Local Emergency Management Authorities

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Tropical Storm Nicholas Q&A

What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas?

• The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered are informed about and protected from the storm. 
• Throughout the day, we have been working with our outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — to help spread the word that we are likely to be hit by a tropical storm this week. 
• Throughout the year, we also encourage our outreach teams and housing case managers to register their clients in the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). STEAR is a free registry that helps emergency responders to keep track of people in their geographic area who might need extra assistance in an emergency.
• Anyone in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1 or view the Red Cross Disaster Shelters webpage. 

How does COVID complicate the situation?

• Typically, during an extreme weather event, our established emergency (homeless) shelters would simply make room for more people to stay.
• Because of COVID, our shelters have already had to reduce capacity to maintain social distancing.
• In order to prevent the spread of COVID/outbreaks, most of our shelters will not be able to accommodate additional people that might need shelter from the storm.
• However, people living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross.

Is shelter space be available for people currently living unsheltered?

• Yes. People living unsheltered will be able to seek shelter from the storm at any disaster shelter(s) established by the Red Cross.
  

I'm experiencing homelessness, and I need help.

Anyone still in need of shelter should contact 3-1-1 or 2-1-1. 

Visit the Red Cross’ website to find an open shelter near you: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html

I would like to help.

To Donate

The Coalition for the Homeless serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers. As such, leading up to the storm, we worked to coordinate The Way Home's outreach teams, who encouraged unsheltered homeless individuals in voluntary evacuation areas to access emergency shelter.

Once we are able, we will assess the needs of our partners who serve people experiencing homelessness.

Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.

For Local Homeless Response Agencies

If you need help

Following Tropical Storm Nicholas, if your agency is in need of supplies (e.g., cleaning supplies) or a connection with other local service providers (e.g., nonprofits like the Food Bank or government entities), please contact Aubry at avonck [at] homelesshouston [dot] org and Sara at smartinez [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.

We cannot guarantee help, but just as we make these connections for our partners in non-emergency times, we will do our best to do so in response to the hurricane.

Operations Updates

If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during Tropical Storm Nicholas, please send that information to Catherine at cvillarreal [at] homelesshouston.org and Caybryn at csouthern [at] homelesshouston [dot] org.