texas Homeless Network shows more detailed information about Harvey survivors including demographic information and other characteristics. All major cities in Texas had increases in their 2018 Homeless Count numbers, though of course Houston was among the communities to experience the effects more acutely.

Now that the one year anniversary is here, we can look back at our response and the incredible collaboration from partners of The Way Home and appreciate the amazing things that we accomplished. 70 percent (234) of the households enrolled in Housing For Harvey have transitioned out of the program and 88 percent of those that have left have either returned to their living situation prior to the storm, are self-paying for their apartment or have enrolled in another subsidized housing program.

Even with the disruptions and increase to the 2018 Homeless Count numbers, The Way Home has still housed more than 14,500 people in permanent housing since 2012 with an 84% success rate, and overall homelessness is still down 51% from where it was in 2011. Further, the Coalition is leading disaster preparedness workgroups that will take input from partner agencies and help ready communications, resources, and action plans for the next disaster – though we all hope that is a long, long time from now!

Coalition Staff Shares Its Thoughts on National Conference

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT

The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) held its annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. this July. Those attending the conference include funders, researchers, homeless advocates, state and local government leaders, and members of our very own Coalition staff. The conference hosts a variety of workshops where attendees can make their own agenda based on their interests, from learning best practices to sharing ideas and creating valuable relationships with new contacts. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with policymakers on the last day of the conference, known as Capitol Hill Day.

When asked about their own personal experiences at the conference, this is what members of our staff had to say:

“I thought Capitol Hill Day was a huge success. It was great getting to meet Beto O’Rourke. Cory Booker was a lively and inspirational speaker during the plenary. I really liked the session that discussed upcoming changes to the LSA [Longitudinal System Analysis] which will be the new reporting tool replacing the AHAR [Annual Homelessness Assessment Report].” – Ana Rausch, Senior Research Project Manager

“It was a great week of learning more about the thought process behind some changes HUD [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] is implementing. It’s always an enlightening experience, mostly seeing where we are compared to other communities in the nation. Most notably, it’s always an intriguing session during the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) season where we hear firsthand the intention behind some of the changes implemented. I was interested in learning more about the Joint TH-PH/RRH Program Component , and the panel discussing the challenges and benefits to this program was certainly thought provoking on ways we could implement a similar program for our own CoC.” – Concetta Scerbo, Project Manager

“I enjoyed the audience feedback during the sessions in which I presented and was honored to have been asked to be part of a lunch plenary panel on family RRH [Rapid Re-housing]. The day after the conference, I welcomed the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic of racial equity in our system planning process during the A Way Home America (national initiative to prevent and end youth homelessness) Steering Committee day-long meeting.” – Eva Thibaudeau, Vice President of Programs

“I had a great dinner with Connections Project Team and Heartland Alliance. I was able to present with Eva in a lively, well-attended session on collaborating with the public workforce. I also thought we had a Fantastic Capitol Hill Day with three face-to-face visits including U.S. Representatives Al Green and Pete Olson, and U.S. Representative and 2018 Senate Candidate, Beto O’Rourke.” – Gary Grier, Senior Project Manager

“I had some great conversations with providers about what their RRH programs are like and how they structure them. I also had the opportunity to meet Beto O’Rourke, which was an awesome experience for me. After hearing about how providers [across the U.S.] struggle with their housing authorities, it reminded me how lucky we are to have a housing authority that is so bought into our homeless system. On the other hand, I heard from a few communities that are excelling in areas where we are struggling- like with increasing income, shared housing, collaboration with other mainstream services, and that gave me valuable insight.” – James Gonzalez, Project Manager

“The Conference provided a diversity of choices in their workshops for “best practices” that gave me a lot of invaluable information and great contacts for resources for the work I am doing as a Regional Project Manager. One of my personal highlights was hearing Cory Booker speak these challenging words: “Ending homelessness is not some crazy dream. We have the tools and capacity to end homelessness in America. It’s not a matter of can we. It’s a matter of do we have the collective will.” – Nancy Heintz, Project Manager for Montgomery County

“The 2018 National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, DC was only my second NAEH conference. I continue to be impressed with the conference, both in the number and variety of sessions and workshops that are offered and its ability to bring together people from all over the United States – and the world! – who are all working toward the same goal: ending homelessness. It’s inspiring to know that there are so many of us out there, and so beneficial to be able to learn from one another. I was also delighted to be able to participate in Capitol Hill Day activities. Our face-to-face meeting with Representative Beto O’Rourke was amazing. As someone who is personally very politically active, the ability to communicate directly with elected representatives about The Way Home ’s successes and how they can ensure that our valuable work continues was incredibly powerful.” – Sara Brown, Senior Manager of External Affairs and Special Projects

Homelessness 101: What do all the numbers mean?

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Data plays an integral part of the day-to-day operations at the Coalition for the Homeless and drives our decision making activities as lead agency to The Way Home . The Coalition also manages the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). HMIS is a database that captures client information over time on the characteristics of and services used by individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Data is entered into HMIS by direct service providers and is used by those same agencies to generate reports about services and number of clients served; the Coalition uses HMIS to produce system wide reports and analysis about our performance as a community.

Because of all of this data collection, there are a lot of different counts and numbers that the Coalition uses and releases – but what do they all mean?

In particular, there are two different counts shown on our website. One of those numbers is the annual Homeless Count & Survey total, which is a “snapshot” of the homeless population in the Houston region on a given night. The other number is an annual number that shows how many people use homeless or homeless-related services over the course of a year. These two counts are very different and are used to tell us unique information.

Homeless Count & Survey

The annual Homeless Count & Survey is coordinated by the Coalition every January and tells us how many people are experiencing literal homelessness on a single night, whether that is in an emergency shelter or somewhere not meant for human habitation. Hundreds of staff members from partner agencies of The Way Home canvass across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties, looking for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness; while emergency shelters submit their information on sheltered individuals through HMIS.

In 2018, the total number of people experiencing literal homelessness on a single night was 4,143 across our three-county geography. We know that this number is not perfect – we might be missing some people in our count, or we could be over-counting. However, we collect our Homeless Count data in the same way, at the same time each year, and allows us to compare the data from year-to-year and look at trends over time. Homeless Count data can answer questions like, “Is our overall homeless population decreasing?” or “Are we still at steady state regarding Veteran homelessness?”

The Annual Count

The larger number on our website is an annual count and shows how many unique individuals access a homeless or related service over the course of a year. In 2017, 37,246 people accessed some type of homeless or homeless-related service according to our HMIS. These services could have been anything from permanent housing and case management to food pantry services or job training.

This does not necessarily mean that all 37,000 people experienced literal homelessness in 2017, though some of them were and were entered in HMIS as receiving street outreach services or emergency shelter stays. Some of those individuals may have received homeless prevention services such as emergency rental assistance. Also, people who are enrolled in Permanent Supportive Housing through The Way Home may receive regular services like case management or healthcare visits for the rest of their lives.

This annual number is really important since it shows us not just literal homelessness, but also how many people might find themselves facing housing or economic uncertainty in a given year. Also, the total number of individuals accessing homeless services increased from 2016 to 2017, and this trend will most likely continue as more programs and services continue to become available in our community.

The Coalition believes in using data to drive our decisions when it comes to solving homelessness in the Houston region. We hope this educational blog post has helped clarify the differences between two of our most well-known counts! Visit the Local Data and Research section of our website for more information.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Renee Cavazos!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By: Abbie Wright, Digital Content Coordinator

Renee Cavazos, Development Coordinator with the Coalition for the Homeless, has been with the organization since September 2016. Originally from Round Rock, TX, Renee went to Texas State University where she studied Mass Communications.

Abbie: Can you tell me about your role and what it entails?

Renee: I serve as Development Coordinator for the Coalition. My role includes engaging new donor audiences and growing relationships with current donor audiences for the Coalition.

A: What made you decide to go into this type of work?

R: I always think back to my “why” statement; why do I do what I do? It’s really a calling of being able to give back while still using valuable business skills. It’s also great to know that I am making a difference in my local community.

A: What kind of project(s) are you working on right now?

R: One project that I am always working on is the Welcome Home Fund. Through the Welcome Home Fund, we provide move-in essentials to people moving into their first housing unit through The Way Home. This fund gives community members a way to relate to people and families experiencing homelessness by seeing their faces and hearing their stories. I think it’s very eyeopening to some people, and reminds them that those experiencing homelessness are not that different from them.

A: What would you say your favorite thing is about working for the Coalition?

R: My favorite thing would have to be making connections and being able to network with a wide variety of different people. I also like being able to see the impact that we are all making on a daily basis.

A: What has been your favorite project or event to-date?

R: As challenging as that time was, I really loved working with the Housing For Harvey program. It was so humbling to see everyone come together in such a short time frame. There were so many people, our very own staff included, who stepped up in big ways – even if they had been directly impacted by the storm.

A: What animal would you be and why?

R: I think I would have to be a tiger. Tigers have a good awareness of their surroundings. They also run in packs and I feel like I have always been a team player. I think I would fit in well with a pack of tigers.

A: What’s a fun fact about you that most people might not know?

R: I have won an all-boys fantasy football league for going on three years in a row now!

Staff Spotlight: Meet Ana Rausch!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By: Abbie Wright, Digital Content Coordinator

Ana Rausch, Senior Research Project Manager with the Coalition for the Homeless, has been with the organization for five years. Originally from Belém, Brazil, Ana was seven years old when she moved to Houston with her mom and brother. Ana attended the University of Houston where she studied psychology and has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years.

Abbie: Can you tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

Ana: As the Senior Research Project Manager, I oversee the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) department which includes things like making sure users are being helped as needed, data is being put in accurately, and tracking data to find trends in what we are doing. I also implemented and now manage The Way Home’s Coordinated Access system and lead the planning for the annual Homeless Count & Survey.

Abbie: What made you decide to go into this type of work?

Ana: I started in social services and then became more interested in homeless issues because it’s so hard to comprehend the complexity of it sometimes – trying to understand what happens and why someone becomes homeless. And I’ve always been interested in data and used it often in grant writing. Data can be really useful to tell a story.

Abbie: What kind of projects are you working on right now?

Ana: I am consistently working on ending chronic homelessness and am doing case consultations to make sure people aren’t falling through the cracks. I’m also leading the work to revise The Way Home’s vulnerability measurement tool, which assesses an individual or family experiencing homelessness and matches them to the best permanent housing program to end their homelessness. I lead that work with different workgroups made up of partner agency staff members, and our next step will be to pilot that tool.

Abbie: What would you say your favorite thing about the Coalition is?

Ana: I would have to say the partners and the people I work with. It is so great to be able to work closely with our partners and I’m proud of the fact that they trust the Coalition enough to know that we know what we are doing. I also really love interpreting HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) regulations and being able to share that knowledge with others.

Abbie: What has been your favorite event/project to-date?

Ana: I have loved seeing The Way Home’s housing waitlist continue to go down. It is a proud feeling to see people get housed. I also love technology and am really proud that I was able to change our methodology for the Homeless Count from being done on paper to a digital format using new technology.

Abbie: What are your hobbies outside of work?

Ana: I really love running and have done a lot of 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, and full marathons. I am also a Disney fanatic! I have done multiple Disney marathons and challenges. We are part of the Disney Vacation Club and go about twice a year. Besides running, I am a huge book worm. I am always reading a new book – right now, it’s “Shelter in Place,” by Nora Roberts.

Abbie: What is a fun fact about yourself?

Ana: I speak fluent Portuguese and speak it at home. My two kids are fluent in three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I also love big dogs! We have two at home: one is a Great Dane named Latté, and the other is a German Shepherd named Dexter.

High School “Hurricane Relief Project” Brings Donation to Houston

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 05:00:00 GMT

In May, the Coalition for the Homeless was contacted by Mr. Brian McDonald, a teacher at Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, NC. Mr. McDonald explained that his “Poverty in America” course helped students understand the history, causes, and effects of poverty and how poverty impacts various groups in American society.

Due to the significant impact Hurricane Harvey made in the Houston area, the Poverty in America class decided to make a difference through a “Hurricane Relief Project.”

The students worked together to research organizations making a difference in areas that have been affected by natural disasters such as Florida, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Each student was required to submit a proposal on behalf of the organization they researched. The students then used this research to lobby for the organization they represented to be the winning proposal. To our benefit, the Coalition for the Homeless was named as one of the agencies to receive a donation raised by the students and faculty.

The students recognized the incredible impact Harvey made to our homeless system. During our recent State of Homelessness breakfast , the Coalition revealed the 2018 Homeless Count & Survey results which showed an increase for the first time since 2011. The majority of the increase was seen in the unsheltered homeless population; 18% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed on the night of the Homeless Count reported that their homelessness was due to Hurricane Harvey.

“Hurricane Harvey was a major disruption to the work of The Way Home, both in terms of diverting resources and contributing to the increase in unsheltered homelessness,” said Marilyn Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition. “In just 41 days, partners of The Way Home shifted resources to successfully prevent homelessness for nearly 1,000 people who had nowhere to go after the storm. But this had a huge impact on the homeless programs already in place and was a devastating distraction from our planned work in 2018.”

The Coalition is honored to be chosen as one of the recipients of the ’2018 “Poverty in America” Donation Project.’ Thank you to the students of Charles E. Jordan High School for your support!

State of Homelessness Event Looks to the Future of Homelessness in Houston Region

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 05:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless held a State of Homelessness breakfast event at the Junior League of Houston on May 23. The event featured a panel discussion as well as the results of the 2018 Homeless Count & Survey.

