For years, Houston has been cited nationally for reducing homelessness and expanding housing options, but local experts say the real challenge goes beyond placing someone in a unit. It’s about whether people can afford to stay there.
That was the focus of “Getting Housed and Staying Housed in Houston – Part 2,” a Houston Community Media briefing held Jan. 27 at Southern News Group. Housing leaders, researchers, and service providers emphasized that long-term stability depends on land policy, permanent affordability models, rental assistance, and sustained support systems — all under strain as costs rise and resources fall short.
Land as a foundation for affordability
Christa Stoneham, president and CEO of the Houston Land Bank, said housing stability begins with land — and who controls it. The Land Bank works to transfer underutilized public land at discounted rates so developers and nonprofit partners can create affordable housing without passing high land costs on to buyers.
Stoneham stressed that the Land Bank is not a builder, but a systems-level tool designed to remove barriers that slow development and inflate costs. She said the work extends beyond housing to flood mitigation, green space, and economic resilience, particularly as Houston faces more frequent and severe weather events.
“We don’t just want to build back — we want to build smarter,” Stoneham said, noting that many redevelopment projects involve formerly contaminated or flood-prone sites that private developers avoid.
Making affordability permanent
Ashley Allen, executive director of the Houston Community Land Trust (HCLT), said Houston does not have a housing production problem — it has an affordability problem.
The Community Land Trust model separates land ownership from homeownership, allowing homes to remain affordable permanently rather than reverting to market prices after public subsidies expire. Allen traced the model’s roots to African American farmers during the civil rights era and said it remains a powerful tool against displacement today.
“We’re not just giving residents a voice — we’re giving them power,” Allen said.
Since 2019, HCLT has helped more than 200 Houston families achieve permanently affordable homeownership and recently expanded into rentals, home repair, and commercial spaces. Allen said stewardship is critical: helping residents navigate taxes, repairs, and life changes so housing stability is sustained over time.
“Housing is not just about getting the keys,” she said. “It’s about staying housed.”
Rental assistance gaps leave many behind
Anna Rhodes, an associate professor of sociology at Rice University with the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, explained that for renters, stability often hinges on federal housing assistance — which reaches only a fraction of those who qualify.
The Housing Choice Voucher program serves about 2.3 million households nationwide, Rhodes said, but chronic underfunding means only one in four eligible households receives help. In Houston, both the city and county housing authorities currently have closed waitlists.
Rhodes also pointed to structural barriers, including landlord discrimination and the lack of source-of-income protections in Texas, which allow landlords to legally refuse tenants who use vouchers.
A newer mobility voucher program, funded by a $5 million HUD grant, aims to help voucher holders move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods, but Rhodes said demand far exceeds supply.
Why housing stability requires more than a unit
Alexis Loving, president and CEO of SEARCH Homeless Services, cautioned against viewing Houston’s reported 60% reduction in homelessness since 2011 as a finish line.
“Housing is not a finish line,” Loving said. “It’s not just about a unit — it’s about stability, care, and support.”
She emphasized that people exiting homelessness often need wraparound services such as mental health care, medical treatment, income stabilization, and community rebuilding. Without those supports, the risk of returning to homelessness remains high.
Loving also challenged the idea that visibility equals success, noting that homelessness does not disappear simply because it is less visible.
“None of us are independent,” she said. “We all rely on community.”
211 as prevention and access point
Aarti Goswami, assistant vice president of Community Outreach–211 at United Way Greater Houston, described 211 as the front door to housing stability for many residents.
The free, 24/7 helpline connects callers to housing assistance, rent and utility help, food access, transportation, and mental health services. United Way Greater Houston operates one of the largest 211 systems in the country, handling more than one million connections each year.
Goswami said demand for assistance surged during the pandemic and has remained elevated, especially for rent and utility help. During disasters, 211 becomes a primary public resource promoted by local officials.
“The needs are great, and the resources simply aren’t there,” she said.
A system under pressure
Across the briefing, speakers returned to the same message: housing stability in Houston depends on coordinated systems — land policy, permanent affordability, rental assistance, and support services — all facing rising demand and limited funding.
Experts said progress requires not just building more housing, but protecting affordability, investing in resilience, and ensuring people have the support needed to remain housed long-term.
For residents seeking help, officials say dialing 211 or visiting 211texas.org remains the fastest way to connect with available housing and basic needs assistance.
