Politics & Government
City Closes Homeless Encampment In Midtown, Moves 45 To Shelters
The move comes about a month after the area was declared a public health nuisance by the city's health department.
HOUSTON, TX —A homeless encampment in Houston's Museum District dubbed a public nuisance has been shut down. City officials announced on Thursday that about 50 people living at the encampment would be removed and the area cleaned.
On Tuesday the city placed notices at the encampment informing residents that the area would no longer be available for their use.
On Friday, city personnel, representatives from The Way Home coalition, and the Texas Department of Transportation provided free transportation to shelters for residents of the Wheeler homeless encampment.
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“The population of the Wheeler encampment under a freeway overpass near Midtown dwindled recently to about 45 people but has continued to attract predators seeking to victimize its very vulnerable population,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “Today the city and its compassionate partners are taking extra steps to place homeless people in shelter beds with their consent and eliminate hazards created by the property’s use as an unofficial outdoor living space.”
The move comes about a month after the area was declared a public health nuisance by the city's health department. The site has generated complaints from businesses and residents in the area of being confronted by homeless people in their yard or property, and complaints that the homeless would defecate or urinate on their property, as well as complaints of rampant drug use in the area by the homeless.
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The encampment has also been the scene of at least four murders since 2017, with the latest in September.
In addition to free transportation to shelters, the city provided free storage for many of the residents’ belongings.
“Our work with organizational partners reduced homelessness in the Houston area by more than half in recent years,” Mayor Turner said. “Our work will continue well after today.”
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