Nearly 100 community stakeholders from partner agencies of The Way Home , local government agencies, and the business and philanthropic community attended the event, eager to learn more about the future of The Way Home, the region’s homeless response system. Panelists at the event included Marilyn Brown (President/CEO, Coalition for the Homeless), Robert Pulster (Regional Coordinator, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness), and Eva Thibaudeau, LMSW (Vice President of Programs, Coalition).

The panel, moderated by Kaitlin Monte (Fox 26), began with a look back on the work of The Way Home, including successes to-date. Thibaudeau spoke to the incredible collaboration of the local homeless service nonprofits – may of whom attended the event – and how their willingness to think outside the box led to many of our community’s successes. Pulster reminded those in the room that, although homelessness in Houston can feel overwhelming, Houston has led and continues to lead the nation on solving homelessness through innovative partnerships and an incredible “yes” culture.

Brown revealed the 2018 Homeless Count & Survey results which showed an increase for the first time since 2011. The majority of the increase was seen in the unsheltered homeless population, and 18% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed during the Count reported that their homelessness was due to Hurricane Harvey.

“Hurricane Harvey was a major disrupter to the work of The Way Home, both in terms of diverting resources and contributing to the increase in unsheltered homelessness,” said Brown. “In just 41 days, partners of The Way Home shifted resources to successfully prevent homelessness for nearly 1,000 people who had nowhere to go after the storm. But it was a major disruption to the homeless programs already in place and a devastating distraction from our planned work in 2018.”

With an eye to the future, Pulster shared insights about an anticipated update to the federal plan on ending homelessness and what that might mean for the Houston area. Our region can expect that individuals experiencing non-chronic homelessness will be one subpopulation of focus in the future. Brown and Thibaudeau reiterated the importance that all of the partners in this work need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue to come to the table to end homelessness.

“We’ve proven that we have a greater impact when our voices are united, when we’re at the table together, and when we are working together toward our common goals,” said Brown.

The Coalition also announced the launch of The Way Home’s new Facebook page at the event. As lead agency to The Way Home, the Coalition will manage this new social media channel as a collective space where partners can share and post their success stories and how their organizations and staff are committing to the work to end homelessness through #2020AndBeyond! For more information about engaging on this new channel, visit our digital toolkit: https://bit.ly/TWHToolkit .

A Home After Harvey

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By Sara Brown and Abbie Wright

Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017, leaving thousands in disaster shelters and impacting those individuals who were already experiencing homelessness. Mr. Goode* had been living in a disaster recovery shelter for nearly a month before he began working with the Housing For Harvey program.

Housing For Harvey was created in only a few short weeks after the storm by the Coalition for the Homeless, local governments, federal agencies (such as the US Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] and the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]), and the American Red Cross. Partner agencies of The Way Home helped implement the program over two months following Hurricane Harvey by housing vulnerable people out of disaster shelters and preventing homelessness for nearly 1,000 individuals and families.

Before Hurricane Harvey hit, Mr. Goode and his two young sons had been living with friends and family. Relationships had deteriorated after the storm which made going back to that living situation impossible. Mr. Goode had also been looking for work before the storm, but he had a chronic health condition that limited his options. Looking for a job while living in the disaster shelter was made even more difficult because he struggled to find childcare for his sons within the shelter.

Once he met with the Housing For Harvey team, housing navigators were able to get Mr. Goode enrolled in the program and quickly helped him submit an application for an apartment unit. When he and his sons came back to check on their application status the following day, the team was able to tell him the application was approved and that he and his family could probably move into the unit the same day.

His sons realized that the news was good news and started jumping up and down, screaming, “We have a home?! We have our own home?! I get to have my own bed?!” and there wasn’t a dry eye among any of the team members.

Mr. Goode had planned to keep looking for work once he moved into his new unit, so he could get back on his feet after Harvey – and he did. Before his 6 months of rental assistance was up, Mr. Goode had found employment and was able to renew his lease for 12 months and is continuing to pay his rent on his own!

* indicates name changed

Staff Perspectives: Conferences Do More Than Teach – They Inspire

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT

By Sara Brown

A few weeks ago I attended the National Alliance on Ending Homelessness ’ (NAEH) Annual Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness in Los Angeles, California. Though the Coalition sends staff to attend and present at both NAEH conferences each year, this was my first time attending and I was overwhelmed seeing the vast number of homeless providers from all over the country, together in the same hotel, to share information, resources, and expertise on how to end homelessness.

While at the conference, I began to think about my time at the Coalition and the fact that I’ve been able to be an observer and participant in the amazing work to solve homelessness in the Houston area. Through The Way Home , the collaborative effort to prevent and end homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties, our community has figured out that permanent housing programs (like Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing) are the programmatic solutions to homelessness; however, we wouldn’t have been able to implement those programs without a very special something else.

I’d like to suggest that, if permanent housing programs are the key to solving homelessness, then collaboration is the machine that cuts the key.

This may seem like a clunky analogy, but bear with me.

In 2011, homeless service providers in Houston were working in a pretty isolated manner and not really coordinating their services with one another. Because of this, local organizations were helping people manage their homelessness day-to-day, but they weren’t helping them end their homelessness. This de-centralization also made it really confusing for homeless people and harder for them to get help. Often, they were referred from one agency to another until they finally found the one that could actually help them with their specific needs.

The result of this disconnection of services was that by 2012, we had the 6th largest homeless population in the nation, and you could expect to find more than 7,100 homeless people on a given night in our community – most of them living on the streets.

In 2012, homeless service partners, local governments, and other stakeholders came together through The Way Home to share information, work collaboratively, and transform the way we serve homeless individuals and families in our region. The partnerships that we have made (and continue to make) have spurred innovation, reduced red tape, and allowed our community to serve an increasingly larger number of homeless households in a very efficient and effective way.

This has led to some pretty incredible successes! Since 2011, there has been a 60% decrease in homelessness. Partners of The Way Home have housed more than 11,000 people since 2012, and when we check in with those people at the two-year mark, about 90% of them are still housed.

Absolutely none of this would have been possible if we hadn’t come together to break down our organizational walls and change the way we work – both as individual organizations and as a system.

I think it’s only natural that my time at the NAEH conference made me think about the progress we’ve seen in Houston. But there’s always a flip side. The conference also reminded me that we still have some things to figure out: panel discussions about encampments, presentations on the role that mental healthcare plays in solving homelessness, and workshops on ending homelessness for youth and young adults also reminded me that we still have work to do here at home.

But back to the positive! There’s the networking. The brainstorming with new friends from all over the United States – and even the world! The emailing and phone calling that happens in the weeks and months after the conference. It’s all so invigorating.

Knowing that, literally, thousands of people across the country are working tirelessly, day after day, just like all of us here in Houston, gives me hope and propels the partners of The Way Home toward our goal that no one has to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days.

Sister City Visits Houston, Supports the Coalition After Harvey

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT

On February 16, the Coalition for the Homeless was part of a Sister City tour of Houston with a delegation from Leipzig, Germany. Leipzig and Houston have been sister cities for 25 years, and much like Houston to the United States, Leipzig plays a leading role in Germany through a thriving technological research industry and its appreciation of the arts.

The Coalition was first approached by Leipzig during our work on the Housing For Harvey program. The City of Leipzig and its Sister City Committee saw the devastation done to Houston and reached out to local agencies about our city’s immediate needs and ways they could help.

The Coalition was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of funds raised from a concert that took place at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Donations received from the concert surpassed €26,000 (that’s more than $32,000!), showing us that even though they were an ocean away, our global connection still made a difference in a time of need.

There were 25 members of the delegation from Leipzig, including Mr. Thomas H. Meister, the Consular General of Germany in Houston. Our President/CEO Marilyn Brown presented to our Sister City travelers about the work of the Coalition, followed by a brief Q&A that allowed the travelers to ask questions about how their donation was being used and ways we could partner in the future.

We are so thankful for the support of our Sister City and look forward to strengthening our bond with them. Though we hope the need will never arise, we know that Houston will always be there should Leipzig ever need our assistance.

We want to give a special thanks to the Board of the Sister City Organization, Beverly Davis, Lutheran Disaster Response of America, the German Consulate in Houston, and the entire City of Leipzig for their unwavering generosity and belief in the work that we do.

Winter Storm Shelter Updates

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 06:00:00 GMT

If you are looking for updates related to the 2021 Winter Storm, click here .

Updated 1/17/2018, 8:30 am

The Coalition for the Homeless has received information on the following warming centers being opened in the midst of the winter storm. We will update this list as more information becomes available.

Bread of Life – 1703 Gray Street, Houston, TX 77003
South Main Baptist Church – 4100 South Main, Houston, TX 77002
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church – 2801 Conti Street, Houston, TX 77020
Sobering Center – 150 N Chenevert Street, Houston, TX 77002

In addition to these warming centers, local emergency shelters are open and accepting anyone who wants to get inside from the inclement weather. Click here to view the Street Guide with shelter information.

Partners of The Way Home can send information for updates to smartinez@homelesshouston.org .

Hurricane Harvey: #HousingForHarvey

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 06:00:00 GMT

As waters began to recede and disaster shelters began to close and consolidate, those who had been displaced by the storm began to wonder where they would go to next. The answer for many of those households was the Housing For Harvey program. Families enrolled in Housing For Harvey would receive rental assistance for six months as well as case management support to help them transition either to self-sufficiency or another, longer-term rental assistance program.

On September 7, the call went out to area property managers from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Apartment Association , asking for any available units that might be earmarked for people still residing in disaster recovery shelters. In just a few days, more than 100 properties had offered up available units, and by the end of October, Housing For Harvey had secured more than 700 units for the program – an incredible feat in an increasingly tight rental market.

The first step for landlords was to attend a briefing where they could learn more about the program requirements and the process of dedicating units. Because many displaced families had lost employment in the aftermath of the storm, landlords were asked to offer an all-bills-paid rental rate and to waive income requirements.

As units began to come in, partners of The Way Home began to assess individuals and families at disaster shelters. These assessments were used so families with minor children could be prioritized for housing, and to determine whether some individuals were able to live independently. Once the program was up and running, families were enrolled in the Housing For Harvey program, picked their apartment unit from a map of available properties, and then submitted their application for the unit. Landlords were incredibly understanding of the urgency, and were typically able to process applications and background checks in the same day.

Once a household was approved for the unit, the move-out process could begin! Families would begin to gather their personal belongings and begin the Red Cross’ exit interview process, making sure they received information about any and all assistance they may have been eligible for. When households were ready to physically leave the shelter, AmeriCorps volunteers arranged for transportation – typically with Lyft or Uber – and then they signed in, received their keys, and moved into their units.

Every time a household moved out of disaster shelter, an order was placed so furniture, a Welcome Basket full of home goods, and a pantry box from the Houston Food Bank could be delivered to the family within 24 hours. Exclusive Furniture was an incredible partner in this part of the move-out/move-in process and ensured that items were delivered within the time frame.

By the time the last disaster recovery shelter closed on October 27, 2017, more than 350 people had moved into their own apartment unit through the Housing For Harvey program. After that would come the intensive case management and continued recovery.

Click here to access a City of Houston after action report on the Housing For Harvey program.

Hurricane Harvey: During the Storm

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

August 28th, 2017 brought the first day of rainfall from Hurricane Harvey, a storm that would come to be known as one of the costliest hurricanes on record, causing catastrophic flooding and over $120 billion in damage in southeast Texas.

On the days leading up to the storm, The Way Home partners played a vital role in trying to keep those experiencing homelessness in the Houston region safe and dry. Street outreach teams from different homeless service providers worked together to move as many unsheltered individuals into shelters as they could. Local homeless emergency shelters would also operate at more than 150 percent capacity during this time to make sure no one was turned away and would continue to do so for months after the storm.

Salvation Army of Greater Houston was one organization that had shelters who would not refuse anyone in the wake of the storm. According to Alvin Migues, Director of Emergency Disaster Services of Salvation Army Texas, “We are in a continual process of preparation and work closely with the City of Houston, Harris County and Texas Office of Emergency Management year-round and leading up to a known event such as Hurricane Harvey. Once we knew that Hurricane Harvey was headed our direction, we immediately moved assets down range to be in place to respond as quickly as possible.”

During and immediately after the storm, the Coalition for the Homeless launched a blog that helped broadcast important information about emergency and disaster shelters, partner agency information, and other important updates on the disaster and available resources. Also, because of The Way Home’s expertise in housing, the Coalition as lead agency was called to the disaster shelter at the George R. Brown Convention center where staff members began to figure out how to gather information on those living in disaster shelters as well as how to help them exit the disaster shelters.

Simtech Solutions, Inc. reached out to the Coalition, offering to donate their services in the aftermath of Harvey. Given their area of expertise, the company developed an app that The Way Home partner agency staff members were able to use to do basic assessments on those living in disaster shelters and figure out important characteristics like household size and whether they were immediately eligible for FEMA assistance.

From assessments conducted at the shelters, staff were able to figure out that a lot of the people remaining in the disaster shelters for weeks – and even months – after the storm had likely been living with friends or family prior the storm. This meant that their names were not on leases or mortgages, making them ineligible to receive FEMA benefits. Without those benefits they lacked the ability to leave disaster shelters on their own. As a result, two housing assistance programs were created.

