In the News - May/June
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.”
Read more on The Denver Gazette.
- 05/2024 | Call To Mind – “The homelessness crisis & mental health”
“This program will take you to the streets of New York City to hear directly from people who have lived homeless about what they needed most. You’ll also hear from experts who say the best mental health care for people living homeless is no-strings-attached housing.”
Listen to the full episode on Call To Mind.
- 05/09/2024 | Axios – “Houston homelessness strategy focus of documentary”
“The new documentary "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness" shines a spotlight on Houston's housing-first strategy to reduce homelessness.
“Houston and Milwaukee were portrayed as cities with a sustainable solution that transitions people into permanent, affordable homes instead of temporary shelters, while also offering comprehensive support services.”
Read more on Axios.
- 06/09/2024 | Port City Daily – “As the city and county develop a homeless strategy, what can they learn from the success of Houston?”
“Research shows that communities with homelessness providers, government agencies and community partners coalescing around a shared strategy find more success in reducing homelessness.
“The city that maybe most exemplifies the marrying of these components is Houston, Texas. After revamping its homelessness strategy over a decade ago, the city cut its homeless population by 64%, going from 7,187 in 2012 to 3,270 in 2023.”
Read more on Port City Daily.
- 06/13/2024 | The Beacon – “Residents want input, concessions before backing a low-barrier homeless shelter in Northeast Kansas City”
“Northeast residents say the city failed to explain the benefits of one large, low-barrier shelter or to address their safety concerns. That led to community pushback.”
Read more on The Beacon.
- 06/18/2024 | Houston Chronicle – “Houston's seen as a success story for reducing homelessness. Advocates warn a spike might be looming”
“The number of people living in shelters or outdoors stayed flat year over year in the Houston region, according to the 2024 results of an annual count.
“The number of people living on the streets fell 11%, to 1,107 in 2024 from 1,242 the year before as more people stayed in shelters. This May, the number of people staying in Houston-area shelters, which shut down half their beds to slow the spread of COVID-19, finally returned pre-pandemic levels.”
Read more on the Houston Chronicle.
- 06/18/2024 | Houston Public Media – “Report: Homelessness is steadily decreasing in the Harris County region”
“Homelessness is declining in and around Harris County, according to a study released on Tuesday by a local organization.
“Nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, or CFTH, took a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties on January 22.”
Read more on Houston Public Media.
- 06/20/2024 | Community Impact – “Houston-area homelessness remains steady; concerns for future funding loom”
“The annual “point-in-time” survey by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County suggests homelessness remains steady locally, despite a nationwide increase.
“In a new report released June 18, 3,280 people experienced homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties in January, a slight increase from 2023. In addition, unsheltered homelessness was down to 1,107 individuals, a 4% decrease since 2023.”
Read more on Community Impact.
- 06/24/2024 | Houston Public Media – “Coalition for the Homeless receives $1.4 million grant to help end youth homelessness in Houston”
“The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County will use an over $1.4 million grant to look for ways to end youth homelessness.
“The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the coalition $1,421,681 on Monday to fund further outreach to Galveston County and build on the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. The program provides support to youth experiencing homelessness.”
Read more on Houston Public Media.
- 06/28/2024 | The Texas Tribune - “The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on homeless encampments. Here’s what it means for Texas.”
“The ruling comes amid a nationwide surge in homelessness as high rents put pressure on low-income households and pandemic-era protections expire.
“Bans on homeless encampments in Texas drew the effective backing of the U.S. Supreme Court in a sweeping ruling Friday that allows cities and states to fine people experiencing homelessness for sleeping in public places amid record-high homelessness levels.”
Read more on The Texas Tribune.
- 06/28/2024 | KHOU – “A US Supreme Court ruling could impact how Houston handles its homeless population”
“A United States Supreme Court ruling on Friday could impact how cities like Houston address homelessness.
“The ruling said cities can enforce bans on unhoused people from sleeping outside.
“For Houston, there's no direct impact from the ruling, but it does open the door for the city to consider new measures.”
Watch the segment on KHOU.
- 06/28/2024 | Houston Chronicle – “What does the Supreme Court's homelessness ruling mean for Houston?”
“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that homeless people can be fined and arrested for sleeping in public, even if there isn’t a shelter where they could sleep instead.”
Read more on the Houston Chronicle.
