THE PROJECT
THERE ARE 3,626
PEOPLE THAT ARE
HOMELESS
LIVING IN HOUSTON
THE PROJECT
In 2012 Chicago natives and Houston residents Martin Brown, Rukiya Akua, Lisa Pride, and Michele James-Rathers joined together to do one simple act of kindness that would "make a person smile."
They immediately asked family members and other friends to join them in the effort. With the support of their community their first project allowed them to give blankets, socks, and care/survival packages to 35 people living on Houston streets.
Since then, they have organized a variety of giving projects and volunteer dates within their community of friends.
"Make a Person Smile" (MAPS) Houston is committed to making a difference one blanket and pair of socks at a time.
THE HARD TRUTH
2028
ARE SHELTERED
1242
ARE UNSHELTETRED
Houston, Texas (May 3, 2023) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County’s 2023 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey found a total of 3,270 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 23, 2023, in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The results reflect an 18% decrease in overall homelessness in the area since 2020, the last count conducted prior to the pandemic. Overall, the region has seen a 61% reduction in homelessness since 2011.
This year, the Count found 1,242 people living unsheltered, a decrease of 17% since 2022. Meanwhile, the 2023 Count found 2,028 people staying in shelter, an increase of 18% over 2022. Demographic data suggests that people didn’t simply relocate from the streets to shelter.
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​Other key findings from the 2023 Homeless Count include: 42% of unsheltered persons were homeless for the first time (up from 40% in 2022). 9% of unsheltered persons indicated they were homeless due to COVID, compared with 13% in 2022. 33% (a plurality) of unsheltered persons cited an economic impact as the primary cause of their homelessness. People who are Black or African American make up 55% of the population experiencing homelessness compared to only 20% of the population. More than 9,300 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home on the night of Jan. 23, 2023. More than 28,000 people have been placed in permanent housing (Permanent Supportive Housing or Rapid Re-Housing) through The Way Home since 2012.