New Hope Housing, Inc. responded to the disaster by very quickly establishing Residences on Emancipation, a dormitory-style temporary housing program for individuals that was located at the old Star of Hope Women and Family shelter. They were able to use their 24-year history of managing housing for vulnerable populations and adapt that model for short-term housing assistance. Guests would come from disaster shelters to Residents on Emancipation where there were over 290 beds available within 74 different units, with shared common spaces including of a full-service kitchen, clinic, and laundry facilities. After arrival, guests were assessed and connected with supportive social services with goal of eventually being able to transition into permanent housing.

At the same time, the Coalition for the Homeless collaborated with local governments, federal agencies, and the American Red Cross to create an alternate assistance program called Housing For Harvey, a program for families and individuals for whom Residences on Emancipation wasn’t a good fit.

Hurricane Harvey: After Harvey

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Hurricane Harvey was an unprecedented storm with monumental impacts on Southeast Texas. The greater Houston area saw at least 51 inches of rain which flooded hundreds of thousands of families from their homes.

As the storm bore down upon our region, the Coalition for the Homeless began reaching out to other partners of The Way Home , the local homeless response system, to get accurate information on shelter and other services, and provide updates as frequently as possible via our website.

Please visit the blog posts linked below to learn more about the Coalition and Hurricane Harvey:

Hurricane Harvey: Thank You to Our Donors

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT

To our donors around the world – how can we ever say “thank you” enough?

The Coalition was picked up by several national media outlets as a reputable, local organization where people from around the country, and it turns out, from around the world, could make donations, and the outpouring of support was monumental and incredibly heartwarming. Thousands of individuals, foundations, and companies donated more than $1.2 million to the Coalition. While we wish we had the time and room on our site to list each and every donor, you can view a list of donors below who gave $1,000 or more to support our work after Hurricane Harvey.

Your donations have allowed us to provide furniture, home goods, and rental assistance to those placed in apartments through the Housing For Harvey program. Also, the landscape in Houston continues to change – we expect that this will be the case for months, if not years. The Coalition promises to continue to work with local partners to identify gaps in services and the needs of homeless individuals in our community, and to provide whatever support they need.

Hurricane Harvey Donor List, $1,000 and above:*

ActBlue Charities

American Red Cross

Katherine Armstrong

Richard and Eileen Bazelon

Sarah Bell

Ellen Boscov

Community Solutions

Jeremy deVine

Anita Dodia

Eccovia Solutions

Peter Elsbach

Encap Investments LP

Lee Fisher-Rosenberg

James N. Fowler

Stephen and Lynda Fox

Alex Gellman

Glencore LTD

Global Giving – Harvey Relief Fund

Goodwin

Elyse M. Grasso

Greater Houston Community Foundation/Hurricane Harvey Fund

Frank Gruber

Linda Hacker

Kimberly Hancock

Douglas L. Handy

Elisabeth Hershey

Carol Hood

William M. Hurt

J. Michel Guite Family Foundation

James and Jane Welch Foundation

Sue S. Jaques

Jeffries LLC

Kadamus Charitable Fund

Scott Kazmir

Clay K. Kirk

Charles Kleinberg

Sarah Laibstain

Matthew Lambiase

Leeann & Steven Vanamburgh Foundation

Casey Lipscomb

Martha D. Lyon

Jeremy Nail

Carol Parker

Christopher Parker

PPG Architectural Coatings

Bonny Price

PTC Inc.

Sandie Rodda

Rachel Rodriguez

Sam Rosenberg

Brian M. Sauer

Schultz Family Foundation

Noah Segal

ServPro

Farvah Shah

Gregory Silbert

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Joanne Smith

St. Thomas Church/City of Leipzig/Lutheran Disaster Response (US)

Joy Stein

Tampico Beverages, Inc.

Telecare Corporation

Sunil and Kristin

The Annenberg Foundation

The Bertram and Raquel Lewitt Fund, California Community Foundation

The Bradley Fund

The Charles Englehard Foundation

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Inc.

The EOS Foundation Trust

The Morrison & Foerster Foundation

Joshua Udoetuk

Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC

Gary and Kim Warren

Weil, Fotshal & Manges Foundation, Inc.

Wieden+Kennedy

Tracie Williams

*We apologize for any errors in spelling or omissions. If you see an error or omission, please send an email to Sara Martinez at smartinez@homelesshouston.org .

Hurricane Harvey

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 02:13:08 GMT

In the time since Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas, the Coalition for the Homeless has been on the ground at local disaster recovery shelters, seven days a week, working to help homeless individuals impacted by the storm:

In response to Hurricane Harvey, The Way Home, under leadership by the Coalition for the Homeless, has created a disaster recovery shelter transition housing program to help individuals and families displaced by the storm get into housing and on the road to recovery. Many of the people remaining in disaster recovery shelters at this time are not immediately eligible for FEMA assistance and do not have a home to return to.
The Coalition has also been working with partners of The Way Home to ensure that services for homeless individuals are available throughout the community so their needs can be met.
Some families who were housed through The Way Home were displaced by Hurricane Harvey. We are incredibly thankful that only a small number of formerly homeless households were impacted. The Coalition is working with those families and their case managers every step of the way to help them get back into housing – whether it is searching for a new apartment unit, or helping with one-time financial assistance.

At the same time, all of the work of housing homeless individuals that was happening before the storm continues today. Coordinated Access assessors and navigators are still working hard to connect homeless individuals with a permanent housing option!

From August 26 – September 8, the Coalition received more than $400,000 from thousands of generous donors across the United States. We remain overwhelmed by the generosity and outpouring of support for our work. Donations we received will be used to meet the immediate needs of homeless households impacted by Hurricane Harvey, whether it is one-time financial assistance, furniture for new units, we are here to ensure that the most vulnerable among us get back on their feet after this catastrophic event. Your contributions will allow us to make this a reality.

If you know someone who is homeless and needs assistance, visit our Resources webpage for more information.

Hawaii Delegation Visits Houston to Learn from “Exemplary” Homeless Response System

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT

On May 16 and 17, a delegation from Hawaii visited Houston to meet with the Coalition for the Homeless and other partners of The Way Home to learn more about effective leadership strategies in the effort to solve homelessness.

Last year Hawaii declared a state of emergency around homelessness according to the National Governors Association (NGA), which has been providing Technical Assistance to Hawaii. Although that status has been lifted, the state is still working to revamp its homeless response system.

The group from Hawaii included Marc Alexander (City and County of Honolulu, Office of Housing), Brandee Menino (Hope Services Hawaii, Inc.), Scott Morishige (office of the Governor, Hawaii), and Natalie Okeson (Phocused). Flora Arabo and Akeiisa Coleman, Senior Policy Analysts with the NGA also traveled with the delegation. When the group was asked about what they hoped to learn, Brandee Menino (CEO, Hope Services Hawaii) shared that she wanted to learn more from the Coalition about governance, sustainability, and a better way to build capacity for the homeless service providers in Hawaii.

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as lead agency for The Way Home , the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Pasadena, Conroe; and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. Comprising more than 100 partners from the nonprofit, government, and private sectors, The Way Home is leading the nation in reducing homelessness through a Housing First approach: placing homeless individuals and families into permanent housing as quickly as possible and then providing them with the supportive services they need to remain stably housed.

The Coalition provides leadership to The Way Home by providing staffing for workgroup and other committee meetings, working on coordination and implementation of programs and services, acting as the collaborative applicant for the annual Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, and by facilitating trainings, education, and Technical Assistance for direct service providers so they can increase their capacity and serve more homeless individuals in the most effective way possible.

In the Houston area, The Way Home is the local CoC. Throughout the United States, CoCs are often regional and centered around major metropolitan areas. Rural areas of each state are consolidated into what are known as “Balance of State CoCs.” The state of Hawaii has to CoCs: Partners in Care , which is the alliance leading Oahu’s CoC; and Bridging the Gap, which provides leadership to the rural counties and small islands.

On the first afternoon of the trip, the group toured two local Permanent Supportive Housing sites: New Hope Housing 's Canal Street Apartments, and The Women’s Home 's Adele and Ber Piper Family Place. While there, the group learned more about what goes into running a successful housing program Staff from both organizations shared information on a broad range of topics, from the planning and building process to daily operations and supporting success in permanent housing.

The second day focused on panel discussions with Coalition staff, members of The Way Home’s Steering Committee , and partner organizations including: City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department , CSH , Harris County Community Services Department , and more.

NGA , which funded this trip as part of their Technical Assistance, shared, “Houston is considered a model homeless response system across the country; with strong data systems and governance, as well as systems that spend dollars as effectively as possible. The NGA funded this trip to Houston so key team members from Hawaii could meet their Houston counterparts and get a hands-on look at how to operate an exemplary Continuum of Care.”

The work that the Coalition for the Homeless has led and worked on with more than 100 local partners has been incredibly successful. Sharing best practices with other regions like Hawaii can help solve homelessness not just locally but across the country – which is the ultimate goal.

2017 Homeless Count Shows Continued Decrease in Homelessness

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 25 May 2017 05:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless as lead agency to The Way Home conducted the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count & Survey on January 23 of this year. This year’s results show a continued six-year trend in reducing homelessness, marking a 60% cumulative reduction since 2011. Data from the survey is also used by The Way Home to gauge the progress and effectiveness of the local homeless response system.

In previous years, the Homeless Count & Survey encompassed Houston, Pasadena, Harris County, and Fort Bend County. In July 2016, Conroe and Montgomery County joined The Way Home, and the 2017 Count & Survey was conducted in that region for the first time this January.

“The Way Home partners have been focused on permanent housing with supportive services as they key to solving homelessness, and the 2017 Count results show that this strategy is working,” said Marilyn Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless. “Since the system transformation work of The Way Home began in 2012, we have seen the number of unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals continue to shrink. This shows that our focus on ending chronic homelessness is working. With the support of local partners, The Way Home is committed to ending chronic homelessness and continuing down the path to creating a system where no one has to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days.”

On the night of January 23, there were 3,412* total sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County; compared to 8,538 identified in 2011. Additional highlights from the Count results in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County include:

The number of unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals has decreased by 20% since 2016 – from 354 individuals to 282 individuals; and by 82% since 2011, when the number of unsheltered chronically homeless individuals was 1,591.
75% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2011.
78% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed during the Count became homeless within the Houston city limits.
39% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed had a high school diploma or GED; 21% had some college or a college degree or higher.
25% of unsheltered homeless individuals reported having no income, while 20% reported panhandling for income.

*Montgomery County results are not included in the historical comparisons listed above because 2017 is the first year that The Way Home’s Count methodology was executed in that area.

Montgomery County Results

In July 2016, Conroe and Montgomery County joined The Way Home and as such was included in the 2017 Homeless Count & Survey. On the night of January 23, 2017 there were 149 sheltered homeless individuals and 44 unsheltered homeless individuals in Conroe and Montgomery County. This data will serve as baseline data for future comparisons and to gauge progress toward solving homelessness in that region in years going forward.

Click here to read the press release.

Click here to be linked to the Coalition’s Local Data and Research webpage where you can view the full executive summary from this year’s Count & Survey, as well as a one-page fact sheet.

Getting to know a Coalition staff member: Scot More

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

When Scot More took an internship answering phones with the Coalition for the Homeless, he never imagined that he would still be there nearly 12 years later. More is a Project Manager with the Coalition – or, as he jokes, a “Projects.” In this position, he supports Coordinated Access, The Way Home 's housing process; as well as manages Homeless Court , managed through the City of Houston.

“I help manage the referral process from housing assessment to actual housing,” said More. He makes sure that homeless individuals are connected with case managers and navigators as housing becomes available.

He also manages Homeless Court, and actually assisted with its creation in 2006. Homeless Court is a special Court session for homeless defendants to resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses and warrants within the City of Houston’s Municipal Courts. It is based on the first homeless court program in the nation, created in San Diego in 1989. Homeless Court resolves common issues that prevent homeless individuals from moving into housing and on to self-sufficiency.

More says that though it’s hard to choose, managing Homeless Court is the most rewarding part of his job. “being at the actual homeless court sessions is great,” says More. “I can be there to help calm their fears. And when their tickets are forgiven, the sense of relief you can see on their face… it’s just incredible.”

He also enjoys running into clients he has helped when he is out in the evenings and weekends. “I’ll be running an errand somewhere, and it never fails that someone recognizes me and says, ‘Scot! Scot! I remember you and what you did to help me!’ and that is such a rewarding feeling.”

HMIS: How Do I?…

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 31 May 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Subhead

The Coalition’s HMIS Department receives and resolves hundreds of user submissions in Issue Trak each month. The top 3 issues in April 2016 were:

Duplicate Records
Housing Check-In Issues
Requests for Training

Do you see your issue in the above list? If so, keep scrolling to view some troubleshooting tips that may help you resolve your issue with out Issue Trak and waiting on a response!

Duplicate Records

Please review the following steps to ensure you do not create any duplicate clients in ClientTrack. It is important to be diligent when creating a new client since the people we serve do not always have complete, verifiable demographic information.

Search the system by client Social Security Number
If the client is not found by Social Security Number, search by first and last name using only the first 2-3 letters of each name. For example: when searching for Kelly Mitchell, type “Ke” or “Kel” for the first name, and “Mi” or “Mit” for the last name. This helps catch people who may not have their name spelled correctly in HMIS. You can correct the spelling on the edit client page.
If the client still isn’t found, search by date of birth.
Proceed with enrolling the client only if you cannot locate the client’s information after following steps 1-3.

