Houston leaders are moving forward with plans to establish the city’s first centralized homeless intake facility, dubbed a “Super Hub,” located in East Downtown. This initiative, part of the “End Street Homelessness Action Plan,” aims to provide immediate safety, healthcare, psychiatric, and substance abuse support for individuals experiencing homelessness, serving as an alternative to citations or jail.
The proposed “Super Hub” would be situated on the 400 block of Emancipation Avenue and is designed to house between 150 to 225 people. City officials, including Mayor John Whitmire, assert that the facility will address critical service gaps and ultimately reduce public safety concerns by connecting individuals to long-term housing and necessary support services. “This is not a shelter — it’s a navigation center,” stated Councilmember-At-Large Twila Carter, underscoring the facility’s role in addressing the homelessness issue comprehensively.
However, the project has encountered significant opposition from residents in the East Downtown (EaDo) area. Concerns have been raised regarding a perceived lack of transparency in the planning process and potential safety risks. Residents and critics argue that the proposal was pushed forward without adequate community consultation and fear the location, close to residential areas, businesses, and venues for the World Cup 2026, could negatively impact public safety and the local economy.
The “Super Hub” is part of a larger three-year, $168 million “Ramp Up Plan” funded by the City of Houston, Harris County, and private foundations. The estimated annual operating cost for the facility is between $10 million and $14 million, excluding housing subsidies and wrap-around support. The city intends to collaborate with experienced nonprofit service providers to manage the facility and its clients.
The proposal was initially scheduled for a City Council vote on Wednesday but has since been removed from the agenda. According to FOX 26 Houston, information for this report was gathered from the City of Houston and local residents.
