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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.
Houston Mayor speaks about plan to get unhoused people off the streets, connect them with resources and family
Read full article: Houston Mayor speaks about plan to get unhoused people off the streets, connect them with resources and familyHomelessness in Houston. It’s a major problem Mayor John Whitmire says he’s hoping to solve.
Houston man’s journey from addiction to redemption: A story of second chances
Read full article: Houston man’s journey from addiction to redemption: A story of second chancesJerry Hamilton’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of support. As a teenager, Hamilton struggled with drug addiction, which led to homelessness.
From couch surfing, to the streets, Covenant House Texas works to help fight youth homelessness in Houston
Read full article: From couch surfing, to the streets, Covenant House Texas works to help fight youth homelessness in HoustonIt will be a night of glitz and glam with Broadway stars at the Wortham Center and it's all for a good cause. A Night of Broadway Stars raises funds and awareness for Covenant House Texas. The organization helps local youth overcome homelessness, abandonment and trafficking. Watch their full interview for how you can join and help make a difference
Organization provides resources for Houston’s homeless to prepare for hard freeze next week
Read full article: Organization provides resources for Houston’s homeless to prepare for hard freeze next weekSince Houston is expected to experience the coldest weather of the season next week, vulnerable populations will need shelter and other resources to get through the event.
Cat stolen from Sugar Land Petco found dumped near San Antonio; Police searching for woman who allegedly took him
Read full article: Cat stolen from Sugar Land Petco found dumped near San Antonio; Police searching for woman who allegedly took himPolice in Sugar Land are asking for the community’s help after a woman allegedly stole a cat from an adoption center at a Petco late last month.
‘Representation is key’: Special public art project aims to depict stories of Houston’s homeless population
Read full article: ‘Representation is key’: Special public art project aims to depict stories of Houston’s homeless populationAccording to a new poll by Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, 30 percent of likely voters say homelessness is one of the three most important problems facing Houston.
Paxton Impeachment trial analysis, African-American history, and help for unhoused citizens ahead on Houston Newsmakers
Read full article: Paxton Impeachment trial analysis, African-American history, and help for unhoused citizens ahead on Houston NewsmakersWatch Sunday's episode of Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall!
Volunteer citied for feeding the homeless outside the Houston Public Library in March found not guilty in criminal court
Read full article: Volunteer citied for feeding the homeless outside the Houston Public Library in March found not guilty in criminal courtOn Sunday, Picone held a press conference outside the Houston Library on Smith Street with civil rights lawyer Randall Kallinen and trial lawyer Paul Kubosh.
Suspect arrested. charged with murder after body of possible homeless man found in downtown Houston
Read full article: Suspect arrested. charged with murder after body of possible homeless man found in downtown HoustonInvestigators are searching for a suspect accused in the death of a man whose body was found by a passerby in downtown Houston. Richard Denton Needham, 39, has been charged with murder.
India's warm weather plans can't take the heat, report says
Read full article: India's warm weather plans can't take the heat, report saysWith temperatures set to soar next month, Indian authorities need more resources and better preparation to deal with searing heat particularly for the most vulnerable communities around the country, a New Delhi-based think tank said.
Breaking Free: Experts say domestic violence could be the cause of someone becoming homeless
Read full article: Breaking Free: Experts say domestic violence could be the cause of someone becoming homelessHomelessness. Living on the street. So many things can drive you here; Drug abuse, alcoholism, loss of job, and yes, even domestic violence.
‘I’m poor, but I’m a billionaire at heart,’ Homeless artist shares Jesus masterpiece off freeway
Read full article: ‘I’m poor, but I’m a billionaire at heart,’ Homeless artist shares Jesus masterpiece off freewayThere was a Jesus sighting along the northbound feeder lanes of U.S. 59 near Gessner Road Friday morning. The painting was challenging for any driver to miss. Even more difficult is the task of creating it.
Houston non-profits awarded millions for work with homeless veterans
Read full article: Houston non-profits awarded millions for work with homeless veteransThe U.S. Department of Labor is dedicating $57 million in grants to organizations that help veterans experiencing homelessness find meaningful work and assist them in overcoming barriers in transitioning back to the workforce.
Stronger Houston: Program to help Houston’s homeless community sees major success during pandemic
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Program to help Houston’s homeless community sees major success during pandemicThe city of Houston, Harris County and a non-profit have been working amid the pandemic to reduce the number of people who are homeless and in emergency shelters.
Star of Hope Mission passing out coats, blankets to homeless community ahead of cold weather
Read full article: Star of Hope Mission passing out coats, blankets to homeless community ahead of cold weatherAt KPRC 2, we’re proud to showcase those making a difference in the Houston area. Each month in 2022, we’re partnering with Energy Transfer to showcase a different nonprofit organization offering Houstonians a helping hand. This month’s KPRC 2 Community spotlight is on the Star of Hope.