When you do come across a duplicate record, please let the HMIS team know so they can merge the client records.

Training Requests

Do you or does your staff need HMIS training? Click here for the training calendar and easy online registration! If you have multiple staff members or an entire department who needs HMIS training, email Yvette Fuentes , our HMIS Training Manager about setting up a training at your organization’s office!

HMIS offers the following types of training:

HMIS New User
HOPWA New User & Refresher
Supervisor Support
Emergency Shelter
HMIS Refresher
APR
Reports
Outreach/PATH

Houston Effectively Ends Veteran Homelessness!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Houston Effectively Ends Veteran Homelessness

Becomes Largest City in the Nation to Create System to House any Homeless Veteran

Houston, Texas (June 1, 2015) – Mayor Annise Parker announced that Houston has effectively ended veteran homelessness. Over 35 local agencies collaborated to build a nationally-recognized response system that has housed over 3,650 homeless veterans in just over 3 years, and has the resources to house every homeless veteran (or those at risk of homelessness) in Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Click here to read the full press release from the City of Houston Mayor’s Office.

Quotes from Housing Houston’s Heroes Partner Organizations

Photo Album , courtesy of City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department Facebook

Event Program

Media Coverage

“Houston Recognized for Program that Helps Homeless Vets” , Houston Chronicle
“Mayor Announces End to Veteran Homelessness in Houston” , KPRC Channel 2 News
“Houston Effectively Ends Veteran Homelessness" , Guidry News
“Houston Ends Veteran Homelessness, Vows to Leave No One Behind” , Huffington Post
“Houston Declares End to Veteran Homelessness” , Al Jazeera America
“Houston Mayor: We Have Effectively Ended Veteran Homelessness” , National Alliance to End Homelessness
“Officials Back Away from Deadline on Homeless Vets," Army Times

Homelessness Awareness Day 2015

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Last Thursday was Homelessness Awareness Day in Austin, TX. Sponsored by the Texas Homeless Network , Homelessness Awareness Day was an opportunity for Texans from all over the state to travel to the Capitol, arrange visits with their legislators, and advocate for their homeless neighbors and convince legislators of the importance of supporting Texas’ tireless homeless service providers.

One of the four programs of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is Public Education. While this can mean many things (creating e-newsletters, managing the website, media and Public Relations, etc.), perhaps the most important piece of this program is serving as the voice of and for homeless individuals. It was through this program that the Coalition sponsored a bus trip to Austin for local citizens and partner organization staff members to travel to Austin and meet with state Senators and Representatives.

I was fortunate enough to be the one to lead this trip, and it was a fantastic experience from calling to schedule meetings with our legislators, to creating some of the “leave behind” materials, and even all of those tiny little details (contact lists, itineraries, organized folders for participants). We had nearly 20 individuals sign up to attend the trip – staff from Goodwill, Career and Recovery Resources, The Houston Launch Pad, Northwest Assistance Ministries, Harmony House, Caring for Offender Families, and Asset Building Network. All in all, a great showing for our area.

During our pre-trip meeting, we gathered to discuss some of the details regarding our trip, and it was inspiring to me to hear the incredible reasons why some of our attendees signed up to go on this trip. Some were service provider staff members who wanted to ensure that their organizations continued to be supported. One worked for a local community college and had personally helped the nearly 10 homeless students that she knew about on campus. One was a homeless individual who wanted to share his personal experience with legislators and let them know how crucial their support was.

10 meetings were scheduled with Senators and Representatives, and the trip went really well! The feedback from those on the trip was that the meetings were very positive and gave them the chance to talk about their organization as well as the successes that we have seen in reducing homelessness across Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County. We have also heard that the attendees from this year can’t wait to go back again next year, and the Coalition is looking forward to hosting again!

2015 Point-In-Time Homeless Count

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Despite the initial rescheduling due to weather, the 2015 Point-In-Time Homeless Count went off without a hitch last Thursday, January 29.

More than 500 volunteers canvassed all of Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County (more than 2,600 square miles!) to help our community take count of its unsheltered homeless individuals. A sheltered count was also conducted that night through the Coalition-managed HMIS database. The results of the Count are used to gauge our progress toward ending homelessness as well as the effectiveness of our homeless service programs.

The annual Point-In Time Homeless Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for each community that receives Continuum of Care (CoC) funding; however, federal funding is not directly tied to the number of homeless individuals – at least not in the obvious way.

“Fewer homeless individuals does not mean less funding from HUD,” said Marilyn Brown, President and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless. “We have received consistent levels of funding over the past few years because HUD knows that the systems we are building in Houston need to be maintained, and because the federal government has confidence in the incredible performance of our homeless response system.

This confidence has been inspired largely due to the incredible collaboration and participation from all sectors of our community: the City of Houston and multiple departments within, Harris County, Fort Bend County, and more than 60 partner organizations. All of these entities are working together as a part of The Way Home Houston , the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County.

The Way Home is committed to the federal goals of: ending chronic homelessness by 2015, ending veteran homelessness by 2015, ending family and youth homelessness by 2020, and setting a path to end all homelessness. We believe that the 2015 Homeless Count results (when they are ready in late Spring) will show a continued decrease in homelessness in our community – particularly in chronic and veteran homelessness.

Again, the Count couldn’t have happened without the help of many organizations, students, homeless service agency staff, and other individuals throughout our region. We appreciate the amazing level of participation in this year’s count and the will of our community to end homelessness!

Media Highlights:

“Video: Homeless Count Amps Up in 2015″ , Hilary Whittier, FOX 26 News

“Video: Counting Houston’s Homeless," Chaz Miller, PBS NewsHour

“Hundreds of Volunteers Turn Out For Homeless Count Across Greater Houston,” Interview with Coalition for the Homeless staff members, Houston Matters, January 30, 2015

“In this annual count, the search is for the homeless,” by St. John Barned-Smith, Houston Chronicle, January 30, 2015

“How Many Homeless People Does Houston Have?” ABC 13 News, January 29, 2015

“The Way Home” Changing the Path for Houston’s Homeless

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 05:00:00 GMT

The Way Home campaign launched today with support from homeless advocates to provide a solution to homelessness in Houston by 2020, according to a plan proposed by the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care (CoC).

Today there are about 5,300 people living on the streets of Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County or in shelters on any given night, according to the 2014 Point-In-Time Homeless Count. That’s enough people to fill more than 85% of the Miller Outdoor Theater. The three-phase blueprint sets to end chronic and veteran homelessness by 2015, youth and family homelessness by 2020, and to build a system which never allows anyone to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days.

The Way Home brings to life a collaborative effort led by the Houston/Harris County CoC, with the support from the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, Mayor Annise D. Parker, and the City of Houston, to tackle this community problem. The key ingredient to the efforts’ confidence in success: permanent housing with supportive services. Presently, the necessary housing is 95% funded with more resources in the pipeline.

“The Way Home provides a clear, focused, collaborative strategy for our community; and it is working to provide a solution to homelessness,” said Marilyn L. Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

The Partners leading The Way Home are already producing significant decreases in the overall Houston homeless population. The Coalition for the Homeless recently announced a 37% decrease in overall homelessness with a 57% decrease in chronic homelessness and a 40% decrease in veteran homelessness since 2011. This was accomplished by finding permanent housing for 1,550 chronically homeless individuals and 2,245 veterans with the appropriate level of critical services to remain stably housed.

Learn more about The Way Home and how to get involved at www.thewayhomehouston.org .

Houston Homeless Population Cut by Nearly 40 Percent Since 2011

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 29 May 2014 05:00:00 GMT

Coalition for the Homeless Credits Permanent Supportive Housing

HOUSTON, Texas (May 29, 2014) — Houston’s homeless population declined by 37 percent, or 3,187 fewer homeless people, since 2011, according to the Point-In-Time Homeless Count conducted on Jan. 30, 2014 by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County. Marilyn L. Brown, President & CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County, announced the results of the Count earlier today along with Tory Gunsolley, President & CEO of the Houston Housing Authority and Chair of the Steering Committee for the Houston Continuum of Care. Brown credited the 2012 formalization of the Houston/Harris/Fort Bend County Continuum of Care (CoC) for the outstanding results to date.

“Access to permanent housing gives people the chance to leave homelessness behind. Our Continuum of Care partners’ collaboration to create integrated, community-wide strategies to prevent and end homelessness is the key to our success. But, we still have much heavy lifting in front of us,” said Brown.

This year, on a given night, there were 5,351 total sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the Houston area compared with 8,538 on a given night identified in the 2011 Count and 6,359 identified in 2013. Of those surveyed in the Count, 2,291 homeless people (43 percent) lived on the streets or in other uninhabitable places compared with 4,418 (52 percent) in 2011.

“Houston is on its way to becoming a national model to end homelessness,” Brown said. “Because there are multiple causes of homelessness, there need to be multiple solutions to end homelessness. The key to success for chronically homeless citizens, who are our most vulnerable population, is providing permanent housing linked with critical services. Permanent Supportive Housing saves lives. I am amazed at the progress made through the collaboration of the many service providers and partners. And, we’re just getting started!”

The federal government requires the annual count as it relates to the funding received at the local level through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Point-in-Time Homeless Count was supported by the University of Texas School of Public Health and the City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services. Trained teams of volunteers canvassed Houston, Harris and Fort Bend Counties counting both sheltered and unsheltered people.

National Alliance to End Homelessness Releases State of Homelessness Report

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 28 May 2014 05:00:00 GMT

May 28, 2014 – National Alliance to End Homelessness

The State of Homelessness in America 2014

The National Alliance to End Homelessness has released “The State of Homelessness in America 2014,” the fourth in a series of reports that chart progress in ending homelessness in the United States. The report examines trends in homelessness between 2012 and 2013, trends in populations at-risk of homelessness from 2011 to 2012, trends in assistance available to persons experiencing homelessness, and establishes a baseline from which to measure changes in the homeless assistance system enacted by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act.

Click here to read an Executive Summary, Report Highlights, or to download the report.

Houston Highlighted for Progress Toward Solving Homelessness

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 12 May 2014 05:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, April 24, Houston was one of two communities invited to testify before members of the Cabinet and leaders from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in Washington, D.C. These leaders met to take action on Federal efforts to support and continue progress on ending homelessness in communities across the country.

Along with a community leader from Phoenix, AZ, Mandy Chapman Semple (Special Assistant for Homeless Initiatives to Mayor Annise Parker) shared that Houston is expecting to end homelessness among Veterans in 2014, which is one year ahead of the national goal. “We believe by the end of 2014, Houston will have achieved a steady state system,” said Chapman Semple. “This means that our system will have the capacity to house those individuals within a 30-day period, with a strong retention in their permanent housing.”

Other highlights from Houston included progress on ending chronic homelessness; since January 2012, our community has connected 1,455 individuals with Permanent Supportive Housing. Chapman Semple also highlighted Houston’s understanding of supportive services (such as health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, employment, and education), and how our community is creating a framework to understand when these systems can operate in parallel and when they must intersect.

To read Mandy Chapman Semple’s expert brief, click here .

Mayor Parker Reflects on Homelessness in Houston During State of the City Address

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 05:00:00 GMT

The Honorable Mayor Annise Parker gave her State of the City address on Thursday, April 3, at the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual event. Mayor Parker dedicated the majority of her address to “finishing what we’ve started,” and focused on three major areas: solidifying Houston’s reputation as a green city, civil rights for Houstonians, and ending veteran and chronic homelessness.

Mayor Parker entered the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Americas to the well-known song “Taking Care of Business,” and began by discussing Houston’s successes over the past few years, citing the lowest per capita crime rate in recent history, the Rebuild Houston program (which has so far completed 450 miles of road and drain improvements), the now nearly-completed backlog of sexual assault kits, and the construction of a joint processing center for the City and Harris County jails. Parker stated that Houston is on a trajectory like no other city, with more than 364,000 jobs created in the last year, not to mention that Houston will host the Super Bowl in 2017.

Parker cited bike safety issues and expansion of Houston’s privately-funded B-Cycle bike share , and publicized the newly-created Sunday Streets HTX program, where a designated street is shut down for four hours on the first Sunday of each month to encourage pedestrians and cyclists to explore all Houston has to offer. Parker also stated that she will continue to reduce emissions and work to solidify Houston’s reputation as a global arts destination. Parker also referenced Houston’s diversity and her plan to present a Civil Rights ordinance to City Council in the month of April.

Mayor Parker’s reflections on the state of homelessness in Houston may have had the most powerful impact on the audience. “Homelessness affects not just the individual, but the health of our community,” stated Parker, who added that in a “vibrant and prosperous city” such as Houston, we should readily help those who need a path to end their homelessness.

Since the introduction of the goal to end chronic homelessness by 2015, 1,420 chronic and vulnerable individuals have been placed into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Parker highlighted two individuals in particular who have been permanently housed: Alma and George. Alma, who has a college education, became homeless when she lost her job and had no one to call for help. When she heard the word that they had found her an apartment – a home – she fell to her knees and cried. George had been incarcerated for 32 years, and entered homelessness upon his release. George became housed, is a handyman at SEARCH Homeless Services, and now volunteers at the prison that was once his home.

Parker reflected on the entities that have come together in Houston to offer their skills and talents to end chronic homelessness. The Mayor’s Leadership Team, comprised of local and national players, works to oversee the system change that is happening in Houston. Parker also thanked Wells Fargo and Chevron, both of which have made significant contributions to help drive the system work. In addition to corporate and federal support, Mayor Parker herself has supplied incredible support to the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care (CoC) , as homeless service providers are coming together and collaborating in incredibly meaningful ways.

