The Houston City Council voted (14-1) to move forward with purchasing a former shelter at 419 Emancipation Avenue for $16 million, a step in the city’s plan to expand its homelessness response network.
The project, dubbed the “Super Hub,” is being hailed as Houston’s first centralized “front door” to connect unsheltered residents with healthcare, mental health treatment and permanent housing, according to city documents.
Councilmember Edward Pollard cast the lone dissenting vote.
At a public meeting, residents of the area voiced concerns about public safety and the impact on property values around the shelter.
Through an expansion of the civility ordinance in July, the city made it illegal to sit, lie down or store belongings in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in Downtown and East Downtown.
According to an analysis by The Way Home and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, 3,325 people were homeless during the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, with Harris County accounting for a vast majority (90.2%).
A new approach
The Super Hub, proposed under the End Street Homelessness Action Plan, will serve as a 24-hour triage and referral center equipped with 150 to 225 beds for people currently sleeping in public spaces. Unlike traditional shelters, the facility is designed to be low-barrier, meaning residents can arrive without program enrollment and bring pets or partners.
“It’s a complex issue,” said Mayor John Whitmire. “We don’t remove someone if we don’t know where we’re gonna place them. I can guarantee that we’re not gonna fail with safety outreach.”
The facility
The two-building, 2.08-acre property has a long history of serving Houston’s vulnerable populations. It was purchased by the Star of Hope in 1977 and operated as a shelter for women and children from 2004 to 2017. More recently, a federally funded nonprofit leased it to house migrant children.
The buildings, totaling 38,751 square feet, include 75 rooms with bathrooms, a commercial kitchen, a clinic space and recreation areas. Since it was previously used for residential purposes, officials say minimal renovations are required to make it operational.
The city’s General Services Department conducted an appraisal alongside the seller, with the agreed purchase price falling “roughly halfway between” the two valuations. The $16 million purchase will be financed through the City’s Fund 1850, which will later be reimbursed using affordable housing tax increment funds.
The debate
While the measure passed overwhelmingly, several councilmembers voiced concerns about the high cost and sustainability of the project.
Councilmember Pollard, who toured the site before the vote, said his no vote reflected worries about fiscal responsibility and the project’s long-term impact.
“Just because you see folks in that area that are unhoused, doesn’t necessarily mean they will be getting care at this facility,” Pollard said, addressing Whitmire. “We have solidified around three years’ worth of funding to run and operate this facility. There are no other major pots of money that you have identified today that will go towards the long-term sustainability of this facility.”
The director of public safety and homeland security, Larry Satterwhite, said the facility houses around 250 people at a time and can help them within one to two months. Pollard believes people will need to use the facilities longer.
“Many of the people who will be in this facility will be dealing with a lot of issues, whether it’s substance abuse, mental illness and they’re gonna need these wraparound services on a long-term basis to actually be able to transition from this facility to hopefully put them in an environment where they can have more independent living,” Pollard said.
In response, Whitmire emphasized that safety and transparency were top priorities. He announced that the Houston Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), eight officers and a sergeant, would be stationed on-site.
“It’s important that we look at the 419 Emancipation as a step,” said At-Large Position 3 Council Member Twila Carter. “It’s not the finish line. This facility will allow us to address individual root causes of an individual’s situation, not a blanket. Most of these individuals, The Way Home cannot assist. We’re not looking to take a problem into the community. We’re looking to address the problem that’s in that community.”
Councilmember Abbie Kamin echoed that sentiment, pointing to the city’s need to reduce homelessness through the Housing First model.
“We need the beds first,” Kamin said. “What we’re voting on today is low and no-barrier housing. When somebody tries to get into a shelter, they may not be able to bring their pet or their belongings. They’re not permitted to use drugs. When you lower those barriers and can get them into stabilized housing first and then bring in the treatment, which this facility does, it works…Now we have to earn that trust in the community as well.”
Operations and costs
Under the proposed plan, the Super Hub will be operated by one or more nonprofit service providers under lease agreements with the city. The annual operating budget is projected at $10–14 million, not including housing subsidies or wraparound services.
Initial funding will come from federal DR-24 (Disaster Recovery 2024) funds for the first two years, covering most costs. After that, operations will be sustained through a mix of city and county general funds, Community Development Block Grant funding, TIRZ revenues, private donations and new state funding.
The Super Hub is part of the city’s broader $168 million “Ramp Up Plan,” which expands rapid rehousing and mental health services in partnership with Harris County, the Coalition for the Homeless and local foundations. It will connect with existing facilities like the Navigation Center, Houston Recovery Center and Harris Center’s Respite and Rehabilitation facility, forming an integrated network for outreach, treatment and reentry support.
