Local nonprofits worked to provide relief after Hurricane Harvey.[/caption]

Bob Butler, executive director of 1960 Hope Center at 744 FM 1960, Houston, said his organization has continued to serve the homeless as it typically does, but the storm has brought in a few more individuals in need. The center has offered free showers, laundry services, clothing, food and counselors.

Butler said other than needing new underwear and socks, the organization is stocked up on donated supplies, but financial donations are needed as well.

“We don’t really need anything; the community has been very gracious,” Butler said. “Food and clothing have poured in, and we are overwhelmed to where we are having to turn help away.”

Before the hurricane, Butler said his team tried to prepare their regular visitors by giving them bus passes and several bags of food as well as driving them to 24-hour shelters so they would not have to travel alone in the rain.

Options for emergency shelters were sparse for several days until the Red Cross started opening shelters outside of downtown Houston.

“[There are] very few options for homeless when these storms take place,” he said. “Many of them weathered the storm, got under bridges or overhangs on buildings and some of them were just wet for three days—just horrendous. Until we could get them to shelters, they were very vulnerable.”

Butler said 1960 Hope Center aims to create more affordable housing options by renting small camping trailers to their clients for as little as $200 monthly. Those earning minimum wages or disabled individuals cannot afford housing in the area, he said.

“When rent is $700-$800, our people can’t afford that,” he said. “So, these people are permanently displaced with no hope of finding a home unless there is more affordable housing.”