CFTH Presents - How Federal Funding Actually Fights Homelessness

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

Temenos CDC operates four programs, three of which rely on federal funding. Their work focuses on supporting people experiencing chronic homelessness, addiction, and housing instability among youth. Their trauma-informed approach provides case management, mental health care, physical health services, and a pathway to stability.

Madelyn Wages, Director of Operations, shared Gloria Eaglin’s story – a Temenos MVP. After a back injury led to early retirement and the loss of her savings, she found herself homeless. Through Temenos, she stabilized and then returned, this time as an employee. She now provides support to others walking similar paths and is building a landscaping business with the goal of hiring current Temenos residents.

For Temenos, federal funding supports program services, essential utilities and maintenance, and program supplies. In 2024, federal funding supported housing for a total of 138 households.

US VETS Houston

Houston is home to the largest veteran population in the nation, and US Vets Houston is the largest veteran service provider in the country. About 65% of their programs are funded by the VA, with their Northside campus and Griggs Road service center offering permanent supportive housing, case management, and workforce development. The Griggs Road service center, which serves individuals experiencing literal homelessness, is 100% federally funded.

Executive Director, David Traxler, shared the story of Dr. Paige, a veteran suffering from PTSD who got her doctorate degree but later lost her home after being laid off. With support from US VETS and federal Rapid Rehousing funds, she stabilized and later became a Biomedical and Pharmacy Science professor at Texas Southern University.

Through federal funds, US Vets was able to serve over 350 veterans through transitional housing, permanent housing or rapid re-housing in 2024. Their message was clear: federal investment doesn’t just provide services it enables them to transform lives.

Houston Areas Women's Center (HAWC)

The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) brought an important perspective to the conversation, domestic violence is not just a personal issue, it’s a public health issue and housing is a key component of survivors’ safety.

HAWC operates a wide range of services, from a 24/7 hotline and legal advocacy to housing stability and economic empowerment. More than 50% of their funding is from government sources, and 80% of that funding is federal.

As CEO Sonia Corrales shared, one client that had been referred to by the Houston Police Department found a new beginning through transitional housing. That success was made possible by wraparound services that offer comprehensive, survivor-centered support.

For HAWC, federal funding supports their transitional and rapid re-housing programs, enabling them to help over 100 families in those programs achieve safety and stability.

Spring Branch Community Health Center (SBCHC)

The team at Spring Branch Community Health Center (SBCHC) emphasized the impact of housing on health outcomes. As a federally qualified health center, SBCHC has provided medical care for more than 20 years and permanent supportive housing for the last four.

Chief Program Officer, Mike Smith, explained how their model integrates medical care, behavioral health, and case management to serve individuals with complex needs. And thanks to federal funding, they can deliver the kind of wraparound support that stabilizes lives. In their words, “If you don’t have housing or proper healthcare, nothing else matters.”

Mike shared a client story of a young woman named Maria, who after receiving supportive housing services and had her basic needs met, she was able to focus on her health, return to school and reconnect with her family.

CFTH

Renee Cavazos, VP of the Homeless Response System at CFTH, brought the evening full circle, reminding us why this work matters. As the HUD-designated coordinator, CFTH helps our homeless response system – The Way Home – secure and coordinate federal funds, oversees the data system (HMIS) and supports local providers.

This year, CFTH helped secure over $71.6 million in annual federal funding. That funding supports everything from housing referrals and youth initiatives to outreach teams and system-level planning – serving over 22,000 people annually.

As Renee put it, “Progress isn’t a spreadsheet. It’s the mother who finally has a place to tuck her kids in at night. It’s the young person aging out of foster care who gets a key instead of a crisis.”

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.”

Watch the Presentations

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Unprecedented $48 Million Regional Homelessness Fund & Initiative Announced

