Instead what we saw is a majority of lawmakers from both major political parties coalesce behind a dangerous bill HB 1925 that would criminalize being unsheltered in the entire state. Criminalization is not a solution and elongates homelessness.Housing status is not an indicator of violent crime.As a reminder to community members, legislators, and folks around the state: Nor were they willing to pass any legislation to get at the root causes of homelessness, poverty, or housing insecurity. Quickly it became apparent that a majority of legislators were not willing to listen to the facts surrounding homelessness and housing insecurity. There were bills proposed by a number of legislators to prohibit source of income/voucher discrimination, prohibit housing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, expand access to identification for people experiencing homelessness, require law enforcement to receive trauma informed care training, the George Floyd Act, centralize Texas’ homeless data systems, and so much more. Unfortunately, we will never know the true number of people experiencing homelessness who perished during the winter storm or the continuing pandemic. ( Some estimates of winter storm-related deaths are at about 700 people ). Then a month into session, 151 people died as a result of an energy crisis that disproportionately hurt low-income, communities of color, and the unhoused the most. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) ProgramĪs the session began in January, we were hopeful that given the immense housing needs of Texans both prior to the pandemic and during COVID-19 that our legislators at the Texas State Capitol would meet the moment.Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness.
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