Heat-related emergency calls have spiked amid historic heat. Cooling centers are available in major cities but often close in the late afternoon — during the hottest parts of the day.
Homeless in Texas
More than 25,000 Texans are homeless in a state whose officials frequently boast about a solid economy and an affordable housing market. The Texas Tribune is reporting on what urban leaders and state officials — including Gov. Greg Abbott — are doing for residents without homes.
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Homeless in Texas
Unhoused Texans weather another winter storm with little aid
Advocates say emergency communications have not improved much since last year, and people experiencing homelessness were less likely to seek help this year because of new state and local policies targeting them.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas likely to ban homeless encampments in unapproved public places after bill is sent to governor
Gov. Greg Abbott has signaled that he would sign the bill, which does not allow cities to opt out of enforcing a homeless encampment ban.
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Winter Storm 2021
At least six people experiencing homelessness died during the winter storm. That number could rise.
Advocates for people experiencing homelessness drove through Texas’ largest cities trying to bring them to the available warming centers and emergency shelters. The official number of casualties is still unknown.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas cities face difficulties counting their unsheltered homeless population — at a time when their numbers matter most
Despite changes to the regular count of people experiencing homelessness, support organizations are hoping they’ll still be able to capture a clear picture of who is unhoused in Texas as the pandemic continues.
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Homeless in Texas
As Gov. Greg Abbott vows to ban homeless camping in public, Austin officials and unsheltered residents push for better housing access
A year and a half after Austin lifted a local ban on camping in public, some city officials are pushing to turn hotels into housing for people experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, a state-sanctioned encampment in the city is full and can’t accept new residents.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texans with criminal records face increasingly limited housing options. Homeless advocates say a new rule could leave them with even fewer choices.
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 developments that provide support services.
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Homeless in Texas
Abbott’s state-run camp for the homeless in Austin to be taken over by nonprofit with new shelter plans
The Texas Department of Transportation will begin lease negotiations with ATX Helps, which plans to construct a large shelter on the southeast Austin property where more than 100 people reside. Some camp residents say they’re concerned about the proposed changes.
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Homeless in Texas
Abbott says the homeless need mental health care. Advocates say Medicaid expansion would help.
Abbott has long opposed extending state-funded health coverage to 1.5 million Texans under the Affordable Care Act. But a spokesman for the governor did not rule out a possible coverage expansion under a new Trump administration block grant policy.
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Homeless in Texas
Austin’s homeless residents consider Abbott’s camp helpful but say his tweets still stigmatize them
As the governor latches on to violent incidents to criticize Austin city leaders, people experiencing homelessness say he’s painting them with too broad of a brush.