Town Hall - Policies That Help And Hurt The Work To Address Homelessness
Fryda Ochoa • September 8, 2023
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
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 01/25/2026 at 12:00 a.m.
While our system has helped thousands of people move from homelessness to housing, this year’s results highlight the need to broaden our approach.
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 .
