Homeless Blight Continues Despite New Ordinances

It's been over a month since Houston's new homeless ordinances went into effect, but anyone who went to an Astros game over the weekend wouldn't notice any difference.

The city is trying to crack down on homeless encampments along sidewalks and underneath highway overpasses, but even advocates acknowledge it has become a daunting task.

"There are still some people who are there, but there are a lot fewer people in those sites," says Thao Costis with SEARCH Homeless Services.  "It's not a quick and easy fix."

"The mayor and none of us can just simply pick up somebody and remove them against their will, that's not something we can do."

She says despite federal cutbacks, the city remains determined to find permanent housing.

"We are working to house another 280 people by the end of November, and these are people who are the chronically homeless or they've been on the street for a long, long time, the most vulnerable," says Costis.

Costis says Houstonians can help by donating time or money directly to agencies like hers.


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