[Press Conference: “Mayor’s Homeless Plan Announcement”]
[00:00:21]
AND MANY MORE YEARS OF LIFE THAT IF YOU DON'T ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SOLVE IT.
IT'S NOT A SECRET TO ANY OF US, QUITE FRANKLY.
IT'S NOT ONLY A HOUSTON PROBLEM, IT'S A STATE OF TEXAS PROBLEM.
IT'S OUR HOMELESS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS OF OUR MAJOR CITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I'M HERE TO DECLARE TODAY YOU HELP THE HOMELESS BY GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET AND RECLAIMING OUR PUBLIC SPACES TODAY.
AND I COULD START NAMING IMPACTFUL PEOPLE, SOME ELECTED OTHERS NOT.
WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS HOUSTON'S HOMELESS CONDITIONS.
IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE FOR ME AS CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I USED TO LECTURE THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM.
YOU CAN'T RELEASE PAROLEES FROM HUNTSVILLE WITH NOWHERE TO GO.
THEY BECOME OUR HOMELESS ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON STATE.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A BETTER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN LECTURING AND TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YEARS AND UNFORTUNATELY IT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED.
I TALKED ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY IN MY CAMPAIGN.
IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR OFFICE.
WHEN I WAS CALLED ON A SATURDAY MORNING, WOULD YOU RUN FOR MAYOR BY REQUEST OF HOUSTONIANS? I SAID, NO.
I'M MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN AUSTIN.
THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID, WELL, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO CONSIDER RUNNING? I SAID, THAT'S A TRICKY QUESTION TO ASK.
A PUBLIC SERVANT THAT HAS SPENT MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE SERVING THE PUBLIC AND CARING ABOUT PEOPLE, LOVING PEOPLE.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR ME TO LEAVE AUSTIN AND COME SOLVE AND WORK ON OUR PROBLEMS? THE FIRST ONE OUTTA MY MOUTH WAS DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE STUFF.
SOMEBODY I READ SAID, IT'S LIKE A MOONSHOT.
EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY.
IF WE IGNORE SOMETHING WE ALL KNOW NEEDS DEALING WITH, WE PUT $200 MILLION IN THE JEWEL CALLED MEMORIAL PARK, GO TO HERMAN PARK.
THEY JUST, I WAS AT THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR $53 MILLION.
I COULD GO ON ON YOU GO TO THE MED CENTER, WE SPEND BILLIONS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE MED CENTER.
YOU HAVE 120 POLICE OFFICERS ON THEIR DEPARTMENT.
YOU CAN'T FIND A HOMELESS PERSON INSIDE THE MED CENTER.
OUR, OUR ACADEMIC LOCATIONS GO TO U OF HTSU.
AND I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN THE PAST AND HEARING ABOUT WHAT HOUSTON'S DONE SINCE 2011.
WE HAVE FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATORS THAT HAVE MADE IT PART OF THEIR BUSINESS TO TRAVEL THE UNITED STATES AND SAY, HOUSTON'S THE MODEL SINCE 2011.
WE'VE PUT THOUSANDS IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
I APPLAUD PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT I CAN LEAD A CARAVAN FROM HERE TO THE, ACROSS THE STREET TO THE CITY LIBRARY WHERE WE TOLERATE IT.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE HOMELESS.
THE CITY LIBRARY IS THEIR WASHROOM.
I HAVE TO DRIVE UNDER THE BIO PLACE OVERHANG COMING TO AND LEAVING WORK.
WHAT IF SOMEONE PROPOSED JUST PUTTING AN ANIMAL SCREECHING TO MAYBE RUN OFF THE HOMELESS? ALL IT DOES IS THE MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS THERE GET EVEN MORE AGGRAVATED.
SO I'VE INVITED THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE.
[00:05:01]
IT BY MYSELF.I RAN FOR MAYOR TO FIX THINGS TO BE TRANSPARENT.
THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY'S HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE CAN LEAD THE NATION AND IT WON'T BE EASY.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT PROBABLY STARTED IN AMERICA ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
IN HIGH SCHOOL GOING TO U OF H, WE NEVER DROVE BY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
AND I, IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, HAVE DEALT WITH THE UNEXPECTED LIKE HURRICANES, ICE STORMS, 260,000 UNOPENED ALLEGATIONS OVER TO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SL SUSPENDED CASES.
I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH PERSONNEL MATTERS.
I'VE HAD TO RESTRUCTURE THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TURN MY ATTENTION AND PARTNER WITH EACH OF YOU TO SOLVE AND ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
I'D SUGGEST IT'D PROBABLY TAKE AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS.
YEAH, I THOUGHT I'D LET Y'ALL ABSORB THAT ONE FOR A MINUTE.
I'M PROUD OF THE APPOINTMENTS I'VE MADE.
THE BEST THERE ARE, HAVE COME TO CITY HALL DIRECTORS.
AND WHEN I PUT MIKE NICHOLS, WHO HAD BEEN THE CEO OF THE HOMELESS COALITION IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.
I WANTED TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
WHEN I PUT CHIEF SATTERWHITE AFTER AN HONORABLE CAREER OF LEADERSHIP AND HPD, I KNEW WHAT HE COULD DO OVER AT HOMELAND SECURITY.
WE'LL GIVE THEM A BROADER ROLE.
SO I'M GONNA ROLL OUT THIS TEAM THIS MORNING.
BUT MY MAIN PURPOSE IS TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE CITY CANNOT DO IT BY ITSELF.
I'VE QUIETLY BEEN MEETING WITH ALL THE FOUNDATIONS IN HOUSTON.
THEY'RE READY FOR A PLAN TO BE ROLLED OUT.
THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE.
I COULD GO AROUND AND NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS WE WANT OUR ACADEMIC FOLKS, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, U OF H, THE MED CENTER.
IF YOU'RE OPERATING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEALING WITH PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE AND BE A PART OF THIS COLLABORATION.
TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CITY PUT MONEY FOR THE FIRST TIME CITY MONEY INTO THIS EFFORT.
BEFORE IT WAS ONE TIME FEDERAL MONEY, WHICH IS EXPIRING VERY SOON.
BUT I'VE GOT A TEAM AND THEIR GOAL IS TO BE COMPASSIONATE, FAIR, LOVING WITH THE HOMELESS.
BUT WE ALSO GOT A TOOL IN AUGUST FROM THE SUPREME COURT.
NOW WE CAN INSISTS THAT INDIVIDUALS REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE STREET.
WE CAN DO IT WITH A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT WITH, UH, CHIEF SATTER WHITE'S EXPERIENCE.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT LIKE 25 MILLION SINCE WE JUST STARTED.
WE THINK WE CAN RUN AN ANNUAL PROGRAM OF ABOUT 70 MILLION.
MY STATE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE, IT'S YOUR PROBLEM TOO.
WE'LL NEVER HAVE A SAFE AND CLEAN METRO LINE IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS.
SO LET ME FIRST CALL UP MIKE NICHOLS.
BUT LET ME JUST TELL Y'ALL, THIS IS WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE.
THIS IS WHY YOU'RE IN THE POSITION YOU'RE IN.
I CITED SOMETHING THIS MORNING AT A BREAKFAST.
I HEARD PRESIDENT OBAMA IN AUSTIN AT THE LBJ LIBRARY A FEW YEARS AGO, AND HE WAS HONORING LBJ WITH THIS.
LBJ IN 63 WAS TRYING TO PASS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
HE GREW UP IN A SEGREGATED SOCIETY AND HAD BEEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN THAT PERIOD.
IN OUR TIME, HIS ADVISORS TOLD HIM IF HE WENT FORWARD WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT,
[00:10:02]
HE'D LOSE ALL THE SOUTHERN SENATORS.HE'D LOSE THE SOUTHERN STATES WHEN HE RAN FREE ELECTION, 1964.
I'M CHALLENGING EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO THINK WHAT HIS REPLY WAS.
CAREER ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM THE SOUTH PLANNING ON RUNNING FOR REELECTION.
WE'RE GONNA PASS IT BECAUSE WHY BE PRESIDENT IF YOU DON'T USE ALL YOUR POWERS AND WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
SO EVERYONE I'M SPEAKING TO TODAY, LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUNDATIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING BOLD LIKE YOU KNOW, MY CRITICS ARE GONNA SAY, WELL, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? WHITMEYER CITY'S GOING TO END HOMELESSNESS.
WHITMEYER SAID, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CALL OF ACTION AND COLLABORATIVELY WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND HOUSTON IS A GREAT CITY AND IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME EVEN GREATER 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA LEAD THE NATION WITH A MODEL THAT WE'LL WORK.
LET ME CALL MIKE NICHOLS, WHO IS MY PARTNER, LED THE HOMELESS COALITION FOR YEARS.
HE HAS PUT THE MODEL TOGETHER.
AND I COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT MIKE NICHOLS.
I WANTED EVERYBODY HERE, PARTICULARLY THE PRESS TO SEE AND LISTEN TO WHAT MAYOR WHI WHITMEYER HAD TO SAY.
THIS IS A MAN WHO'S COMMITTED TO SOLVING A HUGE PROBLEM.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE WORKED FOR SOME REALLY GOOD CEOS OVER MY CAREER.
AND MAYOR WHITMEYER IS A GREAT CEO BECAUSE HE'S FIRST PUT TOGETHER A TEAM AND SECOND COMMITTED TO HOLD ALL OF US.
AND LET ME ADD ALL OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR US TO GET THIS DONE.
UH, MY GOAL TODAY IS TO GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE STRATEGY TO INTRODUCE THE FULL LEADERSHIP TEAM.
UM, THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESULTS AND TALK ABOUT FUNDING.
UM, LET ME TALK ABOUT FUNDING JUST A MINUTE.
UM, IN THE SYSTEM WE HAD IN PLACE BEFORE, THERE WAS A TWO MAJOR FLAWS.
THE FIRST MAJOR FLAW WAS NO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
WE HAD ONLY FEDERAL FUNDING, HARD TO USE FUNDING, HAD TO HAVE SMART PEOPLE LIKE MY PARTNER MELODY BAR.
USING THAT FUNDING AND USING IT WISELY, IT WAS DIFFICULT.
WE HAD TO USE, UH, UM, WE HAD TO USE VOUCHERS AGAIN WHEN THEY WENT AWAY, THAT WAS A PROBLEM.
SO THAT MONEY FROM COVID HAS GONE AWAY.
WE HAVE TO RETHINK THIS, BUT THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID ABOUT THE MONEY THAT HE PUT INTO HOMELESSNESS.
THREE AND A HALF WEEKS, THREE WEEKS AGO, THE THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
THAT WAS THE FIRST GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MONEY JUST A MINUTE.
BECAUSE FOR ANY GOOD POLICY TO EXIST, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A YEAR ONE FUNDING PLAN AND THE YEAR ONE FUNDING PLAN STARTS WITH THE CITY THAT HAS COMMITTED AND FOUND $25 MILLION FROM VARIOUS FUNDING STREAMS TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.
I SEE MY FRIENDS FROM HARRIS COUNTY HERE.
I'M EXPECTING THEM TO DO WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE TO BE OUR PARTNER ON HOMELESSNESS AND COME UP WITH $20 MILLION.
