The city of Houston will begin enforcing its ordinance against homeless encampments just in time for frigid temperatures to settle over the area.
Mayor Sylvester Turner insists the city will, as it always has, offer a bed inside a shelter for anyone looking to get out of the cold.
“Even though they may be full so-to-speak, they will make room for additional people as well,” said Turner. “No one wants to see people out there in the cold, no one wants to see people out there on the streets.”
“The Star of Hope just opened up a new facility down off 288 and Reed Road which houses about 1,100 people, primarily women and children,” he added. “The residence on Emancipation Avenue, that's where Start of Hope used to be, when they moved out that provided some space and we've got people there now.”
Meanwhile, Turner and his staff will gather to discuss last week's court ruling allowing the city to move forward with ordinances against homeless encampments and panhandling.
“We will provide notice to them that the court has desolved the temporary restraining order, they are no longe protected by that and these encampments are not going to be allowed,” he said.
The mayor says the city has storage space for those who want to hold onto large items.