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Houston and Harris County are spending $100 million in an effort to cut the region's homelessness problem by half.
On Jan. 26, Houston and Harris County announced that they would increase the funds going toward reducing the homeless population by $100 million, according to Houston Chronicle. There was previously a commitment of $65 million from federal COVID-19 funds to this problem. The goal is to reduce the homeless population in Houston by 50%.
"In Houston, we either go big or we go home," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press conference, Houston Chronicle reported. "And today, we are going big so Houstonians can go home."
The city council voted 13-4 to transform a city-owned building into a temporary housing space, known as a navigation center, to be used as a place of respite for homeless as they await more permanent housing.
"Housing is a human right," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said, according to Houston Chronicle. "And in Harris County, housing is something we fight for together."
The Community COVID Housing Program aims to help transition people into housing and connect them with case managers and social services. The program will also seek to provide assistance to people that are at risk of becoming homeless in the form of financial assistance, family mediation and other help.
"We’re facing an unprecedented challenge to simultaneously juggle three priorities," Marc Eichenbaum, special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives said, according to Houston Chronicle. "Protecting the health of vulnerable individuals currently experiencing homelessness, responding to a historic increase of new individuals and families becoming homeless due to the impacts of COVID-19 and continuing to reduce the overall population experiencing homelessness."
The funding will be used to secure permanent housing for up 7,000 people over a three-year period, according to ABC 13 News.
"It's giving people all the support that they need in order to get themselves back on their feet, so that they can hold down a job," Turner said, according to ABC 13 News. "This is not a shelter, but this is essentially for people who are homeless and they need that support."
The mayor expressed his gratitude to state, federal and private organizations for the funding to help establish this initiative, Click 2 Houston News reported.
"We are not resting on our laurels, together, we will do more and we must keep the momentum going," Turner said. "Therefore, Houston and Harris County are doubling down and once again partnering with the Coalition for the Homeless and fellow agencies to launch the largest and most ambitious homeless initiative in the history of the city and county. Together, we can strategically utilize COVID-19 related funding to turn the crisis of the pandemic into an opportunity to reduce homelessness further and save lives."