I WILL SAY THAT THE COUNTY CITY RELATIONSHIP ON HOMELESSNESS MAY BE THE BEST MODEL IN THE COUNTRY.
PHILANTHROPY AND CORPORATIONS, THIS WOULD IMPACT Y'ALL.
THIS IS A ONE TIME ASK BE ABOUT $15 MILLION.
UM, AND THEN TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM MOVING AS WE MOVE TO THE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
AND THEN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WILL BE ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 10 MILLION.
THE $70 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON OUTREACH, RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DIVERSION, WHICH IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
THE NAVIGATION CENTER SHELTER SUPPORT.
I SEE MY FRIENDS FROM SALVATION ARMY AND AND OUT HERE.
AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR WORK.
UM, WE'LL BE EXPECTED TO TALK SHELTER SUPPORT HUB OPERATIONS.
THIS FUNDING DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER EXPECTED FUNDING, SUCH AS, AS SOON AS THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY GETS VOUCHERS, WE'RE GONNA WANT THOSE VOUCHERS TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE FUNDING THAT WE, WE ARE GONNA PUT IN TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THE BIGGEST ONE IT DOESN'T INCLUDE IS IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
[00:15:01]
UH, TODAY WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HARRIS CENTER AND THEY ARE TERRIFIC ABOUT MOVING THIS FUNDING INTO HOUSTON.AND WE'LL ASK FOR MORE OF THAT.
WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IN YEARS TWO, THREE IN THE FUTURE WILL BE A, A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STREAM.
PERHAPS A HOMELESS AUTHORITY, JUST LIKE WE FUND HOUSTON FIRST OR THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE TO FIND THAT SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND WE'LL BE GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE ONLY CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE IN MEETING THIS GOAL, THE ONLY CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS ON THE STREETS, LIES IN THE FUNDING AND THE COLLABORATION.
UM, AND AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN THIS FUNDING IN IT, THE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO GO AND WE CONTINUE TO HOUSE PEOPLE, BUT IT BECOMES SLUGGISH.
AND WITH SLUGGISHNESS MEANS THAT YOU'RE NOT MOVING PEOPLE INTO HOUSING, WHICH MEANS THE SHELTERS ARE FULL, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM WHERE WE END THAT SLUGGISHNESS IN THE SYSTEM.
THE SECOND BIG ITEM IS THE STRATEGY.
THAT IS, IS THAT WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE EVERY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ENSURING THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH THE RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, THIS COMMITMENT REFLECTS THE CITY'S RESOLVE TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH.
AND PARTICULARLY AS THE SIGN SAYS TO END STREET HOMELESSNESS, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER BELIEVES AND IS COMMITTED TO THAT.
NO PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR HOMELESSNESS FOR HOUSING OR SERVICES.
LEMME STICK TO THE NEXT NEW PIECE.
'CAUSE THIS IS NOT ONLY BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, DURING MY TENURE WORKING ON THIS, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF CALLS I'VE HAD THAT SAYS THAT SAY, I WANT OUR PUBLIC SPACES BACK.
I WANT OUR PUBLIC PARKS TO BE ABLE TO USE TO BRING MY CHILDREN.
I WANT OUR LIBRARIES TO BE CLEAN, SAFE.
UM, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE FINDING A PLACE TO BE.
SO WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.
WE HAVE TO, MAYBE THIS IS THE WRONG WORD, BUT RECLAIM HOUSTON'S PUBLIC SPACES, PARTICULARLY OUR PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND SIDEWALKS.
YES, HOUSTON HAS GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN ITS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER.
UM, HERE'S THE TEAM THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AND, UH, THE MAYOR MENTIONED ME, WHICH I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM.
AND LEMME SAY IT'S NOT, IT'S AN HONOR TO DO IT.
BUT WE ALL FEEL THE PRESSURE 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR GETTING THIS DONE.
MY JOB WILL BE TO BRING THE FUNDING IN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, KELLY YOUNG, WHO WILL SPEAK NEXT.
THE CEO OF THE COALITION IS A SEASONED LEADER IN NONPROFIT SECTOR.
AND SHE'LL ENHANCE THAT COORDINATION AND OUTREACH EFFORT FOR OVER A HUNDRED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITHIN OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE NEW THING SHE HAS AGREED TO HELP US ALL HOLD THOSE GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOUSING RESULTS.
CHIEF LARRY SATELLITE, MY NEW BEST FRIEND, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY WILL COORDINATE THE ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS TO, AGAIN, I JUST ADDED PUBLIC WORKS TO THE EXCHANGE, UM, TO, TO ENSURE THAT OUR PARKS, PUBLIC SPACES, LIBRARIES, AND SIDEWALKS ARE SAFE AND CLEAN.
UM, HE WILL EPITOMIZE THAT EFFORT, THAT COMMITMENT, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT WORD, PERSISTENCE IN OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO RECLAIM THESE PUBLIC SPACES.
UH, WAYNE YOUNG IS NOT HERE TODAY.
HE'S REPRESENTED BY KEENA PACE, UH, FROM THE HARRIS CENTER.
AND THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT PERSON IN THIS BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON FOLKS WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THE DIVERSITY AMONG OUR HO HOMELESS POPULATION AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN HOMELESSNESS AND WE KNOW THEY'RE NEW PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS.
BUT THIS APPROACH MEANS WE'RE GONNA TAKE EACH PERSON AND FIND THEIR, HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY AND THAT SPECIFIC INTERVENTION TO GET THEM OUTTA HOMELESSNESS.
UM, CHRIS LARSON'S GONNA BE SPEAKING AND CHRIS IS HERE BECAUSE HIS ORGANIZATION'S THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO STEP UP AND HELP US WITH THIS FUNDING.
