Houston’s homelessness reduction plan as Mayor John Whitmire addresses city officials

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The city of Houston says it will establish a plan to help end homelessness.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has repeatedly stated that his ultimate goal is to remove homeless people from public spaces.

According to the mayor’s office, the plan involves mobilization, housing, enforcement and recovery of public spaces.

ABC13 has been asking the mayor about the plan for weeks, but we’ve yet to hear specifics, such as if and when a camp would open, how many people would be helped and how long it would take to set up.

During a news conference at 2pm on Thursday, Whitmire said there is a lack of sustainable funding and that will change.

The new director of Houston’s Department of Housing and Community Development said he is working alongside Mayor John Whitmire to combat homelessness.

A place like San Antonio’s “Haven for Hope” may be the answer for Houston.

It’s a campus that helps homeless people transition to permanent housing, and San Antonio leaders say it has helped reduce the homeless population.

Houston leaders studied it. The facility has dormitory-style housing, dentist/doctor options, and sobriety resources.