An annual survey of the homeless population in the Houston area suggested that the region — which has attracted international attention for its ability to reduce homelessness — is at an inflection point.
As the emergency funding that it had used to quickly move individuals off the streets into housing has run out, progress in reducing the size of the homeless population stalled, and the share of people who have been homeless for a year or more increased.
Leaders in the efforts to reduce homelessness are calling for more funding, as well as more sustainable money sources, to prevent the number from growing even further. Kelly Young, head of the Coalition for the Homeless in Houston and Harris County, pointed to the region’s successful use of emergency funding as proof that more funds could once again make a dent…