Houston temporarily delays vote on homeless 'superhub' after pushback

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A City Council vote to approve purchasing an east downtown Houston property near Shell Stadium for what officials are calling a "homeless super hub" was pulled from this week's agenda.

Sources provided various explanations for the action. Some said the decision was made in response to council members' concerns. However, most said the call was made amid public backlash.

Several residents near the site, 419 Emancipation Ave., said they were not notified of the matter. They said the city scheduled a Tuesday night input session only after they raised concerns.

Resident Cassie Batson said she viewed the behavior of city officials as "sneaky."

Houston Public Safety Director Larry Satterwhite and Houston Housing and Community Development Director Mike Nichols spoke at the community input session. The two men are spearheading the effort as part of Houston Mayor John Whitmire's homeless initiative. They were frequently shouted at during the meeting. One resident's question, "How do we stop it?" was met with applause.

Satterwhite told ABC13 the site was selected in part because "downtown and East End, EaDo, and Midtown have been ground zero for our street homeless." "We had limited funds so we said let's focus on the most impacted area first," he added.

Satterwhite and Nichols said the 24/7 facility will welcome walk-ups and target those who would typically be turned away from other shelters for conditions such as severe mental illness, substance abuse, and criminal records.

"I'm concerned for my safety," Batson said. "We are talking about criminals." She added, "I think this is just going to draw more people loitering out on the streets."

Satterwhite said the shelter is intended to draw chronically homeless individuals off the street.

Batson's neighbor, Elizabeth Spivey, questioned why the site, which is steps from Shell Stadium, was selected ahead of the World Cup.

"It seems contradictory to what the government's been doing," she said.

Spivey said her family is considering moving if the shelter opens, and worries about how it will impact their condo's value.

"I think when it comes down to it, I have a 5-year-old daughter, right? We're gonna do what's most important for her," she explained.

Director Satterwhite told ABC13 that HPD will increase patrols in the area in coordination with other law enforcement entities. When ABC13 asked if money had been earmarked for associated overtime, he replied, "By taking a lot of our people who are suffering on the streets off the streets, every day they are drawing on police services."

As for funding, Director Mike Nichols who heads Houston Housing and Community Development said his department, which is part of the city, will take out a loan from the city to purchase the site. He said the department is looking at different ways to pay it back, including property taxes captured by the local TIRZ and philanthropic help.

The city plans to pay $16 million for the site, which is more than $9 million higher than its HCAD appraisal. Nichols said the number is worth it to secure the property that is turn-key ready, because it has previously served as a shelter.

"There were other people bidding on it. We came up with a price," Nichols said. He added, "Is it more than I wanted to pay? It absolutely is but this is what it took to get this property today, not going to somebody else... the building is ready for us to move into. There are 225 beds there, there's a security system there, there's a kitchen there."

Operations are expected to cost up to $14 million a year, which is something the city will initially bankroll with one-time federal disaster funds linked to Beryl and the Derecho.

The matter is scheduled to return to City Council's agenda next Wednesday. Sources say council members are expected to approve it. If approved, the city aims to open the shelter in the first quarter of 2026.

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