October 7, 2026

HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 7, 2026) — Local private philanthropic leaders announced today the establishment of an unprecedented, dedicated fund to launch Pathways to Independence (P2I), a new regional, $48 million homelessness initiative. P2I will build on the area’s nationally acknowledged momentum to end street homelessness and to resolve new instances of homelessness within 90 days. P2I is designed to achieve long-term sustainability by securing public funding beyond an initial three-year period. $34 million (70%) has already been raised from local private philanthropies toward the $48 million goal. Speaking on behalf of philanthropic investors in this initiative, Ryan Dolibois, executive director of Sarofim Foundation and Chair of the P2I Executive Leadership Committee said, “The City of Houston, Harris County, and CFTH and the partners of The Way Home have made remarkable strides in addressing homelessness . Pathways to Independence is a regional action plan that builds on this work and writes the next chapter in how we address homelessness. We are building significant momentum and providing additional critical investment to amplify proven results, address persistent gaps in the current homeless response system, and give more people a path from homelessness to stability.” Co-created with the City of Houston, Harris County and the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), P2I’s first funders were The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Cullen Foundation; Houston Endowment; Kinder Foundation®; and Sarofim Foundation . The Homelessness Strategic Philanthropy Fund, a component fund of Greater Houston Community Foundation, will receive and steward charitable contributions and support grantmaking aligned with the initiative's approved strategy. (For a full list of funders to date, see Attachment 1.) Expanding the Region’s Response The Way Home is the Continuum of Care — or homeless response system as funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development — serving Houston and Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County. Coordinated by CFTH, it is a public-private partnership of dozens of organizations working together to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. The Way Home has made nationally recognized progress , housing more than 38,000 people by aligning federal funding around a shared strategy of permanent housing programs. P2I builds on this model by adding faster, more flexible interventions; more accessible ways to reach help; stronger behavioral-health and healthcare coordination; and greater collaboration across systems that encounter the same individuals repeatedly. Among other interventions, P2I will expand available options for people who can quickly resolve their homelessness via targeted strategies. These “rapid resolutions” include creative problem-solving and short-term stabilization. Stronger coordination across housing, behavioral health, healthcare, criminal justice, and community service systems to reduce inflow into homelessness will also be critical. “Not everyone requires — or can qualify for — permanent housing programs to resolve their homelessness. P2I is designed for people our existing resources cannot currently reach quickly or effectively,” said Kelly Young, president and CEO of CFTH . “With this strategic philanthropic fund, our homeless response system will be able to fill critical gaps, test promising approaches, and invest in what works. The City of Houston and Harris County each bring essential expertise and investments to this regional strategy.” Building on City Investments The City of Houston recently made a bold investment in homelessness response with the opening of 419 Emancipation , designed to help people move off the streets and into a safe, structured environment where they can stabilize, have their needs assessed, connect to treatment and supportive services, and ultimately transition to appropriate housing solutions. “419 Emancipation has become an important new opportunity for people experiencing homelessness. And while we are seeing meaningful outcomes, there remains a critical need for more exit doors that lead to lasting stability,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire . “Pathways to Independence will help create those next steps. I commend Houston’s philanthropic community for building on the City’s work with this substantial commitment. Let’s get to work.” Advancing Harris County’s Leadership The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Housing & Community Development, Harris County Public Health, the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, the Harris County Office of County Administration, and other County partners all contribute to this work. These regional public systems often encounter people at critical moments when the right intervention can prevent homelessness bringing deep criminal justice, reentry, behavioral health, healthcare, housing and community service systems expertise and resources. “Harris County is committed to helping our communities thrive by strengthening eviction prevention and other supports that keep people housed and prevent homelessness before it begins,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis . “The County is continuing to invest to expand these proven strategies and, through this joint effort, leverage our resources to move faster and build lasting solutions. Housing is a human right, and I look forward to advancing our work to ensure every resident has a safe, stable place to call home.” “Harris County has made meaningful progress in reducing homelessness, and I am proud of the work we have done, but our work is not done yet,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “We are still seeing working families who are one paycheck away from losing everything. That is why we cannot afford to stand still. We must keep adapting and keep connecting people to the right services at the right time. That is exactly why I fully support Pathways to Independence. It gives people a hand up, meeting them where they are and helping them build a stable future.” “I’m proud to support Pathways to Independence, the next chapter in Harris County’s fight to end homelessness,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. “This data-driven initiative meets each person where they are, offering immediate assistance to help our neighbors get back on their feet with short-term relief, plus long-term support like housing, transportation, domestic violence services, and behavioral healthcare. Through the power of public-private partnership, we are doubling down on our efforts so that more people can find stability faster. We are relentlessly committed to ending homelessness and creating a Harris County where everyone can thrive." A Cross-Sector Strategy See the accompanying Supplemental Quotes document for additional quotes from: Ric Campo, Chairman and CEO, Camden Property Trust Thao Costis, Executive Director, Harris County Housing & Community Development Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff of Harris County, Harris County Sheriff's Office Steve Kean, President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership Kris Larson, President and CEO, Downtown Houston+ Keena Pace, President and CEO, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Mike Nichols, Director, City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department Larry Satterwhite, Director, Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security The Brown Foundation, Inc. Cullen Foundation Houston Endowment Kinder Foundation® Stewarding the Investment Greater Houston Community Foundation will steward the dedicated component fund supporting the Pathways to Independence initiative. Foundations, corporations, families, and individuals interested in contributing should contact CFTH before making a donation . Katina Baldwin, senior director of development at CFTH, will coordinate contributions to go to the Homelessness Strategic Philanthropy Fund at Greater Houston Community Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation, and help ensure timely acknowledgment. She can be reached at katina.baldwin@cfthhouston.org or 832-531-6063. How to Get Help People experiencing homelessness or seeking local assistance can visit CFTH’s online Help Card for information about shelters, day centers, health care and other community resources. For free information and referrals to local assistance programs, call 2-1-1, the United Way of Greater Houston’s 24-hour helpline. About Pathways to Independence Led by an Executive Leadership Committee, Pathways to Independence (P2I) brings together philanthropy; local government; healthcare; business, nonprofit and community partners to resolve homelessness across Houston and Harris County. The initiative builds on the progress of The Way Home while expanding options for people who may not need or qualify for permanent housing programs. Through flexible investment, cross-sector coordination and disciplined evaluation, Pathways to Independence will help more people move from crisis to stability. For more information, visit https://www.cfthhouston.org/pathways About the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) makes solving homelessness possible. We bring people, data, dollars, and systems together to accelerate sustainable solutions and to transform how the Houston region responds to homelessness. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CFTH is the convener and coordinator of Pathways to Independence and serves as the lead agency to The Way Home , our region’s Continuum of Care for homelessness response. For more information, visit www.cfthhouston.org . For more information on Pathways to Independence, view our Media Kit.