HOUSTON – Residents in one Heights neighborhood say they are increasingly afraid to go outside as confrontations with people living along a nearby bayou escalate, raising concern for both public safety and the well‑being of those experiencing homelessness.
Neighbors on Shepherd and Larkin describe a rise in aggressive behavior, thefts and, in some cases, weapons.
Alfredo Figueroa, who has lived in the area about eight years, said the situation has worsened recently.
“We’ve always had a little bit of a homeless problem, but nothing like what’s going on now,” Figueroa said. “Most of these people are on drugs and they sometimes carry weapons. They become violent. They try to intimidate people.”
He recounted incidents including package thefts, people using yard hoses to bathe, a brutal stabbing and at least one encounter in which a homeowner said he felt he had to arm himself.
“My neighbor calls me and says, ‘Hey, somebody’s actively breaking into my car right now.’ I grabbed my firearm just to be safe,” Figueroa said.
He said held a suspected car thief down until police arrived and that the person had a loaded .38. City officials say they are trying to respond with a mix of enforcement and services.
Houston leaders have expanded so‑called civility ordinances that prohibit sleeping on the streets in designated areas such as Midtown and the Central Business District, while aiming to connect people with housing and supportive resources instead of simply removing them.
“The community has to come together,” said Houston City Councilmember at‑large Dr. Letitia Plummer.
Residents can ask their council member and the administration to create a civility boundary for their neighborhood, she said, and the request would then go before the council for a vote.
Advocates who work directly with people who have experienced homelessness say compassion and outreach are essential. George Steed, who spent more than a decade without stable housing and now runs New Life Resort, said people in survival mode can act aggressively but also need help to stabilize.
“When someone is living in survival mode, they most likely will lash out,” Steed said. “My aim is to step in with compassion, with resources and skills that will help people survive or become stable again.”
George Steed can be reached at 281-507-5444 or by email at support@newliferesort.com. The New Life Resort website is here.
Officials urge residents who see encampments to report them to 311. Police should be called at 911 when there are immediate threats or violent crimes.
City leaders say they are working to secure more beds and shelter space as part of a broader effort to address both safety and the root causes of homelessness.