In the early 1980s, Houston experienced a major economic downturn during which thousands of people lost their jobs and experienced homelessness. Service providers and local government agencies then scrambled to coordinate community-wide strategies and serve people in need.

In 1982, Houston Mayor Kathryn Whitmire and Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay along with area homeless service providers realized that a neutral coordinating agency was needed to liaise with government, support homeless service providers, and advocate to the public on behalf of those experiencing homelessness. Reverend William Lawson, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza and Rabbi Karff — affectionately known as the “Three Amigos” — came together to unite faiths in a response to homelessness. They presented to Mayor Whitmire the need for what was then called the “Campaign for the Homeless.” From there, the Coalition for the Homeless was born.

“There is a word in Yiddish that best describes Rabbi Sam Karff. Sam Karff was a ‘mensch.’ He epitomized the best characteristics of a human being: kind, generous of spirit, thoughtful and thought-provoking,” said coalition President and CEO Michael Nichols. “For 40 years, Rabbi Karff was my spiritual guide, role model, and friend. Whenever I had an opportunity to hear Sam speak or have a conversation with him, it was meaningful and significant to me. As we mourn his passing, he is remembered by his actions: including helping start the Coalition for the Homeless as well as both the Health and Human Spirit Program — the precursor to the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics — and the Sacred Vocation Program (SVP) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.”

Rabbi Karff was an outspoken advocate for equality, civil rights, and social justice. Houston is a far better place for his having lived and worked here. Our condolences are with his family.