HE'S BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA A LONG TIME.
AND WE WILL LEARN AND EXPERIENCE AS WE GO THROUGH PHASE ONE DOWNTOWN.
UM, AGAIN, I WANNA MENTION THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS HERE WHO WE CAN'T DO THE JOB WITHOUT.
AND I'M, I'M REMISS EVEN ASKING THIS, BUT HARRIS COUNTY METRO SEARCH, SALVATION ARMY, THE SOBERING CENTER, I I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON, UH, HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS.
UM, I'M LOOKING AROUND AND MISSING PEOPLE, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
SO I WANNA GO THROUGH WHAT'S NEW ABOUT THIS PLAN.
'CAUSE THE, THE PRESS KEEPS ASKING, WHAT'S NEW ABOUT THIS PLAN THAN THE PLAN YOU WORKED ON
[00:20:01]
PREVIOUS YEARS? FIRST, WE ARE COMMITTED TO A PLAN THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SLEEP OUTSIDE, SLEEP ON THE STREETS BEFORE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SHELTER OR HOUSING.SECOND, OUR GOAL IS NOT JUST TO OFFER INDIVIDUALS A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT OF OUR STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND LET ME SAY IT LOUDLY, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WE WANT TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE FULL AND SAFE ACCESS TO THESE PUBLIC SPACES.
THREE, WE, WE HAVE A BROADER AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS CENTER ON THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE PERSISTENCE TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC SPACES SAFE.
AND FOR FOURTH, WE WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STREAM INSTEAD OF UNSTABLE ONE-TIME FUNDING.
AND AGAIN, THAT WILL COME DEEPLY AS WE WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS.
AND LAST, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT IN THIS, IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE GONNA HOLD CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING MY OWN NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS, ANYBODY WHO IS TAKE TOUCHING THIS MONEY, THEY'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUTCOME AND RESULTS, NOT JUST OUTPUTS.
THIS MAYOR HAS A BIAS FOR ACTION AND THAT I DEEPLY APPRECIATE, MAYOR, WHO I BRING UP OUR NEXT TEAM LEADER.
LEMME JUST DEMONSTRATE TO YOU VISUALLY HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE'S BECOME A PRACTICE, AND I'VE WITNESSED IT THREE TIMES SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE TO CREATE CIVILITY ZONES WHERE SIGNATURES ARE GATHERED IN A COMMUNITY AND THEY COME PAST BEFORE COUNCIL.
AND I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY.
AND THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF THE CONCEPT BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF MY ADMINISTRATION, CIVILITY ZONE, IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS IN THIS GEOGRAPHIC DESIGNATED AREA.
WE'VE CREATED THREE SINCE I WAS BECAME OFFICE.
UH, JUST ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK IS MAGNOLIA PARK.
BUT WE'VE DONE SOUTH MCGREGOR, WE'VE DONE THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE NO SLEEPING ON THE STREET.
AND I COMMENTED WHEN THEY BROUGHT IT BEFORE ME.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THE ENTIRE CITY OUGHT TO BE LIKE.
SO ESSENTIALLY MEMBERS, AS WE HAVE NOW 12 CIVILITY ZONES ACROSS HOUSTON, VERY DIVERSE ACROSS OUR CITY, WE'RE ENDORSING OUR CIVILITY ZONE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, WE CAN'T ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU CANNOT SLEEP ON THE STREETS AFTER NINE O'CLOCK YEARS AGO IT WAS PASSED THAT YOU COULD NOT SLEEP FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING TO NINE IN THE EVENING.
SO GUESS WHAT? IT JUST AUTHORIZED SLEEPING AFTER 9:00 PM ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE BAGLEY BIO PLACE OVERHANG BECOMES KIND OF A DORM.
I SEE IT WHEN I GO HOME AND SOME ARE STILL THERE WHEN I COME BACK.
IF YOU, YOU SURELY CAN TELL HOW EXCITED I AM TO TAKE THIS MISSION ON, BUT I CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
AND NOW, KELLY YOUNG, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE HOMELESS COALITION, IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS TEAM LEADERS IN TO SHOW US HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOMELESS.
SHE'S GONNA MANAGE THE CASEWORKERS WE'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW.
I ASK HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, WHERE WERE YOU FIVE YEARS AGO AND WHERE DO YOU WANNA BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW IS NOT WORKING SOMETIME IT'S AS SIMPLE AS RECONNECTING THEM TO THEIR FAMILY.
THEY HAD BAD HABITS YEARS AGO, RECENTLY EVEN PERHAPS.
SO THEIR FAMILIES KIND OF WROTE 'EM OFF.
IT'S GONNA TAKE MS. YOUNG'S EXPERTISE AND TEAM TO RECONNECT FAMILIES WITH THE HOMELESS, RECONNECT THEM WITH FOUNDATIONS AND OUR SERVICES.
SO KELLY, IF YOU'LL COME, TELL US HOW, HOW TOUGH OUR JOB'S GOING TO BE.
MY NAME IS KELLY YOUNG AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONG WITH THIS TEAM.
