Houston City Council delays $16M vote for homeless facility on Emancipation Ave

Houston City Council has once again delayed a vote to purchase a $16-million facility that would serve as a “super hub” for people experiencing homelessness.

Mayor John Whitmire says the pause will give the city more time to gather feedback from residents before moving forward with the plan to hopefully buy the property at 419 Emancipation Avenue.

A community meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Talento Bilingüe de Houston center in the East End. It’s located at 333 South Jensen Street.

Residents who live nearby say they support helping the homeless but have questions about security, cost, and how the city plans to manage the facility long-term.

Second Ward resident Maddie Eagan says she’s not opposed to the project but wants more details before the city spends millions.

“I appreciate them tagging the item for one week. However, I think before the vote takes place we need written documentation of their plan for security,” she said.

Eagan also hopes city leaders expand Houston’s civility ordinance which bans sitting or storing personal items on sidewalks in certain areas to include her neighborhood.

“I have heard today that they are working on expanding the civility zone to our area, which I think is a wonderful thing. I just need to have documentation of how they’re going to enforce that,” Eagan said.

Mayor Whitmire has emphasized safety, saying HPD’s Homeless Outreach Team will be based at the site if the purchase moves forward.

“There will be eight officers stationed permanently at this site with a sergeant. In fact, I think we’re actually going to enlarge that detail. So this area is going to get more public safety than ever,” the Mayor said.

The city plans to use money from Fund 1850, the Reimbursement of Equipment and Projects Fund, to purchase the property. Future operations would be funded through a mix of city and county money, federal grants, and private donations. But not everyone believes that plan is sustainable.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Second Ward resident Scott Singleton voiced his frustrations about the deal.

“Here’s why you shouldn’t pay 419 Hope Partners,” he said.

Singleton questioned where future funding will come from once the facility opens.

“Federal government’s not going to give any money to the homeless now … it’s not really reading the room on what the federal government is spending money on, so it’s safe to say that that’s not going to be a source of funding moving forward and so where does that funding come from,” Singleton said.

He also hopes the community has a voice in how the facility is managed.

“Should this come to pass should the city move forward with the purchase of it that the community will actually be involved with the planning of how that security is going to be provided,” he said.

The community meeting will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. at the TBH Center on South Jensen Drive.

City Council is expected to revisit the proposal at the next meeting.