Local group in new battle with Houston City Hall over meals for homeless
Read full article: Local group in new battle with Houston City Hall over meals for homelessThe Houston Public Library’s Central branch in downtown Houston will reopen soon, but one group has been told they will no longer be welcome there.
Austin's camping ban returns Tuesday, but it's not clear when — or how — it will be enforced
Read full article: Austin's camping ban returns Tuesday, but it's not clear when — or how — it will be enforcedThis Pearland student is making a difference in the lives of people living in poverty
Read full article: This Pearland student is making a difference in the lives of people living in povertyA clean pair of socks can make a big difference to a homeless person, especially during wintertime; that’s something a high school senior from Pearland understood at a very young age.
Houston-area homelessness: Inside the 2021 count, survey and how the coronavirus changed everything
Read full article: Houston-area homelessness: Inside the 2021 count, survey and how the coronavirus changed everythingHOUSTON – The annual Houston-area homeless count and survey, conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, found 3,055 people were experiencing homelessness on the night of the study in late January. The Coalition for the Homeless noted that this year’s published numbers are not directly comparable to those of other years due to methodology changes and circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The count informs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of the effectiveness of collaboration and homeless programs in those counties. AdCoalition authorities note that the annual count cannot provide an exact number of people experiencing homelessness for several reasons, including the daily fluctuating number and the more than 3,700 square miles of the area being canvassed. The count results are combined with additional data points, like the information stored in the Homeless Management Information System, to gauge progress of the local homeless response system.
Tips for preparing your home, pets and plants for freezing temperatures
Read full article: Tips for preparing your home, pets and plants for freezing temperaturesEccles said to start by letting cold water drip from your faucet. Safety TipsThe Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages residents to follow these heating safety tips:Place space heaters on solid and flat surfaces. Check space heaters for cracked or damaged cords and plugs. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets, don’t use an extension cord or power strip. Create a “kid-free zone” three feet from open fires and space heaters.
How close to becoming homeless are you?
Read full article: How close to becoming homeless are you?ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – The pandemic may leave more than 40 million Americans without a job, risking their homes and their health. How close are you to the poverty line? “We became homeless and now we don’t have food, and now COVID, it’s been really, really tough,” said Latisha King. “Twenty-one years ago, I was homeless with my children and today I’m the founder of a nonprofit organization,” said Stephanie Bowman, Visionary at One Heart. You can find out your poverty risk assessment by logging on to www.playspent.org and taking the test.
Texans with criminal records face increasingly limited housing options. Homeless advocates say a new rule could leave them with even fewer choices.
Read full article: Texans with criminal records face increasingly limited housing options. Homeless advocates say a new rule could leave them with even fewer choices.Advocates for homeless Texans worry a new state rule barring people with certain criminal records from some tax-supported housing will cut homeless people off from a path to permanent housing. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is proposing that people with certain criminal convictions be temporarily or permanently blocked from living in tax-supported “supportive housing” developments. Supportive housing is only one kind of the housing created by the housing program, but advocates said it is key to fighting homelessness. Advocates say there is no data that shows that supportive housing projects increase crime in neighborhoods. Some of these homes are built for people experiencing chronic homelessness who, without supportive services, won't be able to get back on their feet.
Community shows overwhelming support to homeless family after KPRC 2 shares their story
Read full article: Community shows overwhelming support to homeless family after KPRC 2 shares their storyHOUSTON – After seven months of sleeping in a car, Maria Baez and her son will finally have beds to sleep in tonight. “It’s incredible because for seven months we didn’t see the light,” said Baez. Shelters wouldn’t accept the family dogs and Maria said that she couldn’t part with them so the family has been living out their SUV. Since the report aired, Maria said she has been inundated by the generous offers from others. Anything good happens to me, anything any kindness, the smallest or whatever, I am totally grateful,” said Maria.
Mother, son, their dogs forced to live in SUV after losing job during pandemic
Read full article: Mother, son, their dogs forced to live in SUV after losing job during pandemicHOUSTON – Maria Baez is a Houston area mother desperately trying to hold it together for her son, herself and their two dogs. Holding it together in the face of losing her job during the pandemic and having to live for the past seven months in their SUV seeking free meals, gas money and other help from strangers. Maria’s 16-year-old son recently started online learning and logging on for classes from parking lots during the day. “It was really difficult because it’s really difficult to be cooking all the food, preparing everything, then go to sell on the streets.”What’s been extremely difficult is not being able to part with their dogs Sugar and Bobby. Homeless shelters won’t allow them and animal shelters say Maria would have to surrender the dogs permanently.
Ask 2: Is it illegal to solicit at traffic stops?
Read full article: Ask 2: Is it illegal to solicit at traffic stops?As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. The question: Is it illegal to solicit at traffic stops? The answer: A Channel 2 viewer, Atif, wrote to us with this question. The ordinance stipulates that soliciting is ONLY illegal within eight feet of the person being solicited (the “solicitee”). If a panhandler solicits from a distance greater than eight feet from the solicitee, the action is considered legal.