Hurricane Harvey: Five Years Later

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.

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CFTH Releases 2026 Point-In-Time Count Results as Part of New State of Homelessness In Houston Report

By Sara Hart • June 12, 2026

Houston, Texas (June 12, 2026) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) today released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count & Survey as part of the inaugural State of Homelessness in Houston report, a regional effort that combines PIT Count data with additional system indicators to provide a broader understanding of homelessness and system response across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The report found 3,321 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in February 2026, reflecting relative stability compared to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count of 3,325. At the same time, the data highlights continued challenges related to unsheltered homelessness, economic and housing pressures, and the ongoing need for coordinated regional investment in homeless response and prevention efforts. This year’s report expands beyond the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to include additional indicators generated through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and HUD System Performance Measures (SPMs). Together, these measures provide additional context about year-round interactions with the homeless response system, housing stability outcomes, and inflow into homelessness over time. "The Point-in-Time Count is like a photograph," said Renee Cavazos-Benavides, vice president of the homeless response system at CFTH . "It captures an important moment, but there is always more happening outside the frame. That's why this year's report includes additional indicators that help us understand how people move into homelessness, how they move back into housing, and where we need to focus our efforts as a community." Key findings from the report include: 3,321 people experiencing homelessness during the February 2026 PIT Count 35,988 unique clients served through the homeless response system, The Way Home, during calendar year 2025 2,135 households housed by partners of The Way Home during calendar year 2025 7,110 people entering homelessness for the first time during federal FY25 85% of people who exited homelessness remained stably housed over a two-year period The PIT Count found 2,051 sheltered individuals and 1,270 unsheltered individuals across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. "The additional data shows our system is doing a great job maintaining our progress, in spite of additional economic stressors and pandemic funding having been exhausted,” said Kelly Young, president and CEO of CFTH . “Further progress will depend not only on additional investments in housing and services but also on our ability to expand new interventions to resolve homelessness more quickly." More than half of unsheltered individuals identified during the PIT Count had a matching HMIS record, reflecting ongoing engagement between outreach teams and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The findings underscore the continued need for outreach, additional pathways indoors, and sustained local investment to maintain system stability and respond to changing community needs. “The Point-in-Time Count gives our community a chance to pause and check in with people who may not yet be housed, sheltered, or consistently connected to services,” said Dr. Ben King, clinical assistant professor at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine . “It helps us capture information that does not always show up in routine system data — including where people are staying, what barriers they are facing, and what they identify as the causes of their homelessness. Used alongside HMIS data, program performance measures, and community input, the PIT Count remains an important tool to answer questions we wouldn't get to ask otherwise." The annual PIT Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and helps communities measure trends in homelessness over time. However, the PIT Count does not represent the total number of people who experience homelessness throughout the year. The 2026 State of Homelessness in Houston report combines PIT Count data with other key indicators to provide a more complete picture of homelessness across the region. Behind every number is a person, and a better understanding of homelessness helps communities respond more effectively. "The results remind us that homelessness is one of the most complex challenges facing our city. This is why the 419 Emancipation resource living facility is so important. We will continue working with stakeholders to move people off the streets and provide them with assistance, with the goal of reducing homelessness throughout our community and our neighborhoods," said Mayor John Whitmire. “I’m so proud that Harris County has reduced homelessness by more than 16% between 2018 and 2026, even when most other communities have seen homelessness skyrocket. We’re tackling the issue from both ends: we’re investing in programs to prevent poverty and promote economic mobility, and we’re also prioritizing safe and stable housing for those experiencing homelessness. Our community is only as successful as our most vulnerable residents, and I want to thank the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, and all of our other local partners who have helped turn Harris County into a national model for reducing homelessness,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. "The 2026 Point-in-Time Count confirms that our region has remained stable while homelessness has increased in many other parts of the country. However, stability is not enough when over a thousand of our neighbors are still sleeping outside. I’m grateful to the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, outreach teams, law enforcement, service providers, and volunteers for showing that a coordinated local approach can help move people from crisis toward housing,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “As a former street cop and sheriff, I know we do not solve homelessness by simply moving people from one place to another. We solve it by treating people with dignity, connecting them to services, and creating real pathways to housing. I remain committed to working with our partners to prevent homelessness, support our veterans and most vulnerable residents, and make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Harris County." “Harris County’s stability in the Point‑in‑Time Count stands out against the sharp increase in homelessness seen nationwide since the pandemic,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones . “These results reflect years of continued investment in strengthening partnerships and expanding critical services, including two new emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence. We know there is much more work ahead, and I remain committed to working alongside our partners to prevent and ultimately end homelessness in our community.” “Even with limited new funding and few new programs launched during this reporting period, Houston has remained relatively stable. What this latest data underscores is the need to continue investing in service-connected solutions like 419 Emancipation,” said Mike Nichols, Director of the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department . “Now that 419 is operational, we are optimistic this triage, transition, and treatment model will help connect more individuals to care, services, and clear pathways toward stability. Behind every number is a real person, and our goal is to ensure more Houstonians are connected to the right support and a stronger path forward.” The full report and methodology appendix are available online here. The executive summary is available online here. The State of Homelessness report is available online here. For more information about the PIT Count and The Way Home homeless response system, visit www.cfthhouston.org. For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here . For photos and B roll of volunteers conducting this year’s PIT Count, click here . ### The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is the backbone of Houston’s solutions to homelessness. It’s a nonprofit organization that uses the power of collective impact to move people experiencing homelessness into housing solutions. Learn more at www.cfthhouston.org . The Way Home is the homeless response system for Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. It’s a public-private partnership — a network of dozens of homeless service providers and other government, philanthropic, and business partners. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), a 501c3, is the designated coordinator of The Way Home.

A Snapshot, Not the Whole Story: Looking Beyond the PIT Count in Houston

By Sara Hart • May 15, 2026

Every year, Houston’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count helps provide a snapshot of homelessness across the region. But as speakers emphasized during CFTH Presents: The PIT Count — Behind the Numbers , no single number can fully explain homelessness, or the work required to address it. Hosted by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), the discussion brought together leaders from outreach, data systems, and public health to explore how Houston measures homelessness, why the PIT Count matters, and how year-round data helps guide the region’s homelessness response system.

CFTH Leads 2026 PIT Count of People Experiencing Homelessness

By Catherine Villarreal • February 24, 2026

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