Houston, the city that nearly ended homelessness and now criminalizes it

"For years, Houston was one of the U.S. cities with the lowest number of people experiencing homelessness. Between 2011 and 2020, thanks to the regional system The Way Home, the city reduced homelessness by 63%, housed more than 35,000 people, and dismantled 127 street camps. Politicians from Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans traveled to study the model. The architect of the system, Mandy Chapman-Semple, said the city had essentially created a manual that allowed any other city to replicate it. We've proven that it can be done, she said."

"However, five years later, the formula has begun to wear thin. Earlier this year, 1,282 people were sleeping on the streets of Houston and its surrounding counties. That number was 15.8% higher than in 2024, marking the first sustained increase in more than a decade. In July, the City Council banned sitting, lying down, or storing personal belongings in public spaces downtown. Violations of this rule are considered class C misdemeanors and can carry fines of up to $500. In this way, Houston went from being a model to follow, to criminalizing people who sleep on its streets."

"Catherine Villarreal, vice president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), the organization that coordinates The Way Home, notes that the success of the model lies in combining housing with supportive services, especially for people with disabilities and chronic conditions. However, she adds, there is still a challenge to address: people without shelter often have to wait on the street until a spot in a housing program becomes available. While our system is very effective at stabilizing those who are successfully housed, it struggles to address the needs of those who have not yet been matched with stable housing, especially amid rising housing costs and the complexity of behavioral health issues, explains Villarreal."

From 2011 to 2020, The Way Home regional system reduced homelessness in Houston by 63%, housed more than 35,000 people, and dismantled 127 street camps. The model attracted attention from other cities and was presented as replicable. Five years later street homelessness rose, with 1,282 people sleeping outdoors and a 15.8% increase from 2024. The City Council enacted a downtown ban on sitting, lying down, or storing belongings, enforceable as class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500. The coalition coordinating the system credits combined housing and supportive services for past success but notes gaps for people waiting for housing amid rising costs and behavioral health complexities.

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