She ended with a challenge to others in the ballroom to step up and help end homelessness for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. As Parker ended her address, she described Houston as a city that “works for today, plans for tomorrow, and invests for the future,”

Coalition Update – Coordinated Access Project

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:00:00 GMT

In January, Houston began Phase 1 of Coordinated Access. Coordinated Access is a new and more efficient delivery system to quickly end homelessness for individuals and families. Previously, the homeless services delivery system in Houston has been focused on answering the question of “does this client fit into my program,” and as a result, clients could enter the system from a large number of points and often received the wrong intervention. What Coordinated Access does is answer the question “what housing and/or service intervention is best for this client,” through a smaller number of entry points and a standardized, coordinated effort between local service providers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is requiring Continuums of Care (CoCs) to develop and implement a Coordinated Access System for all CoC and ESG (Emergency Solutions Grant) funded programs, because research has shown that coordinated access systems help communities quickly and efficiently end homelessness.

The mission of the Coalition for the Homeless is to provide leadership in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. A large part of this leadership and coordination is done by program staff members at the Coalition who work with homeless service agencies, government entities, and other groups to foster collaboration and drive the process of creating real change to prevent and end homelessness in Houston. One such staff member is Ana Rausch, who serves as the Coordinated Access Project Manager at the Coalition for the Homeless. Her main function is to guide the implementation of this new delivery system, and work with those staff members who are working on the frontlines, with everything from assessment through housing the client.

Coordinated Access team members have come from local homeless service agencies that have amended certain grant contracts to reassign existing employees to work on behalf of Coordinated Access. Currently, there are three Housing Assessors who perform the intake process with a standardized questionnaire to determine what program or intervention will end an individual’s homelessness. There are also two Housing Navigators who, once a client is assessed and matched with housing, will assist the client with any appointments and paperwork it may take to get them housed, and see them through until they are housed. Through this process, Housing Navigators build an incredible amount of trust with their clients, so the Navigators work to transfer that trust to the client’s case manager who, once the client is housed, works with the client to ensure that they are successful in housing for the long term.

Phase 1 of Coordinated Access began on January 6, and in this soft rollout, 24 clients were assessed by Housing Assessors and assigned a Housing Navigator who ensured that these clients were housed. To highlight early successes of Houston’s Coordinated Access system, the first client to participate was housed within seven days of his initial assessment. From January 6 through March 31, 11 additional clients were housed and an additional 7 have pending approval. The remaining 5 households are still working with Housing Navigators to be matched with appropriate housing and resources.

Phase 2 of Coordinated Access began on April 1, and Rausch anticipates approximately 80 or more households to be assessed and housed (Phase 2 will run through July). Rausch also hopes to increase the Coordinated Access team by continuing to work with local agencies to reassign staff to contribute to this new and more efficient system. Existing outreach teams in the community will also be trained as assessors. Currently there are two physical locations where Coordinated Access assessments are being performed, but Rausch says that this will eventually increase to meet the need created by Houston’s large geographic area. Assessments will also be performed virtually (over the phone) using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database managed by the Coalition. “Even though there will be multiple hubs where individuals can be assessed, through Coordinated Access, there will still be one standard assessment, one waiting list, and one system,” says Rausch.

Rausch says that she really enjoys her job because she sees the value in having an impartial party to help guide the process. “Since the Coalition for the Homeless serves tose who serve the homeless we are really once removed from providing direct service. This means that we can help develop best practices and stand by the Coordinated Access team members who are working with the clients to help them figure out this new system.” Furthermore, the greatest thing that Rausch has witnessed so far has been the collaboration between agencies and seeing “everyone working toward a common goal.” We are proud at the Coalition to play a part in helping foster collaboration and working together to end homelessness in Houston.

National Campaign to End Veteran Homelessness; Houston Shares Its Own Successes

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:00:00 GMT

#neveranotherhomelessvet

You may have seen this hashtag recently popping up on social media outlets like Twitter. A two-year effort by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and their partners, the Never Another Homeless Veteran Campaign aims to build and leverage public support to end veteran homelessness.

The campaign’s website provides opportunities for community members to get involved, such as signing the statement calling for the resources to end veteran homelessness, and signing up to receive updates about the campaign’s progress. The website also features a blog with updates on the campaign’s success, and the progress being made towards housing homeless veterans in cities throughout the United States.

Our own progress is being made right here in Houston through the Housing Houston’s Heroes initiative. Begun in May 2012, 25 local homeless service providers (including nonprofits, government agencies, housing authorities, and the Coalition for the Homeless) set a goal to house 100 veterans in 100 days. On day 100, the 101st veteran was placed into housing. To accomplish this, the collaborative group identified many barriers that had to be broken, including the way our systems communicated with one another, the standard operating procedures of agencies which benefited the agency instead of the client, and the reallocation of resources to be used more effectively and efficiently.

Not satisfied with this small success, the group stayed together and continued to focus on housing veterans. By May 2013, 487 veterans had been housed. The commitment is now to house 170 veterans each month until December 2015 or until all homeless veterans are housed. No one agency could accomplish this alone; but through collaboration, Houstin is bringing hope, changing lives, and providing stable housing for all its residents.

For volunteer opportunities in Houston, click here for more information, or click here for our map with contact information for local homeless service agencies.

Community Members Assist in 2014 Houston Homeless Count

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 06:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County conducted the annual 2014 Houston Homeless Count on January 30, with the help of partner organizations, local government agencies, faith-based organizations, local universities, and community members.

The Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, which brought more than $25 million to homeless assistance programs in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County during the fiscal year (FY) 2012. On the night of the Count, more than 500 volunteers from the community depart from 10 staging areas across Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County to count individuals, veterans, families, and young people that live on the streets. Surface Teams conducted their count from vehicles, while Specialized Outreach Teams, comprised of staff from local service providers and government agencies, conducted interviews on foot.

In addition to the unsheltered count, there is also a sheltered count known as the Housing Inventory Chart (HIC), conducted on the same night through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) which the Coalition manages. The HIC provides an inventory of projects within the Houston/Harris County CoC that provide beds and units dedicated to serve homeless individuals and reflects the number of beds and units available on the night of the Count that are dedicated to serve homeless individuals.

The total number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals is then reported to HUD, and the information gathered assists our community in determining what type of services and housing is needed to best serve our homeless population. In 2013, Houston counted 2,978 unsheltered homeless individuals and 3,381 sheltered homeless individuals for a total of 6,359 homeless people on any given night in our community. There has been a 27% decrease in this number from 2011, and the community is hopeful that the 2014 Count will highlight even more success in ending homelessness.

“In 2013, there were great strides made in housing homeless veterans and other individuals through collaborative efforts of Houston’s homeless service providers,” said Marilyn Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition. “The 2013 Homeless Count provided our agencies with hard data about the characteristics of the area’s homeless community. In turn this helped our service providers develop assistance programs for people who are homeless. The 2014 Count will hopefully validate our common goal of working together as a system, rather than independent agencies operating on their own, to prevent and end homelessness. We anticipate this Count will collect more specific demographic information that will help us strengthen our existing programs.”

In the coming weeks, the data that these volunteers collected will be analyzed by an expert consultant who will create the 2014 report. As soon as this data is published it will be shared with the public.

Homeless Court Judge Tours Local Service Organizations to Get the Client Experience

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 06:00:00 GMT

One of the projects managed by the Coalition for the Homeless is Homeless Court. Begun eight years ago, Homeless Court is an important step in the path for individuals towards a successful exit from homelessness. This program operates under the guarantee that no one appearing will go to jail as a result of the ticket(s) that bring them to Homeless Court. As long as a homeless individual has a case manager and is participating in a program with the goal of exiting homelessness, this counts as their community service. In other words, by the time they appear in court, they have worked off their ticket.

Nearly 2,000 cases were resolved through Homeless Court in 2012, and many of the infractions that bring individuals to Homeless Court include moving violations such as failing to display a valid driver’s license, and non-moving violations such as possession of an open container and even jaywalking. To most of us, these are fines we pay, and then move forward. For a homeless person who rarely has means to pay; however, these violations have the potential to build and stick with them, often leading to warrants, and preventing them from being able to find employment and/or housing. Homeless Court acknowledges that this “Catch 22″ is not beneficial to anyone, and helps homeless individuals move toward their goal of exiting homelessness.

Recently, one of the judges at Homeless Court, Judge Imelda Castillo, approached Scot More, Project Manager with the Coalition, with the request to tour local homeless service organizations, to gain a deeper understanding of the client experience, from street to housing. On this tour, Judge Castillo visited St. Joseph House, SEARCH Homeless Services, Star of Home Mission, and Harmony House clients at 1414 Congress, where she saw not only the strengths of each of these programs, but the collaboration between agencies with the goal of ending chronic homelessness.

Betty Nunnally, Senior Vice President of Programs at Star of Hope Mission, was impressed that Judge Castillo took time out of her busy schedule to better understand the people she sees in court, and felt that her dedication and desire to help them in a meaningful way was truly evident during her visit at Star of Hope. “Homeless Court gives our clients a chance to take care of past legal issues and at the same time gives them an opportunity to move forward,” said Nunnally. “We were very honored for Star of Hope to be included in Judge Castillo’s tour, and based on her investment and interest, it seems to me that she is willing to go above and beyond to help the people she sees in court.”

Another of the sites visited was SEARCH Homeless Services, and likewise, they were thrilled to be included on the tour as well. President & CEO of SEARCH, THao Costis, said, “We were pleased by the judge’s interest in wanting to learn more and understand the bigger picture of the services available, as well as the challenges that our clients face.” Costis was most excited to share her organization’s stellar case management staff, and their ability to maximize resources that are available in the community, such as Homeless Court, to the benefit of their clients.

One hope shared by both Star of Hope Mission and SEARCH Homeless Services is that Judge Castillo’s experiences on the tour will give her a greater understanding of the individuals that appear in Homeless Court, and that she will be more committed to the process – and that seems to be evident. Scot More shared that Judge Castillo’s plan is to take what she learned on this tour to other judges who sit on Homeless Court and share her experiences with them, so they too can see the full continuum of services offered in Houston, and understand just how hard it can be to exit homelessness.

More also shared that one of the goals of Homeless Court is the education which takes place. “Through Homeless Court, these individuals learn to trust the legal system. It’s an education, learning that they shouldn’t avoid their issues, and knowing what to do if they are in a similar situation in the future.” However, More feels that the most important result is the emotional benefit; the weight lifted as a result. “Most people want to do the right thing, but they don’t necessarily know how,” said More.

Homeless Court is benefitting homeless individuals not only in the obvious ways: legally and financially, but in seemingly invisible ways as well, through acknowledging their participation in a program and teaching them that systems can work for them – including the system of homeless service providers in Houston. With Judge Castillo’s participation in this tour, our system has become that much more robust and even more capable of serving our homeless neighbors.

Congratulations, Houston!!

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A message to the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care from Becky Kanis, Director of the 100,000 Homes Campaign

“On behalf of the entire 100,000 Homes Campaign team, I want to extend a warm & enthusiastic welcome to the elite 2.5% club! For three months in a row now, your community has housed people at an average of 2.5% of your baseline chronic and vulnerable population. That’s amazing! This is the difference between talking about ending homelessness and actually doing it! Houston’s meteoric rise as a community in the 100k Homes Campaign is nothing short of astonishing. And yet.. we shouldn’t be surprised!

We are inspired by what is no doubt a herculean effort on your part! You join the now 45 and growing communities enrolled in the campaign that are part of the 2.5% club. We will highlight your accomplishment in our monthly published “Fully Committed List” that is distributed (and read) by our national and strategic partners, including Barbara Poppe, Assistant Secretaries at HUD and the VA, and many foundation leaders. Whenever we can, our plan is to highlight that you are in the 2.5% club, with the faith that together leaders like you will create the groundswell of momentum pointing the way to what is possible for your colleagues across the country.

Our coach and mentor, Dan Heath, advised us that one of the best things we can do is provide an opportunity for high performers to talk amongst themselves. Now that you’re in the 2.5% club, we will include you on an email listserve that is for high performers ONLY. Please take advantage of this opportunity to swap ideas, ask questions, and offer support to your fellow change agents.

Congratulations! We’re so proud of what you’re doing – we hope you are, too!

In solidarity,

Becky”

HUD Announces How the Violence Against Women Act Will Affect HUD Programs

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a notice in the Federal Register on August 6, to provide information on how the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act 2013 (VAWA 2013) will apply to HUD programs. Enacted on March 7, 2013, VAWA 2013 was designed to protect both adult and child victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

VAWA 2013 expands the original applicability beyond public housing and Section 8 tenant-based and project-based rental assistance programs and now includes:

Low Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit)
Section 202 Housing for the Elderly
Section 811 Housing for Persons With Disabilities
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
Section 221(d) mortgage insurance
Section 236 mortgage insurance programs
Other rural housing assistance programs (authorized by the Housing Act of 1949)

Notable expansions in VAWA 2013 include replacing “immediate family member” with “affiliated individual” as it relates to prohibiting the termination of assistance because of criminal activity relating to domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If the tenant or “affiliated individual” is the victim of criminal activity described above, it cannot be cause for ending assistance or occupancy rights.

Other expansions include:

Extending housing protections to survivors of sexual assault
Adding “intimate partner to the list of eligible relationships under the domestic violence definition
Click here to read the entire notice for more expansions.