AS MIKE MENTIONED, ONE FLAW IN OUR SYSTEM IS NOT HAVING CONSISTENT FUNDING TO ADDRESS PUBLIC CONCERNS AS THEY SEE HOMELESSNESS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD ALLOW US TO DO MORE, DIG DEEPER WORK COLLABORATIVELY, AND WOULD FOCUS THE WORK ON CURRENT CONDITIONS OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
IT WOULD TAKE US BEYOND WHAT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS DO, WHICH KEEP OUR STATUS AT
[00:25:01]
STATUS QUO.WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT FOR MORE INTENSIVE COLLABORATION WITH THESE ADDITIONAL PARTNERS AND SYSTEMS. CFTH IS THE DESIGNATED AGENCY THAT COORDINATES OVER A HUNDRED ORGANIZATIONS KNOWN AS THE WAY HOME, THE BACKBONE OF THE HOMELESS SERVICES IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
WE ALL ARE EAGER ALONG WITH ANYONE AT ANY TABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OUTLINED IN THIS NEXT VERY CHALLENGING PHASE OF OUR WORK.
THERE WILL BE PIVOT POINTS, THERE'LL BE CAVEATS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD.
WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO THE CONTINUAL PROCESS OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
THESE PROCESSES REALIZE THAT AND RECOGNIZE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS EXPERIENCED IN EVERYONE'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY, THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS.
THAT WITH MORE ROBUST ACCESS POINTS AND DEEPER INTERVENTIONS, WE CAN SERVE EVERYONE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE WORK IS NOT DONE, BUT WITH A FULLY FUNDED PLAN, WE CAN REACH EQUILIBRIUM.
EQUILIBRIUM BUILDS ON THE GREAT PREVIOUS WORK.
AND WITH THIS MAYOR AND THIS TEAM, WE WILL TACKLE THE LAST BARRIERS TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO HOUSING.
EQUILIBRIUM ENDS THE LONGSTANDING HOMELESSNESS BY ENSURING EVERYONE WHO FALLS INTO HOMELESSNESS IS REHOUSED.
IT IS THE STRENGTH AND THE EXCELLENT WORK OF THE WAY HOME PARTNERS AND OUR NEWLY STRENGTHENED COLLABORATIONS THAT WE COMMIT TO THE PROCESS WE KNOW WORKS AND WILL DO MORE.
WE WILL HAVE, WHEN WE SEE THE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES, CFTH IN THE WAY HOME, HAS THE DATA UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE ON THE STREET.
THE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGEMENT NEEDED TO, TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET AND TO TAKE THE HOUSING AND THE HOUSING AND THE SERVICES NEEDED FOR THEM TO HAVE A PLACE TO BE AND THE SERVICES THEY MAY NEED.
THE WAY HOME PARTNERS ARE THE FIRST TO BE ON THE GROUND WITH ENGAGEMENT AND CARE MODEL THAT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO DECIDE TO TRUST THAT THEY WILL HAVE A REAL PLACE TO GO.
THAT IS BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE ENGAGEMENT, THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME AND THE SUPPORTS OF ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS ANY NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.
WE WILL BE AND ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE GREATNESS OF OUR WORK AND OUR FAILURES.
AND WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON FULLY.
IN THIS PLAN, WE WILL REQUIRE WELL-FUNDED MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO CREATE CONSOLIDATED SERVICE MODELS THAT SUPPORT ALL INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THIS WOULD CREATE MORE FRONT DOORS TO OUR SYSTEM SO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS EASY ACCESS.
THOSE THAT WANNA NEED TO HAVE A NEED, A PLACE TO SEND SOMEONE.
AND THOSE THAT ARE HELP SEEKERS LOOKING FOR HELP WITH THESE, WE CREATE MUCH MORE EASY ENTRY POINTS FOR EVERYONE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES BY GATHERING THE DATA, ASSESSING RESOURCES, AND WORKING ON THIS PLAN.
TOGETHER WE CAN HUMANELY MOVE INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREET INTO THEIR NECESSARY INTERVENTIONS.
TODAY I ASK THAT WE ALL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO BUILD NEW BEGINNINGS FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
AND YOU'VE CERTAINLY SEEN OUR EMPHASIS ON COMPASSION AND TREATING THE HOMELESS LIKE IS ONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
I QUITE OFTEN TELL MY LAW ENFORCEMENT FRIENDS, WHEN YOU PULL SOMEBODY OVER, JUST ACT LIKE IT'S YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR SISTER AND IF YOU CAN HELP 'EM GET HOME SAFELY.
AND THAT'S OUR APPROACH WITH THE HOMELESS.
BUT THERE ARE GONNA BE INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST RESIST FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
OBVIOUSLY WE WILL DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH AS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, BUT THERE'S SOME JUST SAY NO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS YOU COULD NEVER ENFORCE REMOVING THE HOMELESS AND PROVIDING HELP FOR 'EM IF THEY RESISTED THE SUPREME COURT IN AUGUST SAID, YES YOU CAN.
SO AS I SAID EARLIER, I'M PROUD OF MY APPOINTMENTS.
WE'VE GOT SOLID WASTE WITH US THIS MORNING.
THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR CITY AND THE CLEANLINESS THAT WE WANNA PROVIDE FOR THE HOMELESS PARKS IS WITH ME TODAY.
CITY GOVERNMENT SPENDS A LOT OF TIME, CERTAINLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I RODE WITH THE CHIEF ALVEDA ABOUT THREE NEW YEAR'S EVES AGO.
YOU KNOW, THE CALLS WE WERE MAKING AT MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS STARTING FIRES AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE MARRIOTT TO STAY WARM.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY REASONS BESIDES CARING FOR 'EM THAT WE ALSO ARE GONNA INSIST THAT THEY GET OUTTA PUBLIC SPACES, CERTAINLY WHEN WE PROVIDE THE CAPACITY TO PLACE THEM IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE HAS DEALT WITH
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THE HOMELESS CONDITIONS DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AS OUR ACTING POLICE CHIEF, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PLACE SOMEONE IN HOMELAND SECURITY, I KNEW WHERE I WANTED TO GO.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE WILL USE THE PROPER MEANS TO RESTORE OUR PUBLIC PLACES FOR THE PUBLIC WHILE WE CARE FOR THE HOMELESS.
