Houston to Open ‘Super hub’ for Homeless Residents

The city has agreed to buy and redevelop a property that will provide shelter and services for over 200 unhoused residents.

1 minute read

October 9, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Street view of one-story commercial building with few windows  in Houston, Texas.

Google / Street View

The city of Houston plans to build a “super hub” with emergency shelter and services that could house from 150 to 225 people at a time and provide health care and mental health resources.

As Abby Church reports in the Houston Chronicle, the city solidified plans to buy a property that operated as a center for homeless services until 2017. “Since 2018, the facility has been leased by a nonprofit Southwest Key to house migrant children, according to meeting agenda documents. The nonprofit lost federal funding as its shelter population got low and it faced layoffs. Its lease ended at the end of August.”

The facility will be open to anyone who comes in, including people with pets, and “will also connect those who visit with other services like permanent housing, diversion services through The Way Home, referrals to Harris Center facilities and transition to other area shelters.”

The city plans to buy the two lots for $16 million and hope to open the facility in early 2026 as part of a $168 million plan to bring more people out of homelessness over the next three years.

Monday, October 6, 2025 in Houston Chronicle

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

The Chicago Avenue Bridge when it was open, a dark red bridge in front of downtown.

Chicago Avenue bridge construction delays enrages city leaders

The bridge has been closed since 2025. The city originally aimed to re-open it in December, and now expects to finish construction in 2027.

3 hours ago - Block Club Chicago

People walk to a bus in Queens

NYC bus network redesign speeds up Queens buses

Rush routes have seen a 4.6% speed increase after the redesign.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit

A rendering of the California high speed rail Fresno station. Two escalators leading into the station are visible.

California High-Speed Rail Authority picks trainset manufacturer

The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to start servicing passengers by 2033.

5 hours ago - Railway News