HUD is also inviting comments from HUD program participants and interested members of the community until October 7, 2013, to help HUD as it continues to create guidance and regulations. HUD encourages electronic submission of comments, and commenters should search by docket number: FR–5720–N–01. You can also find additional information from the National Council of State Housing Agencies and the National Housing Law Project .

Local Efforts to target homeless veterans paying off

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Homeless veterans received housing assistance at a record rate this summer as area leaders announce ambitious plans to do even more. The Houston Continuum of Care announced that the Housing Houston’s Heroes initiative has housed 357 homeless veterans, 195 of them chronically homeless, in 100 days. In addition, the Houston CoC received U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) funding. Click here to read the Houston Chronicle article published Sunday, August 25, 2013.

How You Can Help Fix Rental Assistance Regulation

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 05:00:00 GMT

From the National Alliance to End Homelessness:

Last year’s Continuum of Care (CoC) regulations released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), included language stating that only government entities (including Housing Authorities) would be allowed to administer rental assistance. This would exclude nonprofits from participating in rental assistance activities, presenting a significant challenge to CoCs accross the country and adding an administrative burden to those trying to quickly re-house individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Thanks to advocates who have engaged their Members of Congress on this issue in the past months, the Senate’s fiscal year (FY) 2014 funding bill for the Departments of Transportation and HUD includes a language change that would allow nonprofits to administer rental assistance, essentially fixing the problem.

However, since the federal funding process could take a significant amount of time to finalize, and the bills may not pass, Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) has introduced legislation with similar language that would ensure that nonprofits may administer rental assistance. The legislation, H.R. 2790 – the Housing Assistance Efficiency Act, would allow nonprofits to administer rental assistance. If you are concerned about nonprofits in your CoC no longer being able to administer rental assistance, here is your chance to address that!

Here’s what you can do:

Call your Members in the House of Representatives this August and ask to speak to the person who handles housing issues in the office. You can find the office’s number by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Urge them to cosponsor Rep. Peters’ legislation, H.R. 2790 and explain to them the importance of nonprofits’ ability to administer rental assistance in your community, and the negative impact this regulation has on your efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
Have the office contact Lumay Wang to cosponsor H.R. 2790.
Email Kate Seif, Policy Outreach Coordinator with the National Alliance to End Homelessness and let her know who you called and what they said.

You can also keep up to date on this issue by following the Alliance’s blog .

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost effective policy solutions. The Alliance works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help communities acheive their goal of ending homelessness. They provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.

Compassionate Houston Asks Public to “Welcome Home” Houston’s heroes

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Last summer 101 chronically homeless veterans were housed within a 100-day period. More than 400 veterans were housed by the end of the year! With the success of that pilot program, the Housing Houston’s Heroes effort has been expanded this year, with a goal of housing 300 chronically homeless veterans in a 100-day period. The first housing vouchers were issued in May.

Though these veterans will also have access to social services and job assistance, their first challenge is to get settled in their new living spaces. That’s where your help is vital.

Compassionate Houston is asking Houstonians to join the Adopt-A-Vet project to provide basic household supplies in a “Welcome Home” basket (paper goods, cleaning supplies, kitchen essentials, toiletries, and bath and bedding items) for each veteran. The approximate cost of adopting one veteran is $250.

Any organization, company, congregation, family or individual can participate. Simply go online and review the list of items each basket will contain. Then consider how many veterans you are willing to adopt and how much time you will need to collect the items.

Register your participation online at compassionatehouston.org before Aug. 5. Drop off of assembled baskets will be from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at designated locations on July 27, August 17, and August 31.

2013 Point-In-Time Count’s New Methodology Explained

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:00:00 GMT

By Dr. Cathy Troisi, Associate Professor at the University Of Texas School Of Public Health

Several significant changes were made in the methodology of the 2011 count to improve the completeness and accuracy of the enumeration and these were implemented and enhanced in the 2012 and 2013 counts as well. The first was the involvement of traditional homeless services providers under the umbrella of the Coalition for the Homeless along with academia (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health) and a local health department [Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS)].

This collaboration was exemplified by including the implementation of an Incident Command System (ICS), a standardized management tool used in fire, police, and public health preparedness activities ensuring integration of efforts through its defined organizational structure. ICS has many advantages including an orderly, systematic planning process and clear chains of command and supervision. Command Central was set up at HDHHS.

Other improvements in 2013 included use of ten staging areas, an increase of four over the six staging areas used in 2010 and one over the nine used in 2011 and 2012. The additional staging areas reduced travel time needed by teams to get into the field and thus increased their time available to count the homeless. One practice count took place on January 22th before the actual count on January 29th. This allowed Staging Area Captains and Co-Captains as well as the Surface and Outreach Specialist teams to become familiar with their duties and the geographic areas which they were to cover.

Enumeration activity included the Ft. Bend area to better characterize homelessness in that county. Efforts in the past to count Ft. Bend homeless individuals have not been optimized and so the extent of the problem has not been well defined. By increasing the number of teams and adding a staging area in the county, we were able to get a better picture of homelessness in that area.

Improvements were made to the composition and function of teams that counted the unsheltered homeless. Volunteer teams included homeless and formerly homeless individuals who could guide teams to locations where the homeless are likely to be found. The use of Outreach Specialist Teams to canvass areas not readily seen by teams driving by resulted in fewer unsheltered homeless remaining undetected. On the night of the count, “SWAT” teams were formed with HDHHS personnel. These teams were sent out to sectors that needed additional assistance identifying and counting homeless persons, thus increasing coverage of all areas.

The methodology of the sheltered count also was enhanced. This was accomplished in two ways. First, a greater effort was made to identify and inventory all emergency shelters in the area, whether or not they were officially part of the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care. Secondly, shelters that use the housing inventory chart were encouraged to return that form for the night of the PIT and follow-up calls were made to ensure they were received. For 2010, 75% of the emergency shelter projects and 69% of the transitional housing projects reported the number of persons sheltered on the night of the PIT. For the 2011-2013 counts, due to this increased effort, 100% of entities defined by HUD as housing the sheltered homeless for the purposes of the Point-in-Time count (n=65) reported their numbers. Over 94% of sheltered numbers came from HMIS, meeting the HUD requirement of >75%.

The 2013 PIT Count included a concerted effort to enumerate emancipated youth ages 24 and younger who have not been optimally counted in previous years entitled YouthCount!. This was done by sending volunteer teams to places where youth were known to congregate and administering a short survey to collect basic demographic information as well as length and reasons for homelessness. Places canvassed included Ft. Bend Women’s Center, HAY Center, Star of Hope, Salvation Army Social Services, Covenant House, Open Gate Bering UMC Youth Advocates, Kinder Emergency Shelter, Houston Area Women’s Center, and Montrose Grace Place.

A point-in-time (PIT) count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in the Houston, Harris County, and Ft. Bend County areas was conducted from 3 to 11 pm on 29 January 2013. The purpose of the count was to determine the number of homeless persons [defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as those staying in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or safe haven with beds dedicated for homeless persons or those persons who are unsheltered (i.e., staying in a place not meant for human habitation)]. The PIT count is a federal requirement for all communities receiving funding from HUD. Although, due to the size of the geographic area that is covered by the count, we know that not all persons experiencing homelessness can be identified in a single night, the PIT Count gives a good assessment of the extent of the problem in the region.

The PIT count was organized and led by the Coalition for the Homeless in consultation with The University of Texas School of Public Health and the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. Many homeless services providers participated as well as community volunteers, including homeless and formerly homeless persons.

The 2013 count enumerated individuals staying in a total of 65 shelters including emergency shelters (n=16), transitional housing units (n=48), and one safe haven on the night of 29 January based on reports received from the providers. Unsheltered homeless individuals (those sleeping on the streets or in places not meant for habitation) were counted using two methods. Surface teams (one driver, one service provider, one homeless or formerly homeless person, and one community volunteer) drove the streets of the enumeration area observing and counting homeless individuals. Teams left from one of ten staging areas, each of which was divided into smaller sectors. The number of teams assigned to each sector was based on the prevalence of unsheltered homeless in previous counts. The surface teams counted unsheltered homeless persons found on street corners, parks, parking lots, convenience stores and other areas where they congregate.

Areas where homeless persons were likely to be found but that are not visible from the street were canvassed by Outreach Specialist Teams comprised of homeless service providers familiar with the areas through their professional work. These teams walked under bridges, along the bayous and other areas where encampments of homeless had been identified. They also investigated abandoned buildings where homeless persons may be residing. Care was taken not to double count homeless individuals.

To read the Executive Summary of the findings from the 2013 Point-in-Time Count, click here .

Houston Chronicle: Homeless advocates focus on results, not just effort

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Federal funding now goes to those programs that can show results

By Jayme Fraser

Programs serving the homeless used to get federal funding just by showing how they will help people living on the street.

Now, they must prove they are actually making a difference.

The new results-focused approach extending from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives local leaders more say in how to divvy up federal funds and more responsibility for making sure it works.

In the past, federal authorities awarded grants primarily based on how well individual programs served their target populations. Under the new rules, federal officials also will consider where each program fits in the community network of services to avoid duplications.

“It’s no longer about meeting a minimum threshold to receive your money,” said Mandy Chapman-Semple, the mayor’s special assistant on homeless initiatives. “Rather, they’ll evaluate the impact they’re having as part of our system. Are they contributing enough?”

The policy change reflects a goal President Barack Obama announced in 2010 to end chronic and veteran homelessness by 2015, as well as a shrinking federal budget that has programs looking at improving efficiency.

In May, federal housing representatives told a gathering of advocates that the Houston area appears to have too many transitional housing units – apartments or rooms provided to the homeless for a limited time while they try to find permanent homes. The review of 2012 data from hundreds of metro-area providers found that only 71 percent of transitional housing units were occupied full-time, in effect spending up to $4 million on empty rooms. Additionally, only 45 percent of clients left transitional housing for a permanent home.

The report suggested that about 15 percent of the area’s more than 5,000 transitional units could be converted to permanent supportive housing.

Tracked by evidence

The transitional housing approach to reducing homelessness has lost widespread support after some studies have shown it has a limited ability to keep people off the streets. Case managers say the time limits on transitional housing are unrealistic for some clients, particularly those who have been homeless several times in the previous three years and who often face complicating health issues.

The “housing first” model, or permanent supportive housing, provides health and other recovery services after a client has a stable home with no time limits. It has seen growing national support, including among federal authorities, because it does not remove clients from programs before they are truly self-sufficient.

Cheraline Canida, 39, a recovering drug and alcohol addict working through a Harmony House program, said an opportunity to rebuild without rushing her sobriety makes her more hopeful she will succeed. In the past, she has relapsed.

“Addiction takes everything from you,” Canida said. “Here I can work and get the things I will need to one day have my own place.”

The Coalition for the Homeless, the action arm of the local governing board, is speaking with each area program about its performance and where it fits – or could fit – in the system.

“Let’s really track them by the evidence,” said Marilyn Brown, coalition president. “Who are the high performers and how do they do it? Which programs might need more training and technical assistance?”

She and Chapman-Semple hope those discussions will identify volunteers willing to convert transitional housing into permanent supportive housing.

Expanded program

Harmony House was among the first to go through a review with the Coalition.

The nonprofit started assisting homeless men 20 years ago, but since has expanded to a variety of services, including monitoring and providing beds to homeless persons discharged from area hospitals after surgery. Two other programs target people recovering from addictions.

Following the review, the medical program will remain a transitional service since its goal is health and not housing. The addiction recovery program, however, will be converted to permanent supportive housing so they can ensure clients leave when ready, not just when a deadline approaches.

Harmony House CEO Tim Johnson said the federal analysis has confirmed what many say they already suspected, but had no way to systematically address or even discuss.

“We weren’t open enough to see where we were focusing too much on one thing,” Johnson said, referring to the abundance of transitional units in Houston.

More collaboration

Preston Witt, Harmony House’s social services director, lauded the new system-wide approach as a way to better serve the homeless while increasing collaboration between providers. He remains nervous, though.

He wonders how the stark changes to federal regulation will affect competition among some programs for funding, particularly with the focus on shrinking transitional housing that has dominated the Houston approach for years. Historically, many homeless programs remained isolated or limited collaborations to a few close partners since they were competing for federal funds.

“You protect your own dollars,” Witt said. “The complete idea is to be collaborative, but I don’t think it’s fully implemented yet.”

Brown said the coalition and the governing board, which must lead the transition, are aware that realigning all Houston-area programs by 2015 is a tough task that has made some as nervous as they are excited about what it means for their future.

“Nobody leaps onto change,” Brown said. “Even when it’s good.”

To read the entire article on the Houston Chronicle, click here .

Fewer people are experiencing homelessness in Houston

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

However, more than 6,300 people need a stable home

Houston has seen a 29% drop in the homeless population both sheltered and unsheltered since 2011, stated Marilyn L. Brown, President & CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County. And while that drop is something to celebrate, there were more than 6,300 people that were homeless during the evening of the 2013 Point-in-Time Homeless Count conducted under the auspices of the Coalition on January 29, 2013. The PIT Count is a federal requirement for all communities receiving funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The reason for this decline, said Brown, is that area homeless service providers are working collaboratively to help homeless individuals and families move into stable, permanent housing.

“Across the nation, homeless service providers have been charged by the federal government to move people from the streets and shelters into a housing environment tailored to their needs” said Brown. “Some individuals and families just need rent assistance, while others who are chronically homeless may need permanent housing that includes support such as help taking prescribed medication regularly or substance abuse counseling to prevent a return to homelessness.”

