The new center is part of Mayor John Whitmire’s plan to end street homelessness by 2026.
The details
Housing and Community Development Director Mike Nichols said during a Feb. 25 City Council meeting that the city is currently doing minor repairs on the facility, and they will soon choose an operator for it.
“We are very pleased with the applicants,” Nichols said. “To me, that’s the biggest deal—who is operating it, and then the last is making sure that funding is all in place.”
Nichols said the anticipated exact opening date will depend on the operator and the money that flows in for the program. However, the hub is expected to open by June, a later start than the previously anticipated early 2026 opening.
Funding the project
Part of Whitmire's plan also included raising $60 million from foundations over the course of three years, but Nichols said they have restructured that part of the plan.
“That was for a housing piece, the exit piece,” he said. “The housing piece is being led by the Coalition for the Homeless, with major philanthropy like Houston Endowment. And that is still ongoing and we’ve made great progress there.”
As of Feb. 25, Nichols said they have raised $6 million, which will go to Coalition for the Homeless to operate the housing part of the program.
Some background
419 Emancipation was previously owned by Hope Partners LLC before the city purchased it.
The hub will be equipped with up to 240 beds for individuals and will function as a triage to get individuals to resources according to their needs, including meals, hospitalization, access to additional sheltering or transitioning into permanent housing.
One more thing
Nichols said the city will announce an operator for the hub in early March.
