Houston's $70M plan to end street homelessness by 2026 From the cover
The annual cost Whitmire’s $70 million pilot program to end street homelessness in Houston by 2026 will require funding from multiple sources across the city and county for the first two years.
Funding the project
Mayor John Whitmire said he wants Houston to be the first major city in the United States to end street homelessness by moving all individuals who live outdoors into stable housing. He announced plans in late November that included a $70 million one- to two-year pilot program to start the process he hopes will be completed by the end of 2026. Michael Nichols, director of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department, announced in February that the first $21.8 million was secured for the program, including: • $17.5 million through a combination of general city and federal funds • $700,000 from the state’s Homeless Housing and Services Program • $1 million from the Downtown Management District • $2.6 million from the Houston First Corporation Houston First officials said the $2.6 million was originally earmarked to relight six Montrose bridges over the Southwest Freeway. However, at the city’s request, the money was given back and will now be used for the homelessness initiative. The $70 million does not include funding for mental health, housing vouchers or disaster relief.
Total goal $70M+
Homeless Housing and Services Program
Obligated Funds are already committed and in use
$700K
$3.5M
City of Houston
Houston First Corporation
$2.6M
Identified Funds are not approved, but verbally committed
$10M
METRO
$14M
Federal funds
In discussion Funds have not gone to a vote, but are in discussion
$5M-8M
Harris County
TIRZs & management districts
$8M-16M
Needed Funds are not established
Philanthropy & corporations
$20M
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Offering input
The plan
Nichols said one of the main goals of the new initiative is to help all homeless people in Houston find housing within 30 days of identification. Catherine Villarreal, vice president of public affairs for the Coalition for the Homeless of Hous- ton/Harris County, said she believes Houston has always focused on permanent housing, but this plan aims toward increasing rapid rehousing. Rapid rehousing, according to the National Alli- ance to End Homelessness, is the process of finding short-term rental assistance and services to help people obtain housing quickly. More than half of the $70 million funding will go toward rapid rehousing. “We are seeking to expand on what the Homeless Response System in Houston does beyond that laser-focus on permanent housing,” Villarreal said. “How do we create more of a waiting room for folks so that they don’t have to sleep on the streets?” Nichols said one way to help address that issue is through creating a low-barrier shelter—a space where people can bring pets and partners and don’t need to be sober to enter—as well as expanding the number of available beds and affordable housing.
Abbie Kamin, Houston City Council District C member, said Houston needs to also focus on building more permanent housing for the homeless, especially in areas where eviction rates are high, such as Montrose. According to the Harris County Evictions Dashboard, there were 75,671 evictions filed in Harris County in 2024. At least 63% of those evictions were in District C, which encompasses portions of the Heights, Montrose and Upper Kirby areas. “There was really important work previ- ously being done, including by the Montrose TIRZ, on housing affordability studies for those neighborhoods to keep residents who have lived there in their neighborhoods,” she said. “We’ve been pushing for mixed-income and affordable housing in the district. The bottom line is we need more housing.” Kamin said she believes Houston officials also need to focus more on helping people before they fall into homelessness.
Where the funds will be allocated
Rapid rehousing $45M Permanent supportive housing $11M Mental health hub & shelter $3.8M Navigation center $3.6M Outreach $3.3M Diversion $2.6M Total $69.3M NOTE: THESE NUMBERS ARE AN EARLY FORECAST AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON FUNDING SOURCE AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT Affordable housing, according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Housing and Urban Development, is a form of housing where an occupant is paying no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs. According to the annual Housing Inventory Count conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, there are approximately 7,800 affordable housing units across Harris County and about 10,400 beds.
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