Digital Literacy United States Project #49448

Community COVID Housing Program- 5,000 Home

by Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Project Report | Oct 25, 2024
Partnering to Enhance Outreach Efforts

By Kourtnei Gartman | Development Project Contractor

More than 7,700 people are currently housed through The Way Home housing projects. To build on the progress made by the Community COVID Housing Program, CFTH is constantly seeking innovative ways to reach and support our community's most vulnerable populations.

Recently, we embarked on a unique and impactful collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conduct homeless outreach along Sims Bayou—a mission that highlights the importance of partnerships in our ongoing efforts to end homelessness.

The idea for this joint operation was born during a routine outreach session on Sims Bayou when our team met members of the Coast Guard. We realized that partnering with the USCG Coast Guard would allow us to access hard-to-reach areas and provide critical services. Molly Permenter, a Coast Guard veteran on our outreach team, said, "It was a great way to connect with other agencies and reach people we couldn't normally access by foot."

The Coast Guard's expertise and resources enabled us to explore densely wooded areas, small overpasses, and bridges—places where people experiencing homelessness often seek shelter. On these missions, we discovered "hotspots," — areas where homelessness is particularly concentrated — and encountered individuals coming out from under overpasses to receive water and check- in. Mapping these locations will facilitate further outreach efforts, potentially on foot, if conditions allow.

Jack Skinner, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard in Houston said, "Our overall goal with this outreach effort was to help provide a public service to our local communities while expanding our partnerships and helping to take outreach members to places that they normally would not be able to reach by land. Engaging with the homeless and with the outreach team members has been rewarding and eye-opening for our crews."

Skinner also highlighted some challenges: "One challenge we face is trying to transfer team members ashore from our boats. It can be very challenging when the banks along the bayou are overgrown and not conducive to easily jumping over to land to contact the homeless. Another challenge is that our boats can’t always get close to shore, and we are still a good way away from being able to talk with people."

The participation of partners, including precinct 2 Constable Sargent Perez and Hope Haven Housing Navigator and Assessor Johnathan Spears, further enhanced our efforts. This multi-agency collaboration highlights a fundamental truth: ending homelessness requires united efforts. By leveraging each other's strengths, we can reach and support those in need, no matter how hidden. The journey along Sims Bayou reminds us that we are stronger and more effective when we work together.

Thank you to all our partners, supporters, and community members who make initiatives like this possible. Your commitment helps us reach those who need it most and brings us closer to ending homelessness in our community.

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Jul 3, 2024
2024 Point-in-Time Count Results

By Kourtnei Gartman | Development Associate

Program Progress: The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) is pleased to report significant achievements under phase 2 of the COVID Community Housing Program. More than 8,100 individuals have been successfully housed or diverted from homelessness, surpassing our initial goal of serving 7,000 people. This success underscores the impactful contributions of you, our supporters, whose generosity has made a profound difference in the lives of families and individuals in need.

2024 Point-in-Time Count Results: In January of this year, CFTH conducted the Annual Point-in-Time Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness (PIT Count) across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties in Texas. This critical survey provides essential data that guides our efforts to enhance and support our local homeless response system.

The PIT Count on January 22, 2024, identified a total of 3,280 individuals experiencing homelessness in the tri-county area. Key findings from the survey include:

A notable 33% decrease in unsheltered homelessness compared to previous years.
45% of unsheltered individuals reported being homeless for the first time, highlighting the urgency of targeted intervention strategies.
Continued progress in reducing overall homelessness, with a 17% decrease observed from 2020.

These results illustrate the critical impact of our ongoing initiatives and the vital role of sustained community support in combating homelessness. CFTH extends its heartfelt appreciation to all donors, partners, and supporters whose generosity and dedication have enabled us to achieve these milestones. Your contributions have helped restore hope and dignity to individuals and families facing homelessness.

However, our progress remains vulnerable without additional annual funding to sustain and expand our efforts. As the lead coordinator of The Way Home, CFTH remains committed to advocating for increased funding and resources to bolster our homeless response system.

For further insights and detailed findings from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, please refer to the full report in the link below.

Together, we can build a future where everyone has a safe place to call home.

Links:

https://www.homelesshouston.org/2024-pit-count-results

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Mar 6, 2024
Exceeding Goals and Transforming Lives

By Kourtnei Gartman | Development Associate

Program Progress:

The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH) is happy to announce that more than 7,300 people have been housed or diverted from homelessness under phase 2 of the Covid Community Housing Program, surpassing our additional goal of serving 7,000 people!

Jensen Housing Navigation Center:

In previous reports, we’ve shared updates about encampments and CFTH’s role in developing and overseeing the nationally recognized encampment response strategy that ensures those living unsheltered receive housing. Since January 2021, 127 encampments have been decommissioned by CFTH, the City of Houston, Harris County, and dozens of partners of The Way Home. One important component of our success in decommissioning encampments is the Jensen Housing Navigation Center.

In October 2021, CFTH worked with the City of Houston to pilot a temporary navigation center, operating out of a hotel in northwest Houston. Harmony House, a valued direct service partner, was this center's operator. Since the encampment decommissioning work began, we've observed that most individuals living unsheltered are open to accepting permanent housing or accessing the Navigation Center when offered. Recognizing the importance of a navigation center, CFTH began working with the City of Houston as the system project manager on a longer-term solution, the Jensen Housing Navigation Center.

In late January 2023, we opened the Navigation Center’s doors, a transitional emergency housing facility with in-house medical, mental health, and navigation services designed to help rapidly house individuals experiencing homelessness. The primary goal of the Navigation Center is for each person staying to obtain housing by working on a housing plan while being provided necessities such as food and shelter, supportive services, and intensive casework. Now that the center is open, CFTH works to ensure that Harmony House has the resources it needs to serve residents of the center.

Since its opening, 275 people have enrolled at the Navigation Center, and 144 have moved into The Way Home’s permanent housing programs!

Sheri’s Journey to Housing:

Sheri, aged 53, has experienced homelessness intermittently for eight years. With her cats and partner, she recently moved from an encampment to the Navigation Center, taking a significant step towards securing permanent housing. "I learned I'd be able to take my pets with me, and that was it – I knew it was time… I don't feel like I'm being institutionalized, but actually helped!"

No single individual can solve homelessness alone. Thanks to supporters like you, we've met our goal of serving an additional 7,000 people by the end of 2024. CFTH and our 100+ direct service providers of The Way Home remain committed to addressing the complex issue of homelessness in our community, ensuring individuals like Sheri can work towards stable housing.

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