By federal definition, someone is considered chronically homeless if they experience four or more episodes of homelessness within a three-year period or one or more current consecutive years of homelessness. In addition, the individual must have a disabling condition that makes daily activities difficult, such as a medical or psychological condition or a substance abuse problem.

Houston area housing initiatives include Housing Houston’s Heroes, which has housed 557 homeless individuals and families, including 488 homeless veterans in the past year. Other efforts include joining the 100,000 Homes National Campaign, which helps identify and house chronically homeless individuals nationwide. In Houston, there are between 1500 and 2000 chronically homeless individuals.

Some Causes of Homelessness

Homelessness is a complex issue and effective efforts to prevent it require broad community participation. Triggers that may lead to homelessness include job loss, eviction, bills higher than earnings, domestic abuse, incarceration, mental and/or physical illness, drug and alcohol abuse or changes in family status.

YouthCount!

As part of a nine-city pilot program, the greater Houston area PIT 2013 Homeless Count focused on a specific subpopulation, emancipated youth under 24 years of age, entitled YouthCount! Data was collected by canvassing areas where teens and young adults congregate, along with a survey given to students thought to be homeless in area school districts. The results revealed that more than 160 youth were homeless and that the majority of these children were living doubled up with family members in apartments. Two out of five of these youth had experience with foster care, and many had “aged” out of the foster care system leading to their homelessness. One issue that has been identified is that there is a lack of housing for youth less than 18 years of age in this community.

Press release

Mayor Parker and 120 Volunteers canvass downtown Houston in an effort to get 2,500 homeless individuals off the streets

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 – Houston Mayor Annise Parker personally led a team of volunteers canvassing the streets of downtown Houston to interview the City’s most vulnerable homeless individuals as part of Houston Registry Week. Over 120 volunteers are participating in this weeklong campaign in an effort to jumpstart the City’s plan to get 2,500 homeless persons off the streets by 2016.

“In Houston, we don’t just dream, but we achieve, and Registry Week is the first step towards achieving the goal of virtually eliminating chronic homelessness in Houston,” said Mayor Parker. “I am proud that as a community we have come together to align our resources and develop a comprehensive, compassionate plan that puts a face and name to the problem of homelessness and saves the taxpayers’ money.”

National studies show that chronic homeless individuals account for only 25% of a major city’s homeless population, but consume 75% of the homeless resources. In Houston, there are approximately 2,500 chronic and near-chronic homeless individuals, costing an estimated $103 million in public resources per year.

Houston Registry Week is the first of a three-prong, comprehensive, community-driven plan to reduce chronic homelessness in Houston that includes: (1) identifying and prioritizing the most vulnerable homeless individuals, (2) placing them into permanent housing, and (3) providing needed services and treatments.

Houston Registry Week is part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign – a grassroots movement of over 175 communities to find and place chronically homeless individuals into 100,000 homes across the nation. As part of the campaign, volunteers are using a 33-item questionnaire to gather targeted information on the individual’s health status, institutional history (jail, prison, hospital, and military), length of homelessness, patterns of shelter or mission use, and previous housing situations.

“Registry Week is an exciting opportunity to create a comprehensive database of people living on our streets and in our shelters, enabling us, as a community, to know the homeless by name, to understand their stories, and to identify their needs,” explained Neal Rackleff, Director of the City’s Housing and Community Development Department. “The information gathered is crucial to our ability to place our most vulnerable into permanent housing with supportive services to break the cycle of homelessness.”

Under Mayor Parker’s leadership, Houston Registry Week is an initiative of the City of Houston in partnership with the Harris County Housing Authority, SEARCH Homeless Services, The Beacon, Coalition for the Homeless, Houston Housing Authority, Continuum of Care and other integral community partners.

“The Houston Housing Authority is committed to fighting homelessness in Houston and we are glad to work with great community partners that share our vision,” said Tory Gunsolley, Houston Housing Authority’s President & CEO. “By working with community partners we were able to get 101 homeless veterans housed in 100 days, and with this campaign we will be able to do even more to help Houston’s homeless receive the housing and supportive services that they need.”

Mayor Parker is scheduled to present the findings from Houston Registry Week immediately following the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on May 15, 2013.

Coalition for the Homeless Celebrates 30+ years photos

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A sold-out crowd of 350 reflected on three decades of work by the Coalition for the Homeless April 5th at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown.

Coalition for the Homeless Celebrates 30+ Years

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Mayor Annise D. Parker, one of the event’s award recipients, shared her powerful, personal journey with homelessness in Houston.

Attendees were discreetly dabbing at their eyes with tissues as Mayor Annise D. Parker shared a not often told story on Friday, April 5, at the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County Three Decades of Achievement celebration about how she and her life partner Kathy Hubbard rescued a young man from living on the streets. The sold-out crowd of 350 at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown was silent as Mayor Parker emphasized how her personal insight would inform her actions to protect and house our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Mayor Parker received the Friends of the Homeless – Peg Dudar Individual Advocate award that recognizes an individual’s success in inspiring the community at large to become more involved in the fight to end homelessness.

“This is personal for me because it affected my family and affects the lives of so many others,” said Mayor Parker. “I appreciate the award and everyone at the Coalition for their support. We are a community, and together we will help those most in need of life’s basic necessities.” Watch Mayor Parker’s keynote address at the Coalition Three Decades of Achievement celebration below

Coalition Board members, both past and present including Stephen L. Williams, Nancy Frees Fountain, Thomas Verhagen and his wife Ashley, Pastor Rudy Rasmus and Linda K. May were in attendance for this “magical” event. Several of the Coalition co-founders in attendance included, Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Reverend William A. Lawson, and former Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay, whom were all jubilant about the accomplishments of the Coalition and Houston-area homeless service providers. Other notables in the crowd included: David Ruiz of Bank of America, the corporate honoree who received a Friends of the Homeless Award; Diane Hasell Englet and Lucretia Ahrens of CenterPoint Energy; Mandy Chapman Semple, Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives; Friends of the Homeless Award Honoree Media/Journalist recipient Lisa Falkenberg, columnist for The Houston Chronicle; Robert M. Eury, President of Central Houston, who brilliantly summarized the Coalition’s 30+ year history in 8 minutes; and the event’s two superstars: Achievers of the Year, Friends of the Homeless honorees, Shane Schlemeyer and Twaunette Sharpe, both of whom were formerly homeless and are now active, engaged members of the community.

Marilyn L. Brown, Coalition President & CEO, concluded the luncheon program with the release of the preliminary results of the 2013 Point-in-Time Homeless Count. She shared the good news regarding a 27% drop in homelessness as many formerly homeless individuals have been transitioned to permanent supportive housing during the time period of January 2011 to January 2013. She also shared that the program to house 100 homeless veterans and/or chronically homeless individuals in 100 days, is now in its fourth phase having housed 487 veterans and chronically homeless individuals to date. Brown announced a special Collaborative Award for homeless service providers by honoring Mark Thiele of the City of Houston, Houston Housing Authority, who spearheaded the 100 in 100 campaign in Houston.

To recap, the honorees of the Friends of the Homeless Award Honorees recognized at the event were: Achiever of the Year — Shane Schlemeyer and Twaunette Sharpe; Business/Corporation — Bank of America; Foundation – The Frees Foundation; Peg Dudar Individual Advocate – Mayor Annise D. Parker; Media/Journalist – Lisa Falkenberg, The Houston Chronicle; Sally Shipman Service Provider Staff – Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk, SEARCH Homeless Services.

Sponsors and partners involved in Three Decades of Achievement included: Marilyn L. Brown; City of Houston, Health and Human Services Department; The Frees Foundation; Harris County Department of Education; The Greensheet; Diane and Tim Horan; Houston Downtown Management District; The Lee Group; Martha and Aris Macris; Kimberly Sterling/Sterling Associates; Ashley and Thomas J. N. Verhagen; Houston Housing Authority; New Hope Housing; The University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County was established in 1982, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1988, and has evolved to be the lead agency coordinating the community response to homelessness in Houston. Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, passed in 2009, an entire community rather than individual service providers must demonstrate success in preventing and reducing homelessness. In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances due to the commitment of homeless service providers and key community stakeholders, including both private and public contributors.

Coalition celebrates three decades of achievement on April 5

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

On April 5 at 11:45 a.m. the staff, Board of Directors both present and past, homeless service providers, supporters and friends of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County will gather at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown to celebrate Three Decades of Achievement. The mission of the Coalition for the Homeless is to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness in the greater Houston area.

Coalition friend and ABC-TV Channel 13 anchor Melanie Lawson will emcee the lunch. Lawson’s father, Rev. William Lawson, was one of the co-founders of the Coalition along with Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Rabbi Samuel Karff, Mayor Kathy Whitmire and County Judge Jon Lindsay. Speakers at the Three Decades luncheon include: Robert M. Eury, President of Central Houston Inc. sharing the Coalition’s history; Stephen L. Williams, Coalition Board Chair presenting the 2013 Friends of the Homeless Awards; and Mayor Annise Parker providing the keynote address sharing her personal connection to homelessness. Marilyn L. Brown, Coalition President & CEO, will conclude the luncheon program with the release of the results of the 2013 Point-in-Time Homeless Count.

The Friends of the Homeless Award Honorees to be recognized at the event include: Achiever of the Year — Shane Schlemeyer and Twaunette Sharpe; Business/Corporation — Bank of America; Foundation – The Frees Foundation; Peg Dudar Individual Advocate – Mayor Annise D. Parker; Media Outlet/Journalist – Lisa Falkenberg, The Houston Chronicle; Sally Shipman Service Provider Staff – Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk, SEARCH Homeless Services.

Sponsors and partners involved in Three Decades of Achievement include: Marilyn L. Brown; The Frees Foundation; Harris County Department of Education; Diane and Tim Horan; The Lee Group; Martha and Aris Macris; Kimberly Sterling/Sterling Associates; Ashley and Thomas J. N. Verhagen; Housing for Houston Housing Authority; New Hope Housing; and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

The Three Decades of Achievement Host Committee members include: David Benson, Council Member Ellen Cohen, Ira C. Colby, Clara B. Cooper, Travis Courville, Renee D. Cross, Cathy Crouch, Shelly Cypress, Stephan Fairfield, Nancy Frees Fountain, Tory Gunsolley, Celes Harris, Cathy Henderson, Donna J. Herron, Tim Horan, Frances Isbell, Brenda Kirk, Lynn Lohr, Martha Macris, Linda K. May, Dennis W. Nelson, Charles J. O’Connell, Timothy N. Oettmeier, Gordon J. Quan, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, Gayla Rawlinson, Steven B. Schnee, Ph.D., Robert Sohns, Clarissa Stephens, Kimberly Sterling, Thomas J.N. Verhagen and Stephen L. Williams.

Tickets for the event are available online or by contacting Jeff Sokoloff, Coalition Director of Development, at 832-531-6005.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County was established in 1982, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1988, and has evolved to be the lead agency coordinating the community response to homelessness in Houston. Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, passed in 2009, an entire community rather than individual service providers must demonstrate success in preventing and reducing homelessness. In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances due to the commitment of homeless service providers and key community stakeholders, including both private and public contributors.

Press release

Coalition for the Homeless Celebrates 7th Anniversary of Homeless court

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County celebrates 7 years of its impactful program, Homeless Court (HC), which assists homeless defendants who wish to resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses and warrants. Held during special sessions within the City of Houston Municipal Court, the program was modeled on the first homeless court program launched in San Diego in 1989. Homeless Court works to resolve the problems that homelessness presents such as being cited for loitering outside of a convenience store; or sleeping in a public park. HC builds on partnerships between the court, local shelters and service agencies. Learn more about this innovative program here .

“As Director and Presiding Judge for the City of Houston Municipal Courts, I am not only grateful for the partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless, but also for the invaluable service we provide to the homeless of our community.” said Judge Barbara Hartle. “The goal of the City of Houston Municipal Courts Homeless Dockets is to remove legal barriers for defendants who are homeless and who have not been able to renew or obtain a Texas Drivers License or Identification Card due to outstanding tickets/citations. Obtaining a Driver’s License/Identification Card enables homeless individuals to seek employment and housing. This is accomplished by a combined effort of our Court staff and the Coalition, who offer alternative solutions including community service hours, to resolve outstanding municipal fines and fees.”

“The Coalition created the Houston version of Homeless Court because of the huge outcry for the program from our service providers,” said Marilyn L. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition. “The offenses occurred due to the client’s homelessness. Once they got off the street and into a program at a service provider, these defendants began taking steps to resolve their problems. A hearing at a special court session was an opportunity for many to resolve these minor offenses and begin again with a clean slate.”

Homeless service agencies provide programs to clients that address issues such as recovery, education, employment, healthcare and housing. Upon successful participation in a program, a participant will be referred through case management to HC. A judge reviews the submitted proof of program participation, reviews the defendants’ offenses and then sentences the individual. Most often the judge assigns said defendant to community service at the homeless service provider where they are currently residing. The philosophy of the program is rehabilitative rather than punitive. It gives people a chance to better themselves while at the same time resolving a criminal matter.

