When President/CEO Michael Nichols joined the Coalition in 2019, he led the redesign of the Coalition's organizational chart to ensure that the Coalition was structured and staffed to be a strong and effective lead agency. Strong leadership across the system needed to start with an effective organizational structure at the Coalition. Two new departments were established: Strategic Planning & Public Affairs, and Development. These departments complemented the already existing Program Operations and Internal Operations departments. 

The creation of a Strategic Planning & Public Affairs department means a more intentional focus on the long-term view of the homeless response system. Their focus on collective impact and relationship building with partner agencies – as well as connecting to systems that feed into homelessness – expands the capabilities of the system at large. The dedicated focus by this team on advocacy, sustainability, and strategy allows our Program Operations team to focus on the day-to-day functions of our homeless response system. 

Our dedicated Development department ensures we remain sustainable as our own independent 501(c)(3). Fundraising guarantees the continued delivery of our valuable and unique services to the community. This department also plays a role in homeless response system sustainability, raising private funds to leverage tens of millions in public funding in our community each year. 

Conducted in the last week of January each year, the 2020 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey once again helped us determine the number of sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The Count was led by the Coalition and was conducted by over 100 service providers and dozens of community volunteers. Because we have counted in the same way since 2011, the Count is particularly helpful when illustrating trends over time.  

2020 Key Findings: 

53% decrease in overall homelessness since 2011.

56,000 people touched in HMIS in 2019, including 23,000 who accessed a homeless program.

42% of individuals experiencing homelessness were living unsheltered.

19,000+ people have been placed in permanent supportive housing since 2011.

Click here to see an overview of 2020 Homeless Count results, or click here for a detailed independent analysis. 

Because as we work to serve people experiencing homelessness, racial inequity is not an abstract concept. It is the reality we see every day. 

The fact is that Black or African Americans are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in our community. People who identify as Black or African American make up 22.5% of the population of the greater Houston region, but 57% of those experiencing homelessness. 

This disparity is the result of decades of structural oppression and systemic racism. It is upsetting and unacceptable. It also compels us to action. While we cannot have complete control over who experiences homelessness due to the racist systems feeding into the local homeless response system, we can provide equitable treatment and access to housing services for all clients.

We are committed to improving racial equity within our local homeless response system - both in terms of access to services and positive outcomes. We will continue to examine our data to learn where we can do better. We are also committed to including input from voices that are reflective of the communities that we serve.

At the onset of COVID, the Coalition took stock and determined how best to protect employees, partners, and clients.  

We coordinated with direct service providers to understand needs and gaps. Each provider was impacted in unique ways in light of COVID, and we provided resources where possible, including tens of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment.

Working with our partners, we also stood up three essential crisis responses for people experiencing homelessness: Dedicated COVID Testing, an Isolation & Quarantine Facility, and an Auxiliary Emergency Shelter. 

At the same time as we were coordinating these immediate responses, the CARES Act was passed, bringing a substantial amount of new funding into the Houston community. The Coalition recognized the opportunity for our community to make once-in-a-generation investments into permanent housing and other homeless assistance programs to not only house those already experiencing homelessness, but to prepare our system to help those who will fall into homelessness due to the economic impacts of the pandemic.

The expert staff at the Coalition began designing an ambitious, housing-focused response to the pandemic called the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP, or “chip”). By the end of June, the Coalition had secured $39 million in public funding commitments from the City of Houston, and $18 million committed by unanimous Commissioners Court vote from Harris County. 

The CCHP continued beyond the fiscal year end on June 30, 2020, and it continues today. Click here to learn more about our Community COVID Housing Program.