Tag: homelessness

Houston Matters

Partnership Unites the Many Organizations that Help Houston’s Homeless

Posted on · 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 […]

Full Show

Pumping Away Rainwater, and Actress Kate Shindle of ‘Fun Home’ — Friday’s Show (May 19, 2017)

Posted on · What are some new ways we could deal with excess rain water in Greater Houston after we have severe weather? For one, Harris County is studying the possibility of using high-powered pumps to move excess water into aquifers – or even old oil wells. The water would be preserved for later if – and when […]

Good, Bad and Ugly

New Rules for the Homeless, and Gov. Abbott’s Gang Plan: The Good, Bad and the Ugly of Houston News

Posted on · A lot can happen in a week. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it downright ugly. When faced with intriguing developments in the week’s news, we turn to our rotating panel of “non-experts” to parse The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of it all. This week, our panel weighs in on […]

Houston Matters

Houston City Council Bans Public Encampments For the Homeless

Posted on · The Houston City Council has approved an ordinance that bans the use of tents and cooking devices that can be a fire hazard in public areas. Another ordinance on panhandling will prohibit people from blocking roadways or sidewalks. News 88.7’s Al Ortiz reports that police officers could make arrests after giving warnings, citations and consulting […]

Good, Bad and Ugly

Removing the Homeless from Houston’s Streets, and Harris County Opts out of 287(g): The Good, Bad and the Ugly of the News

Posted on · A lot can happen in a week. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it downright ugly. When faced with intriguing developments in the week’s news, we turn to our rotating panel of “non-experts” to parse The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of it all. This week, our panel weighs in on […]

Houston Matters

Comedy Concert Benefits Veterans and Their Service Dogs

Posted on · Some things in this world are incredibly complicated. Others are simple. Take military veterans and mental health. We don’t always know when a veteran is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Some seek out help from the V.A. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) only to experience delays. Some struggle so much they end up homeless. Others […]

Full Show

Houston Matters Weekend for December 3, 2016

Posted on · Houston Matters was ground zero for the launch of Public Media’s year-long DiverseCity initiative, an ongoing look at the many was race effects our lives in Houston. We started with an hour-long town hall to talk about law enforcement and people of color intersect. We hear an excerpt of that dialogue. Our guests include: Harris County […]

Houston Matters

Helping the Homeless — Or Sanitizing Things for the Super Bowl?

Posted on · Addressing homelessness is an ongoing challenge in Greater Houston, but with the eyes of the nation on the Bayou City during the upcoming Super Bowl, are we likely to see increased attention paid to the city’s homeless initiatives? We ask Eva Thibaudeau, director of programs for Houston’s Coalition for the Homeless.

Full Show

Selling the Pension Plan, and Helping the Homeless: Thursday’s Show (November 10, 2016)

Posted on · A couple of weeks ago, the Houston City Council passed a resolution of support for Mayor Sylvester Turner’s proposal to reform the city’s pensions system. As News 88.7 reported, the deal includes $2.5 billion in benefit reductions, changes to annual cost of living adjustments and increased employee contributions. Mayor Turner says the proposal will lower […]

Houston Matters

Touring a Housing Project for Houston’s Homeless Vets

Posted on · You may remember some initiatives we’ve covered aimed at addressing the city’s homelessness issue. In 2014, a goal was announced to end chronic homelessness for non-veterans by this year. But that effort may have been dwarfed a bit by the city’s declaration last year that veteran homelessness was “effectively over.” As we learned, that meant […]

Full Show

No Historical Racing: Friday’s Show (March 4, 2016)

Posted on · Back in September (Sept. 11, 2015), we discussed the concept of  “historical racing.” It’s a practice at Texas racetracks where old horse races are replayed on a screen with no identifying traits that would allow you to recognize the race, the horse or the outcome. It allows players to bet on a simulation of a real race […]