The Next Step, Not One Size Fits All: How Rapid Resolutions Creates Faster Paths to Stability

When someone experiences homelessness, the right solution is not always a long-term housing program. Sometimes a person needs help replacing an ID, reconnecting with family, finding an affordable shared home or overcoming another immediate barrier.

That idea guided CFTH Presents: Building Better Pathways — Creating Faster Routes to Stability. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) hosted the discussion with leaders who oversee and carry out Rapid Resolutions across The Way Home, the Houston region’s homeless response system.

Click here to watch the full recording.

What Rapid Resolutions Means

Rapid Resolutions helps people move from homelessness toward stable housing as quickly as possible. The approach starts with a simple question: What would help this person move forward today?

The answer will be different for each person. Staff take time to understand someone’s strengths, relationships, choices and immediate barriers. They then work with the person to identify a realistic next step.

“People are not defined by the crisis they are experiencing. They have strengths, relationships, choices and ideas about what might work for them,” said James Gonzalez, vice president of systems integration at CFTH.

This approach differs from traditional permanent housing programs. Many of those programs have strict rules about who qualifies and how providers make referrals. They remain essential, especially for people who need long-term rental assistance and support.

But not every person needs the same level of help. Rapid Resolutions gives providers another way to respond.

Starting With What Someone Needs Today

A path toward stability can begin by removing one immediate barrier.

During the discussion, panelists described helping people get identification, receive mail, enter recovery services, reconnect with family or cover transportation and moving costs.

“It’s not about what we want for them. It’s about what they want,” said Heather Clark, manager of diversion programs at The Beacon.

This person-centered approach gives people a voice in deciding what comes next. It also asks staff to look beyond a list of programs and understand what is keeping someone from resolving a housing crisis right now.

Different People Need Different Paths

The panel shared examples that showed how much those paths can vary.

One young adult came to Houston for a job that did not work out. Staff learned that his strongest support system was back home. They helped him reconnect with his family and provided a bus ticket so he could return safely.

In another case, a mother with three children lost her job and experienced homelessness for the first time. She kept looking for work while staying in a shelter. With help from Rapid Resolutions, she found housing that she could afford. She later connected with continued case management and completed a professional certification.

The two situations required different responses. In both cases, staff listened, identified available resources and built a plan around the person’s needs.

Looking Beyond Traditional Housing Options

Shared housing has also become an important part of this work.

For some people, sharing a home offers an affordable and supportive next step while they save money or increase their income. Other people may benefit from a home that provides meals, transportation or medication reminders.

Kenneth Eakins, director of housing and navigation services at The Salvation Army, explained that shared housing may not be someone’s final destination. It can still provide the stability needed to keep moving forward.

“This is a journey. Shared housing creates an opportunity for the next step,” Eakins said.

Shared housing will not work for everyone. The goal is not to promote one option for every person. The goal is to expand the available choices and connect each person with the support that best fits their needs.

Why Flexibility and Partnership Matter

Local private funding supports Rapid Resolutions. That funding gives providers more freedom to address barriers that many traditional funding sources will not cover.

For example, providers may use flexible funds to purchase a bus ticket, replace a document, pay a moving expense or provide a safe place to stay while staff work through a more complex problem.

Funding alone cannot make the approach work. Rapid Resolutions depends on strong relationships among shelters, outreach teams, health care providers, recovery services, landlords, law enforcement and other community partners.

Melissa McAlister of Houston Recovery Center described how staff work with health care and recovery partners to remove barriers to treatment. Clark explained how staff contact community organizations to find employment, financial education and other resources that people may need after they move into housing.

“Rapid Resolution is nothing without collaboration and partnership,” Eakins said.

Early Reach and Responsible Growth

During the discussion, McAlister reported that Houston Recovery Center had served 937 people through the program during the previous year. The number offers an early look at the pilot’s reach. The examples shared by the panel also show the wide range of barriers that staff help people overcome.

CFTH and its partners are taking a careful approach to growth. Rapid Resolutions still has limited capacity and specific referral paths. People cannot yet enter the program by calling a public phone number.

Current access points include participating shelters, outreach teams, law enforcement and other parts of the coordinated homeless response system.

As the pilot continues, CFTH and its partners are learning where the approach works, which partnerships it needs and how it could reach more people. This measured process helps protect limited resources while building evidence to guide future investment.

A Mindset Shift Across the System

The evening’s larger lesson went beyond one funding source, program or housing option. Rapid Resolutions asks providers to think differently about what happens when someone seeks help.

