Houston has opened its homeless hub and taken in dozens of residents.
What it means
At 419 Emancipation Avenue, the former Star of Hope location acts as what city officials call the city’s “front door” to ending street homelessness.
On June 3, Houston City Council approved a land purchase agreement to extend the 419 property to have additional green space at the facility. Council also approved a total of $1.5 million in overtime funding for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County police and Harris County officers who work on homeless efforts.
“[I’m] really excited about the soft progress that is happening there, and I look forward to a bunch of success stories,” council member Tiffany Thomas said.
Thomas, who chairs the Housing committee, said many law enforcement officers have relationships with homeless individuals and are trained to respond to homelessness.
Some background
419 Emanicipation is a hub for homeless individuals, where they can access resources and eventually receive help with permanent housing.
Mayor John Whitmire said that currently, more than 60 people are living there after its “soft launch.”
“Three have already left after the program has demonstrated that it will help relocate,” Whitmire said. “It's not long-term residences; it's to get the homeless off the streets and get the counseling and mental health services and job opportunities that will get them a permanent solution, so it's exciting.”
The hub offers services including:
- Meals
- Dorm-style rooms
- On-site health services
- On-site security and law enforcement
- Assistance with off-site housing, medical needs and other services
A quick note
The hub is also under the city’s Housing and Community Development Department, led by Director Mike Nichols.
The facility can house up to 240 individuals, and Whitmire said they are phasing people in.
“We will gradually build up staffing, public safety concerns, health care,” he said. “It is a process.”
It is unclear when the facility will be fully operational, but officials said individuals can now be taken to the location.
