This article is over 5 years old

Houston Matters

Partnership Unites the Many Organizations that Help Houston’s Homeless

Earlier this month, Mayor Sylvester Turner launched an initiative that encourages giving to organizations that assist the homeless — instead of giving to panhandlers. With downtown Houston as a backdrop, the mayor unveiled a billboard for a campaign called “Meaningful Change – Not Spare Change.” As News 88.7’s Florian Martin reported, the mayor said while […]

| Posted on

Share

Photo: Michael Hagerty, Houston Public Media

Listen

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:

<iframe src="https://embed.hpm.io/1/219442" style="height: 115px; width: 100%;"></iframe>
X
Earlier this month, Mayor Sylvester Turner launched an initiative that encourages giving to organizations that assist the homeless — instead of giving to panhandlers. With downtown Houston as a backdrop, the mayor unveiled a billboard for a campaign called "Meaningful Change – Not Spare Change."

As News 88.7's Florian Martin reported, the mayor said while Houstonians are very philanthropic and want to give to panhandlers, this makes it harder for homeless organizations to get them off the street permanently.

"The focus is to redirect our giving in such a way that can be much more long-lasting," Turner said. "And then we're just not enablers."

He said people should donate to The Way Home, an initiative to end homelessness in Greater Houston. But what exactly is The Way Home – and how is it different than efforts in the past to address homelessness in the area?

As we learn from Eva Thibaudeau and Sara Brown from the Coalition for the Homeless, the program is a collaboration between more than 100 nonprofits in the region who offer some sort of service to homeless individuals.

Today in Houston Newsletter Signup
We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Your subscription will be migrated over.