CHIEF SATTER, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS A CHALLENGING THING THAT YOU'RE TAKING ON.
UH, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE AS A LEADER, BUT WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU IN THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, NO MATTER HOW CHALLENGING IT IS, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO, I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY, MY COLLEAGUES OUT HERE FROM ALL THE AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT COULD NOT BE HERE.
UH, REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL SHOWING UP TODAY.
AND FOR THOSE THAT COULDN'T THAT MAY SEE THIS AND THOSE THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT, TO BE FAIR, THEY'RE LIKE PROBABLY SAYING, WELL CHIEF, I WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU.
THAT'S 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN RUNNING LIKE CRAZY A LITTLE BIT.
SO I I MIGHT HAVE MISSED A FEW.
JUST KNOW YOU'RE ALL MY FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND I, WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP.
UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT.
I WILL TELL YOU, WE'RE ALREADY UNDERWAY.
I SEE, UH, COMMANDER JENNIFER KENNEDY OUT THERE IN THE FIELD AND I KNOW COMMANDER, UH, YAD ESTRADA WITH HPD, BOTH OF THEM WITH HPD AND CHIEF HARDEN BEHIND US.
UH, I SEE CONSTABLE ROSEN OUT THERE, UH, WHEREAS CHIEF CASEY, I'M SURE HE IS HERE, UHD, THERE IT IS, BACK THERE IN THE BACK.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, SO MANY OTHERS, ALL MY PARTNERSHIP DIRECTORS HERE, THEY'RE ALREADY, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING.
SO YOU MIGHT WONDER, WELL HOW DOES THIS WORK CHIEF WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES? WELL, THESE ARE AGENCIES THAT HAVE, UH, AN AREA IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S ALL IN THEIR A OR OF COURSE.
HPD IS ALL THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
METRO GOES EVERYWHERE OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON EVEN.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE HARRIS COUNTY HERE.
I GOT DPSI MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE IDEA IS THAT EVERYBODY IS DEALING WITH THIS.
EVERY AGENCY STANDING OUT HERE IS AT SOME POINT BEEN DEALING WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS IS A TRAGEDY AND IT HAS A VERY TRAGIC END.
UH, IN 34 YEARS, THERE WERE NUMEROUS TIMES THAT I HAD TO GO OUT.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD GET THAT CALL AND, AND GO OUT THERE BECAUSE WE HAD FOUND SOMEBODY WHO HAD ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBEDED TO LIVING ON THE STREETS.
IT HAPPENS JUST BY THEM GETTING SICK AND ULTIMATELY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED OR, OR CHOOSING TO GET THE CARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THESE MENTAL ISSUES THAT THEY'RE ALSO FACING SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
OR MAYBE IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE, BECAUSE THEY'RE PREYED UPON AND THEY PREY UPON OTHERS.
THE SIMPLE FACT IS THE WHOLE LIFE OF LIVING ON THE STREETS IS DANGEROUS AND IT'S UNHEALTHY AND IT HURTS THEM.
AND IT HELP, IT HURTS EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS OUT THERE.
IF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WANT TO USE THOSE SPACES AS MAYOR, UH, SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO RECLAIM BECAUSE EVERYBODY DESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE PUBLIC SPACES AND EVERYBODY DESERVES THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, THOSE WHO ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TROUBLE, THOSE WHO PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT HELP OFF THE STREETS AND INTO THE KIND OF CARE HOUSING THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
AND THEN ALSO AFFORD EVERYBODY ELSE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO ENJOY THOSE SPACES TOO.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S, THIS IS A, THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD YET NO MAJOR CITY TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS FIGURED OUT HOMELESSNESS COMPLETELY.
WE WANNA DO IT HERE BECAUSE HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON THING.
WE HAVE HARRIS COUNTY ON BOARD AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE REGION, WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'LL NEED EVERYBODY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT HUMANE AND IT'S NOT CARING TO LET SOMEBODY EXIST IN THEIR OWN HUMAN WASTE FOR DAYS AND WEEKS ON END.
AND WE JUST DRIVE RIGHT BY THEM.
I'VE GOT PASTORS IN THIS CROWD HERE.
THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE PREACHERS.
WE WANT THE SAME THING FOR THEM, THAT WE WANT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE, A CHANCE TO BE, UH, TO STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET AND LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
'CAUSE NOBODY, NOBODY IS BORN SAYING, SOMEDAY I WANT TO BE HOMELESS.
THEY MIGHT FALL INTO IT FOR LOTS OF REASONS, BUT NO ONE STARTS THEIR LIFE OUT THAT WAY.
WE WANT TO GET 'EM BACK TO THE PLACE THAT THEY WANT TO BE.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE COURAGE AND IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET IT.
BUT WE HAVE SOME, WE HAVE SOME REAL NEEDS IN THE PROCESS.
FUNDING AND RESOURCES HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR STEPPING UP AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE STEPPING UP AND WE'RE COMING TO EVERYBODY.
WE REALLY NEED THE FUNDING BECAUSE THERE'S IT, IT'S GONNA TAKE ADDITIONAL HOUSING, IT'S GONNA TAKE ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES, IT'S GONNA TAKE HOSPITAL BEDS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL, WILL READILY AND ALREADY HAVE.
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TAKEN US UP EVEN THIS WEEK ON HOUSING THAT, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.BUT EVERYBODY, AND CERTAINLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE THAT'S HERE, UH, UH, PUBLIC WORK, EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE DEALING WITH ALSO KNOWS THAT KNOW THAT WE RUN IN AND, AND, AND, AND ALL, EVERY, ALL THE RESIDENTS HOUSTON, KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO GO, UH, WHO REFUSE TO DO TO TAKE IT FOR WHATEVER REASON.
