(Texas Scorecard) – Houston officials announced plans this week to purchase a property on Emancipation Avenue to serve as a new “super hub” for the city’s homeless population.
The site, located at 419 Emancipation Ave., previously served as a Star of Hope shelter until 2017 and was later operated by Southwest Key as a migrant children’s shelter from 2018 until August of this year. Southwest Key’s role ended after the organization lost much of its federal funding under the Trump administration, leading to layoffs and widespread shelter closures.
According to Housing Director Mike Nichols, the city selected the property because it generated the fewest concerns among nearby communities. Since the site has already been used for similar purposes, it’s equipped with a security system and won’t require major renovations.
City officials noted that Houston continues to face a chronic shortage of available beds for its homeless residents, particularly for single men. The new facility—expected to include 150 to 225 beds—is designed to operate as a low-barrier shelter offering on-site healthcare, psychiatric services, and substance-abuse treatment.
It’s being described as a “super hub,” not because it will house large numbers of people or offer extensive on-site programs, but because it will serve as a central gateway—a place where anyone can enter easily and then be directed to other shelters, treatment centers, or permanent housing options across the city.
The goal, officials said, is to make intake smoother and movement between services faster for those seeking help.
Unlike other shelters that require referrals, law-enforcement drop-offs, or scheduled intake times, this center will not turn anyone away who shows up seeking assistance. People will be allowed to walk in, arrive with law enforcement, or come with pets or partners, and the hub will coordinate closely with surrounding agencies to get them where they need to go.
The city will not operate the facility directly but will instead hire a third-party operator, expected to be selected sometime next month. Houston plans to officially purchase the property on October 15.
Although the two lots that make up the site are valued at $6.7 million, the city intends to pay $16 million for the purchase. Annual operating costs are projected to range between $10 and $14 million.
Community leader and real-estate developer Bobby Orr, a former Harris County GOP candidate, strongly opposed the project, citing its location and timing. Orr argued that the city is on the verge of hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, has recently committed $2 billion toward the George R. Brown Convention Center redevelopment, and will host the Republican National Convention in 2028—making the decision to place a homeless hub nearby, in his view, a major step backward.
“That is the wrong location for this city—it’s undermining a $2 billion investment that we’re going to make in this city,” Orr said. “The timing is wrong. Are we showcasing homelessness, Houston’s homelessness, to the world?”