Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo announce new housing initiative for the homeless amid COVID-19 pandemic

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Coalition for The Homeless have partnered on a permanent housing initiative that will assist those people experiencing homelessness. The $65 million program will provide about 5,000 people with access to permanent housing in less than two years and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“This $65 million program is the largest, most ambitious homeless initiative in the history of the city and county,” Turner said Wednesday at a press conference. “But it is not the amount of funding but rather the number of lives the initiative will transform. More than doubling the number of people experiencing homelessness annually housed.”

The city of Houston is set to contribute $40 million to the project, while Harris County Commissioners County approved $18 million for the joint homelessness initiative Tuesday.

“This is a historic effort,” Hidalgo said. “This is an issue that does not stop at the city boundaries or at the county boundaries. That is why this effort is so unique. We are breaking down silos between city and county because it is a historic investment.”

Hidalgo the program is a “paradigm shift” in the way local officials address homelessness.

Homelessness is not going to be eradicated through temporary measures, Hidalgo said. Residents need access to permanent housing and tools to succeed, which may include resources for substance abuse and mental health.

The city of Houston also reported 832 new COVID-19 cases and four new deaths, including a female in her 20s with no underlying medical conditions. In total, Houston has confirmed 21,123 total cases, 228 deaths and 4,392 recoveries.