Instead of assuming that everyone must wait for an opening in a traditional housing program, staff explore what they can resolve now. Instead of deciding what success should look like, they ask what the person wants to accomplish. Instead of expecting one organization to meet every need, partners connect people with those best prepared to help.

The approach may also help preserve limited long-term housing resources for people who need them most.

For Houston residents, Rapid Resolutions offers a clearer view of how the local homeless response system works. For service providers, funders and public leaders, the pilot provides early evidence of what local expertise, flexible funding and individual choice can accomplish together.

“There is a pathway for all,” Eakins said.

Watch the Full Conversation

Watch CFTH Presents: Building Better Pathways — Creating Faster Routes to Stability to hear the full discussion about Rapid Resolutions, shared housing, collaboration and the work still ahead.

Watch the CFTH Presents recording on YouTube.

About the Discussion

This article draws on an August 2026 CFTH Presents discussion with leaders who oversee, coordinate and carry out Rapid Resolutions and related services across Houston’s homeless response system.

James Gonzalez is vice president of systems integration at CFTH. He leads programs and partnerships that connect the homeless response system with other community systems. Gonzalez introduced Rapid Resolutions and moderated the discussion.

Quana Smith is director of adjacent systems at CFTH. She leads work that connects The Way Home with other systems serving many of the same people. Those connections help create more paths out of homelessness.

Melissa McAlister is the Sobering Center HROT HI services manager at Houston Recovery Center. She brings more than 20 years of experience in health care and community services. Her work connects outreach, health care and recovery partners.

Kenneth Eakins is director of housing and navigation services at The Salvation Army. He has spent more than a decade working in Houston’s homeless response system, including street outreach, navigation and program operations.

Heather Clark is manager of diversion programs at The Beacon. She oversees services and partnerships that help people explore housing options, address immediate barriers and move toward long-term stability.

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Homelessness Begins Long Before Someone Sleeps Outside

By Sara Hart • July 10, 2026

When most people think about homelessness, they picture someone sleeping outside or staying in a shelter. But homelessness often begins much earlier. A new survey from Rice University's Kinder Institute estimates that more than 140,000 adults across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties experienced temporary homelessness during the past year. Many of these individuals never slept outside. They stayed with friends or family because they had nowhere else to go, paid for motel rooms when they could, slept in their vehicles or found other temporary ways to get by. For those of us working in Houston's homeless response system, the estimate did not come as a surprise. What stands out is the scale. Our 2026 State of Homelessness report found that nearly 36,000 people interacted with The Way Home, Houston's regional homeless response system, during 2025. The Kinder estimate shows a much larger group of households struggling before they ever reach organizations like ours. Those numbers do not compete with one another. They tell the story of different points along the same continuum. By the time someone decides whether to enter a shelter or sleep outside, opportunities to prevent homelessness have often passed. The homeless response system helps people regain stability after they are in a shelter or on the street. Prevention happens months earlier, while people are still trying to hold on to their housing. Most people do not ask for help at the first sign of trouble. They work extra hours. They borrow money from family. They juggle bills. They hope next month's paycheck will solve this month's problem. Like most of us would, they try to solve the problem themselves. By the time they reach out, they often need far more help than they would have needed just a few months earlier. That is why Houston's prevention network is so important. Organizations like United Way of Greater Houston connect residents with rental assistance, utility assistance, benefits navigation and other resources that help stabilize households before they lose their housing. If you are struggling to keep up with rent, utilities or other essential expenses, do not wait until you have exhausted every option. Reaching out early gives providers more opportunities to help and gives families more options to stay housed. The Kinder research also reinforces another reality facing our region: We need more affordable housing. More than 140,000 adults experienced temporary homelessness in a single year because too many households live one unexpected expense away from losing their housing. That number points to a much larger population searching for homes they can afford long before they need homeless services. Houston's homeless response system continues to produce strong outcomes. More than 2,100 households moved into permanent housing during 2025, and 85% of those who exited homelessness two years ago remain housed today. At the same time, more than 7,100 people slept in shelters or on the street for the first time in 2025. Those numbers show that while our homeless response system continues to help thousands of people regain stability, new households continue to enter homelessness every day. The Kinder research gives Houston something we have not had before: a clearer picture of the households struggling before homelessness becomes visible. The Way Home will always play a critical role in helping people regain stability, but we also need to help more people before they ever need those services. That means strengthening prevention programs, expanding affordable housing and making it easier for people to ask for help early. Houston has repeatedly shown that when our community understands a challenge, it comes together to solve it. This research gives us a better understanding of where the next challenge begins.

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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.