WHAT WE LIKEN IT TO IS THEY SIMPLY LACK THE AWARENESS, UM, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN PERILOUS SITUATION BECAUSE THEY SUFFER SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR WHATEVER.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE NEED.
WE NEED, WE, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO STEP IN.
SO WE NEED STATE AND FEDERAL SUPPORT AND LEGAL LAW CHANGES TO HELP US TO GIVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, ADDITIONAL TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX TO ALSO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO SAY NO, WHO DO SAY, I DON'T WANT WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING AND I WANNA LIVE THE LIFE.
IT IS NOT, IT IS A DETERIORATED STATE.
SO WE, WE NEED OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR LEGISLATORS, TO MAKE LAW CHANGES, TO GIVE US THOSE MORE TOOLS.
AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IN AUSTIN AND ELSEWHERE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CODES IN THE, IN OUR, IN OUR PENAL CODE AND OUR HEALTH CODE THAT MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY.
WE ALSO REALLY NEED COOPERATION AND COORDINATION OF ALL OF OUR CHARITABLE OUTREACH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS, UH, BE IT FAITH-BASED OR OTHER TYPES OF OUTREACH.
THEY WANNA GO OUT THERE EVEN IN, IN THE INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ALL WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DIRE STRAITS.
AND YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY IF YOU DRIVE AROUND HOUSTON AND THEY WANNA GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE GET THAT AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT.
BUT WE DO NEED COORDINATION BECAUSE IF YOU'RE RUNNING INDEPENDENTLY AND GOING TO DIFFERENT AREAS AND OPENING UP THE TRUNK OR SETTING UP AND DOING DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH WHAT KELLY AND ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZED OUTREACH IS DOING, YOU'RE PROBABLY PUSH, YOU KNOW, SETTING US BACK BECAUSE IT WILL CREATE PROBLEMS. IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE INTO A SITUATION WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DRAW, BE DRAWN INTO.
WE WANT THEM TO GET REAL HELP.
WE WANT THEM TO TAKE THE RESOURCES AND THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE OFFERING THAT WILL GET THEM OUTTA STREET HOMELESSNESS OUT OF LIVING ON THE STREETS.
WE DON'T WANNA SUSTAIN THAT LIFE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE ON UNTIL THAT TRAGIC END THAT WE KNOW IS COMING.
IF WE DON'T DO AN INTERVENTION INVENTION, IF WE DON'T OFFER RAMP THEM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE YOUR PARTNERS IN THAT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL HELP YOU WITH THAT.
WE WILL, WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN, BUT WE DO NEED YOU TO HELP US AND COORDINATE WITH US.
SO I THINK, UH, POST THIS, THIS PRESS CONFERENCE INFORMATION WILL BE GOING OUT.
I THINK IT'S FROM THE COALITION'S OFFICE ON HOW TO DO THAT.
IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW, PLEASE WORK WITH US.
DON'T RUN INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE THINGS A LOT OF TIMES WORSE THAN BETTER.
AND, AND I SEE A LOT OF SHAKING HEADS IN THIS ROOM.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO I WANNA CLOSE WITH MANAGING SOME EXPECTATIONS FOR MY PART.
THIS IS THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, AND WE ARE ALREADY DOING THE HARD WORK, BUT WE HAVE VERY LIMITED FUNDS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE PROBABLY ALMOST EXHAUSTED WHAT, UH, CHRIS IS GOING TO COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT ALREADY.
THE FIRST TRANCHE ALREADY, GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED FROM IT AND THANK YOU CHRIS, AND THANK YOU DOWNTOWN FOR THAT VERY NECESSARY.
BUT UNTIL MORE FUNDING COMES IN, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY CHALLENGING.
AND SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS I SAY TOMORROW YOU'RE NOT GONNA WAKE UP AND SUDDENLY THERE ARE NO HOMELESS OUTSIDE.
I THINK THE MAYOR SAID EIGHT YEARS.
WE, WE, WE ACTUALLY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WELL BEFORE THAT, UH, BECAUSE WE CONSIDER IT AN URGENT CRISIS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS.
BUT DO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FAST.
HOMELESSNESS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE FIXED OVERNIGHT.
ALL OF MY PARTNERS ARE OUT HERE.
IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY IN TROUBLE, YOU SEE SOMEBODY BEING HARMED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU DO WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO.
IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR WHATEVER AREA, WHATEVER JU JURISDICTION THAT SERVES YOU, DO THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO BECAUSE YOU SEE A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT ALSO WANNA MANAGE THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY JUST GO OUT THERE AND BE TAKING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET EVERYWHERE IN HOUSTON.
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES YET.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PLACES, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED JUST YET.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ALL THE LAWS THAT WE NEED PASSED TO BACK US UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
SO PLEASE, I ASK THE PUBLIC, PLEASE BE PATIENT.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, THEY ARE SERVING YOU.
THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN AS WITNESSED BY STANDING IN THIS ROOM TODAY, CHIEFS AND COM AND SHERIFFS AND, AND HEADS OF AGENCIES, CONSTABLES, AND SO MANY MORE.
UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A FANTASTIC SERVICE AND A FANTASTIC COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAVE.
AND I APPLAUD THEM ALL AND WE ALL LOVE IT, BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.
SO WITH THAT, MY LAST THING I'LL TELL YOU IS, UH, IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER.
THERE'LL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO DONATE.
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I URGE YOU, PLEASE, WE DO NEED THE HELP.WE WILL NOT SERVE, WE WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE SEEN OUR, OUR PLAN, OUR MISSION, OUR PASSION.
WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE TO HELP.
AND OUR NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE IS GONNA BE FUNDING.
WE KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH PROPER FUNDING.
AND I KNOW MANY OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS ARE STRAPPED FOR FUNDING.
CERTAINLY THE CITY HAS FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A PRIORITY.
WE MAY HAVE TO REPRIORITIZE SOME OF OUR SPENDING TURS MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
I EXPECT YOU TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
YOU HAVE RESOURCES, YOU HAVE RENEWABLE FUNDING, INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MED CENTER, AND I HATE TO SINGLE THEM OUT, BUT THEY HAVE, THEY'RE SUCH AN ASSET AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT THAT ASSET.
I COULD GO ACROSS THE ROOM AND NAME THE FOUNDATIONS, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I SAW ARMANDO WALLY HERE A WHILE AGO.
VERY ACTIVE IN THE BUDGET IN AUSTIN.
NOW JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT.
WE HAVE A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
WE CREATED THE, TO HAVE A REGULAR SOURCE OF DEALING WITH FLOODING.
CAN WE ENVISION MAYBE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH HOMELESS FUNDING? SO GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL BY ITSELF.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT LEADER IN THIS EFFORT.
WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DOWNTOWN CORPORATE HOUSTON WOULD SAY THERE'S SO MUCH GOODWILL TOWARDS THIS GREAT CITY AND CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED WHERE THEY'RE BEING ASKED TODAY.
AND CHRIS LARSON DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ASKED AS THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN.
PLUS THEY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE BECAUSE ALL GREAT CITIES HAVE A GREAT DOWNTOWN.
I ACTUALLY HAD A CORPORATION TELL ME THEY DID A POLL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET THEM TO QUIT WORKING AT HOME? LARGE CORPORATION DURING COVID, THEY WORKED AT HOME.
THEY'RE SLOW ABOUT COMING BACK.
YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE IN THE POLL.
THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT COMING BACK TO HEADQUARTERS.
WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS.
SO CHRIS AND HIS ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE STARTING DOWNTOWN FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON.
RESOURCES, WE'RE ASKING CORPORATE HOUSTON TO STEP UP.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SITTING IN REAL TIME TODAY.
CHRIS AND HIS ORGANIZATION DONATED THE FIRST MILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S ALREADY FUNDING SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES DOWNTOWN.
CHRIS, WOULD YOU COME AND TELL US HOW YOU ENVISION BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL PARTNERS? THANK YOU FA THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, TO OUR MANY GREAT PARTNERS ON THE STAGE HERE.
UH, IT IS, IT'S REALLY BEEN A WONDERFUL FEW MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO CRAFT THE STRATEGY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT TO THE PUBLIC TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS LARSON AND I AM THE PRESIDENT, CEO OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS, WHICH COLLECTS THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND CENTRAL HOUSTON INC.
AND OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS SPACE FOR DECADES, LED PRIMARILY BY MY PREDECESSOR, MR. BOB URI, WHO IS WITH US TODAY.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BOB AND ALL HIS WORK, WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS FORWARD AND LEAD IN THIS SPACE BECAUSE DESPITE THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE PAST, WE KNOW THAT HOMELESSNESS REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE CONTRIBUTOR TO NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, AND COMMUNITY VITALITY AMONG DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS PLAN PRESENTS A PROFOUND OPPORTUNITY TO ORCHESTRATE ALL OF THE AGENCIES AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST PERPLEXING CHALLENGES, PLACE-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND TSAS.
WE KNOW THESE CHALLENGES ALL TOO WELL ACROSS HOUSTON.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE LONG HELPED PEOPLE TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS AND INTO HOUSING THROUGH VARIOUS INVESTMENTS WHICH INCLUDE OUTREACH, HOUSING, AND ENFORCEMENT.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT LAST WEEK OUR DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD BECAME THE FIRST PARTNER ORGANIZATION TO OFFICIALLY PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THIS PLAN BY VOTING TO CONTRIBUTE $1 MILLION TO THIS CRITICAL EFFORT.
THAT VOTE REPRESENTS OUR CONFIDENCE
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IN THIS PLAN, WHICH WILL TAKE HOUSTON SIGNIFICANTLY SIGNIFICANT STEPS FORWARD IN ENDING ON STREET HOMELESSNESS.THROUGH OUR CONTRIBUTION, WE'LL ENABLE HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS TO FIND A PATH TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH WHILE MAKING OUR PUBLIC REALM SAFER AND MORE WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE.
THE COALITION OF LEADERS WHO STAND HERE TODAY CANNOT ACCOMPLISH THIS AMBITION ALONE.
IF WE WANT TO SCALE THIS PROGRAM TO HAVE A CITYWIDE IMPACT, WE'LL NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY'S MANY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS INT PLUS PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS.
AND PLEASED TO SAY THAT MY PARTNER AT GHP IS RIGHT DOWN HERE IN FRONT AS WELL.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER TO, TO LEVER THOSE, UH, PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT CITIZENS ARE DEMANDING CONTI CONTINUED PROGRESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS WILL PROVIDE THIS COALITION WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADVANCE OUR VISION FOR A SAFE, CLEAN, AND INVITING CITY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
I, I WOULD ASK ANNA IN MY OFFICE TO COME SPEAK TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENCE.
MIKE PARA THAT COMPLETES OUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE BEING ANY
AND SO IF THERE'S A QUESTION, I'LL TAKE MY TIME OVER IN A CORNER SOMEWHERE.
BUT LET'S LET, UH, ALL THESE, UH, CARETAKERS GO BACK TO WORK.