INSIDER
Houston mayor says new initiative will help unhoused find a home
Read full article: Houston mayor says new initiative will help unhoused find a homeMayor John Whitmire says his vision is to get people off of the streets and instead help get them into temporary housing; with the ultimate goal of getting them affordable housing or reuniting with family.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on homeless encampments. Hereโs what it means for Texas.
Read full article: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on homeless encampments. Hereโs what it means for Texas.The ruling comes amid a nationwide surge in homelessness as high rents put pressure on low-income households and pandemic-era protections expire.
No more sitting or lying on sidewalks? City considers adding Riverside Terrace neighborhood to civility ordinance
Read full article: No more sitting or lying on sidewalks? City considers adding Riverside Terrace neighborhood to civility ordinanceThe Riverside Terrace community is discussing the possibility of adding the 'sitting and lying upon public sidewalks' article to the civility ordinance. Do you think this will increase safety or unfairly target the homeless population?
From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teenโs story tells us about homelessness in rural Texas
Read full article: From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teenโs story tells us about homelessness in rural TexasGeorgia DeVries, an East Texas 17-year-old, shared her experience living in a car for one month last year on TikTok.
Homelessness in Texas on the rise amid high housing costs, federal estimates show
Read full article: Homelessness in Texas on the rise amid high housing costs, federal estimates showHomelessness rose last year across nearly every demographic group, but strides were made to connect people with new housing.
Executives to spend the night outside in downtown Houston to raise awareness of youth homelessness
Read full article: Executives to spend the night outside in downtown Houston to raise awareness of youth homelessnessMore than 100 Houston executives are spending the night outside Thursday in downtown to raise awareness about youth homelessness.
Beyoncรฉ, Kelly Rowland collaborate with Harris County in $7.2 million initiative to help mitigate homelessness
Read full article: Beyoncรฉ, Kelly Rowland collaborate with Harris County in $7.2 million initiative to help mitigate homelessnessHarris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announces the countyโs collaboration with Houston legends Beyoncรฉ and Kelly Rowland in efforts to mitigate homelessness in the Bayou City.
Dave Chappelle reportedly rails about San Franciscoโs homeless in latest show
Read full article: Dave Chappelle reportedly rails about San Franciscoโs homeless in latest showComedian Dave Chappelle railed against San Francisco's homeless people during a show over the weekend, saying "What the (expletive) happened to this place?"
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announces secured funding for Harris County to help vulnerable residents
Read full article: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announces secured funding for Harris County to help vulnerable residentsCongresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announced on Thursday that up to $1,000,000 in federal funding has been secured for Harris County Public Health to reduce homelessness.
Houston opens new center to help transition homeless population off streets and into permanent housing
Read full article: Houston opens new center to help transition homeless population off streets and into permanent housingHoustonโs largest homeless encampment has been decommissioned as the city looks to transition people living on the streets to permanent housing.
Austin shelters werenโt prepared for outages despite lessons from 2021 winter storm, advocates say
Read full article: Austin shelters werenโt prepared for outages despite lessons from 2021 winter storm, advocates sayActivists who work with unhoused people noted improvements in the cityโs planning and coordination, but said shelters were difficult to reach for some and couldnโt accommodate families with children.
Chainsaws and dry socks: Austinites step up for neighbors during ice storm
Read full article: Chainsaws and dry socks: Austinites step up for neighbors during ice stormFriends in North Austin removed downed trees from neighborsโ roofs, while closer to the city core, volunteers rushed to meet the immediate needs of people without homes โ those most severely impacted by the freezing temperatures.
Texas shelters prepare for twin emergencies: arctic cold and an increase in migrants
Read full article: Texas shelters prepare for twin emergencies: arctic cold and an increase in migrantsCities and nonprofits are using a variety of strategies to keep unhoused people warm. But some organizations warn theyโre already at capacity as El Paso sends migrants across the state.
Austin voters banned the homeless from camping in public spaces. The city is creating housing for them but not fast enough.
Read full article: Austin voters banned the homeless from camping in public spaces. The city is creating housing for them but not fast enough.Police have had to eject hundreds of people from encampments. They still struggle to tell many of them where to go.
Homeless Texans left with few places to cool off during record heat
Read full article: Homeless Texans left with few places to cool off during record heatHeat-related emergency calls have spiked amid historic heat. Cooling centers are available in major cities but often close in the late afternoon โ during the hottest parts of the day.
Stronger Houston: Tonyโs Place helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing in Houston area
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Tonyโs Place helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing in Houston areaThe organization provides everything from food, laundry, showers, access to medical care, education and employment opportunities to LGBTQ youth who may be experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.
Austin becomes the first Texas city to experiment with โguaranteed incomeโ
Read full article: Austin becomes the first Texas city to experiment with โguaranteed incomeโAustin joins at least 28 U.S. cities, like Los Angeles, Chicago and Pittsburgh, that have tried out some form of โguaranteed incomeโ โ financial assistance targeted at needy households.
In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casarโs record on Austin homelessness, police funding
Read full article: In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casarโs record on Austin homelessness, police fundingCasar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austinโs most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.
Unhoused Texans weather another winter storm with little aid
Read full article: Unhoused Texans weather another winter storm with little aidAdvocates say emergency communications have not improved much since last year, and people experiencing homelessness were less likely to seek help this year because of new state and local policies targeting them.
Austinโs homeless residents left with nowhere to go amid camping crackdown
Read full article: Austinโs homeless residents left with nowhere to go amid camping crackdownMonths after Austin voters reinstated the cityโs public camping ban, authorities are clearing many of the largest encampments. Their former residents are going โanywhere itโs safe and out of sight, out of mind,โ one man said.
Austin still struggling to find places for people experiencing homelessness as it begins enforcing public camping ban
Read full article: Austin still struggling to find places for people experiencing homelessness as it begins enforcing public camping banAfter weeks of educating people about the ban that voters approved in May, police are allowed to start arresting violators this week as the city tries to find more housing.
Miami women surprise homeless teen with magical quinceaรฑera
Read full article: Miami women surprise homeless teen with magical quinceaรฑeraEntering her magical quinceanera on by her fatherโs arm, her tiara sparkling and her fuchsia ballgown trimmed with ruffles to perfectly match her cake, Adriana Palma scanned the crowd for familiar faces.
Some California counties winding down hotels for homeless
Read full article: Some California counties winding down hotels for homelessBut counties say that with some federal relief funding expiring soon or its status uncertain, it's time to transition residents from expensive hotel rooms to cheaper, more stable housing. California is one of several states, including Washington, that turned to hotels to shelter homeless people as the virus took hold. The department has said it plans to move homeless people out of all 29 hotels by June. Russ Heimerich, spokesman with the state's Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, says counties have resources to continue housing homeless people in hotels. They say hotel residents have flourished with regular checkups and meals.
Hundreds of HISD students are homeless and COVID-19 is complicating matters. How the district is trying to help
Read full article: Hundreds of HISD students are homeless and COVID-19 is complicating matters. How the district is trying to helpThe Houston Independent School District, like many large districts, is always looking for ways to help their homeless students and does so their Student Assistance Program. This year, HISD estimates there are about 7,700 students currently enrolled in the Student Assistance Program, but COVID-19 is complicating matters. According to HISD, one of the biggest hurdles in helping homeless students is identifying them. A study on homeless students from 2012-13 to 2016-17 by the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University found jarring statistics. The HISD Student Assistance Program estimates the 2018-19 identified homeless student graduation rate at 88%.