Stephanie, a former resident of St. Joseph House , has a story that demonstrates how effective this program is for homeless people. St. Joseph House serves people with mental illness. Stephanie used METRO Light Rail as transportation to a doctor’s appointment. She lacked the fare for the trip back to shelter and was cited for “Riding Public Transportation Without Fare” by a METRO police officer. She returned to the shelter distraught because she was in the process of interviewing for several jobs and replacing her State I.D. With the support of the St. Joseph Home case manager, she appeared in Homeless Court and had her ticket and Failure to Appear warrant dismissed. Today she is the receptionist for a prominent Houston-based law firm and has her own apartment.

Press release

City’s new homeless czar optimistic about efforts

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

February 3, 2013 – Houston Chronicle

“Mayor Annise Parker last week appointed the city’s first special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives, Mandy Chapman Semple. A Montana native who has worked in Houston since 2010, Semple is affiliated with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a national housing nonprofit. She is charged with developing strategies, in coordination with local partners, to end chronic homelessness in Houston.”

The full Houston Chronicle article is available here .

Preconceived notions tested against reality

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

From a 2013 Homeless Point-In-Time Count volunteer:

“Until today, I had never actually had a conversation with a homeless person. I’ve brushed off many with a curt ‘no I can’t help you’ or ‘don’t have any change’ . And that was only, if there was no other possible way to completely escape their advances. But that’s the extent of it. Near zero contact has not stopped me from developing notions about what they are like. You read ‘stuff’, you hear ‘stuff’, you see ‘stuff’ … albeit from a distance. That ‘stuff’ has informed my picture and opinions.

When a friend was looking for volunteers to help interview the homeless on behalf of the Coalition for the Homeless today, I felt called to step outside my safe distance and help out(…)”

You can read the entire blog post here .

Coalition issues post-Charrette Final Report, Recommendations

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County issued a final report in August from Phase II of the Charrette process it hosted in Houston with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). More than 450 diverse stakeholders from the community participated in the Charrette including business leaders, homeless service providers, faith-based organization executives and consumers (those who are currently homeless and formerly homeless individuals).

Coalition announces late August Community Charrette, Mayor Parker to Speak

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TO HOST COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN MEETINGS, AUGUST 20, 21, 23, 282

August 7, 2012 (Houston, Texas) The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is hosting a four-day Charrette, facilitated by consultants from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) on August 20-21, 23 and 28.A 15-member Charrette Steering Committee has met over the last three months and through community feedback and information gathering has selected six issue areas to be addressed at the planning sessions. They include: Integrating Housing and Services; Performance and Accountability; Right Sizing the Continuum of Care (CoC) Housing Models; Prevention and Diversion; Coordinated Access and Political Will and Advocacy. Click here for the Charrette flier and Study Guide.

Mayor Annise Parker will give an opening address to Charrette participants on Monday, August 20 at 9:15 a.m. Experts from across the country will speak at the Charrette including: Michael DeVos, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; Joyce Probst MacAlpine of Montgomery, Ohio; Britt Shawver, Housing Opportunities for Women, Chicago; Mike Shore, Community Solutions, 100,000 Homes Campaign and Kim Walker of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“Houston is proud to facilitate this convening of leading experts to help prevent and end homelessness through the development of a Community Action Plan,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “Homelessness is an epidemic in Houston – one that is preventable. I look forward to the recommendations that come out of this planning process.”

The Charrette sessions will be held at the Harris County Department of Education, located at 6300 Irvington Boulevard, Conference Room 502, Houston, 77002. The public is invited to attend these meetings, which will address the causes and propose solutions to the multiple facets of homelessness in the greater Houston area. For information on how to participate in the Charrette, please contact Gary Grier, Director of Community Engagement, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or please call (713) 739-7514.

“Homelessness is a concern for our entire community,” stated Marilyn L. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. “The Charrette process is an opportunity for all voices to be heard on this issue. We need to work together to develop an effective action plan to prevent and end homelessness.”

A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its Community Action Plan. The upcoming Community Charrette on Homelessness, which will encompass Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County, is an opportunity for collaboration among diverse stakeholders to solve community problems related to homelessness. The Community Charrette is a direct result of the current Continuum of Care work being led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

CHARETTE SCHEDULE AND TOPICS

Monday, August 20, 2012

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Integrating Housing and Services

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Performance and Accountability3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Right Sizing CoC Housing Models

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Prevention and Diversion

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Coordinated Access

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Building Political Will/Advocacy

Thursday, August 23, 2012

10:00 – noon Open office hours for Community Feedback

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Presentation of Initial Findings/Community Feedback

Session

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

10:00 a.m. – noon Presentation of the Final Report

Coalition releases 2012 Needs Assessment findings in Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ANNOUNCES RECENT FINDINGS ON HOUSTON AREA NEEDS

On a given night in the greater Houston area more than 8,700 people are homeless

July 31, 2012 (Houston, Texas) – The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County announced today the findings from its annual Needs Assessment Report and its Point-in-Time count of the homeless in Houston,Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Enumerations and Needs Assessment is a program conducted by the Coalition, required of all communities that receive federal support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to the 2012 PIT, which provides a snapshot of homelessness on a given night, there are approximately 8,768 homeless persons in our area. This includes 3,824 people living unsheltered, 3,532 living in sheltered facilities, and 1,412 in the Harris County Jail.

THE FACE OF HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness is a complex issue, and effective efforts to prevent and end it require broad community participation. Triggers that lead to homelessness may include job loss, eviction by a family member, bills higher than earnings, domestic abuse, incarceration, mental and/or physical illness, drug and alcohol abuse or changes in family status. In fact, job loss was a leading factor for 35%of the individuals captured in the 2012 Needs Assessment report.

The Coalition’s HMIS (short for Homeless Management Information System) is a computerized data collection tool specifically designed to capture client-level, system-wide information over time on the characteristics and services needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. According to recent HMIS findings, 22,781 homeless people in this area accessed services this year. Of these individuals, 28% were living in emergency shelters.

More than 22% of the homeless in Houston are in families with children, of which 28% of the children are under the age of 18. Domestic violence contributes to 30% of homeless families, headed by women with their children.Veterans comprise 22% of Houston’s homeless, even though 70% were eligible for Veterans Affairs benefits. Of this population only 30% were receiving the benefits for which they were eligible.

“In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances,” stated Marilyn L. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. “The Coalition for the Homeless works with numerous area service providers every day to prevent and end homelessness in our region. Our partners are striving to assist and support homeless individuals who need their services to survive. Through their efforts, we have seen a drop in the homeless population in Houston. We remain committed to ending the cycle of chronic homelessness in our region. We are pleased to be a convener of hard data on homelessness in this region every year. Armed with the right information and collaborative partnerships among citizens, business leaders and government officials, we can continue to make these numbers decrease.”

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

As part of its mission to prevent and end homelessness, the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is hosting a two-day Charrette on August 20-21, with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing. A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its Community Action Plan on homelessness. The upcoming Community Charrette on Homelessness, which will encompass Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County, is an opportunity for collaboration among diverse stakeholders to solve community problems related to homelessness. The Community Charrette is a direct result of the current Continuum of Care work being led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

Mayor Annise Parker will give an opening address to Charrette participants on Monday, August 20 at 9:15 a.m. Many specialists in the region will participate as speakers and/or panelists during the two-day working Charrette.

The Charrette sessions will be held at the Harris County Department of Education, located at 6300 Irvington Boulevard in Houston. The public is invited to attend these meetings, which will address the causes and propose solutions to the multiple facets of homelessness in the greater Houston area. For information on how to participate in the Charrette, please contact Gary Grier, Director of Community Engagement, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or please call (713) 739-7514.

Houston Chronicle shares Coalition’s Charrette Information

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County will hold a series of meetings starting next week to get ideas from the community about how to prevent and end homelessness.

The goal is to draft a community action plan after meetings to be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Aug. 28.

The meetings come on the heels of the coalition’s annual count of the homeless, which showed a 14 percent drop in from 2011. Houston, targeted by federal officials as a priority community, has an opportunity to build on that momentum, said coalition president and CEO Marilyn L. Brown.

Get to next level

“We’ve laid all the groundwork and recognize the seriousness of the issue, but we have to include the faith and business communities and individuals,” Brown said. “We have to have more than people in the business of providing the services to get to the next higher level of ending and preventing homelessness.”

Click here to read the full article: http://www.chron.com/default/article/Coalition-seeks-community-input-on-homelessness-3794366.php

Coalition for the Homeless and 500 volunteers to conduct Houston Homeless Count

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Coalition for the Homeless and 500 volunteers Conduct Houston Homeless Count HOUSTON, TX — January 24, 2011 5:30 p.m. — the key to solving homelessness is understanding who is homeless. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) will conduct the ninth annual Houston Homeless Count of unsheltered homeless men women and families on Tuesdays: January 24th and January 31st, 2012. The homeless count is part of a nationwide initiative/mandate of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess the extent and characteristics of homelessness across the country. The results are reported to Congress annually.

The Count, managed by CFTH through nine staging areas throughout Houston, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, serves as the primary source of data locally and nationally to verify homelessness trends and to track progress on community efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Last year’s Count (January 2011), revealed a 25% increase over 2010 in homelessness (8,538 homeless were counted) which ranked Houston as having the largest homeless population in Texas and the 8th largest in the US.

During the course of the count, efforts are taken by the outreach teams to connect homeless men, women, youth and families with immediate referrals to shelter and services. In addition to the unsheltered homeless count, the Coalition will conduct a count of those who are homeless but sheltered on the same day. Conducting both an unsheltered count and sheltered count provides a more in depth picture of homelessness in Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Count information is not only reported to HUD and Congress, but is used locally to help CFTH and providers design housing and service programs that will achieve the community’s ultimate goal: a homeless system that achieves decreases in new homelessness, length of homelessness and returns to homelessness.

The importance of the 2012 Homeless Count was noticed by over 400 concerned citizens who have volunteered to canvass neighborhoods throughout Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Volunteers are assigned to staging areas that mobilize them into teams of four, one of whom is an experienced count volunteer, to document individuals, families with children and youth who are homeless by driving through researched areas where homelessness persists. Special populations such as homeless veterans, youth, mentally ill, and persons fleeing domestic violence are engaged by specialized outreach teams. Houston Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team provides guidance and safety information for all teams.

CFTH would like to thank our donors/sponsors for the 2012 Homeless Count. Sponsors include: Insperity, Gensler and Reliant and funding for the Stand Up and Be Counted Corps pilot project, an activity of the

Count, has also been generously provided by a United Way of Greater Houston Community Building Grant. Mayor Annise Parker recently urged Houstonians to volunteer for the Count and donated 21,000 tshirts to the cause through the Mayor’s Citizen’s Assistance Office. Volunteers can still join in the efforts online at www.houstonhomelesscount.org .

Change of Leadership Announcement

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON (Jan. 4, 2012) – The Board of Directors of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County announces a leadership change. Marilyn L. Brown has joined the Coalition as President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Brown is an attorney with over 30 years in nonprofit leadership.

Nancy Frees Fountain, Chairman of the Board stated, “The Coalition’s Board of Directors, staff and alliance of homeless service providers thank Ms. Connie S. Boyd for the strides made over the past year and wish her the best in her future endeavors. We are pleased that Ms. Brown has assumed the helm and will continue the vital work of the Coalition.” Ms. Brown will utilize her expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning and communications to strengthen and expand the Coalition’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness. “I am excited to join in the work of the Coalition and further its efforts to create a homeless service system that will ultimately reduce new homelessness, the length of homeless episodes, and returns to homelessness throughout the Houston/Harris County region,” said Ms. Brown, President and CEO. “We will continue moving forward with the homeless system improvements underway to comply with changing federal legislation and to secure resources for homeless programs in our community.”

In 2011, the Coalition experienced a number of successes that will gain momentum in 2012 and make a

difference in the lives of homeless men, women and children. These successes include:

Collaborating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and their technical assistance providers to assess community needs across the Continuum of Care and leading the application process that will create 100 new permanent supportive housing units and 221 new beds for 124 adults and 97 children;
Cultivating a housing nonprofit organization to sponsor 70 permanent supporting housing units that otherwise would have been lost to the community;
Administering Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and decreasing duplication by 90%;
Convening community stakeholders to self-select four major community priorities including: coordinated intake; provider performance measurement; targeted prevention; rapid re-housing expansion and leading subsequent planning and implementation groups;
Developing a database of permanent supportive housing providers detailing sites and services;
Cultivating relationships with housing authorities and providers to facilitate the increase of housing vouchers designated for homeless clients.

First priority for the new year will be leading the January 2012 Homeless Count. Performed on three consecutive Tuesdays beginning January 17, Coalition for the Homeless utilizes teams of volunteers to scour Harris and Fort Bend Counties in an effort to obtain an accurate record of the number of homeless in our community. These numbers aid the Coalition, City and County to receive federal funds. Last year’s count educated the community on the facts that one in every 300 individuals in Harris and Fort Bend Counties is homeless and that on any given night, 8,500 homeless men, women and children are living on the streets.

Harris County Officially Proclaims Coalition as “local Authority on Homelessness”

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Harris County Commissioners Court has declared 2011 as the year to unite homeless organizations in finding permanent solutions to homelessness. At its June 7, 2011 meeting, the court named the Coalition as the local authority on homelessness and acknowledged the community priorities–coordinated intake, targeted prevention, rapid rehousing, and performance improvement–that will fundamentally transform the local response to homelessness and help stakeholders strategically address this continuing crisis. A huge Coalition thanks to David Benson, David Turkel, and Daphne Lamelle for all their support and guidance.

Harris County Proclamation

houston_coalition_for_the_homeless

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