A heated Houston City Council meeting this week forced a delay on a $16 million proposal for a homeless “super hub” east of downtown, as residents accused city officials of ignoring neighborhood concerns.
The proposed site—419 Emancipation Avenue—previously housed a Star of Hope shelter and was later used by a nonprofit as a migrant shelter until its lease expired in August. City officials say the location, already configured for shelter operations, requires minimal renovation and could provide 150 to 225 beds. The facility would also include access to healthcare, psychiatric services, and substance abuse treatment.
The property is appraised at roughly $6.7 million, with the remaining costs tied to renovation and operations. According to city documents, annual operating costs could range between $10 and $14 million once the facility opens.
The proposed hub was designed as a “low-barrier” navigation center, meaning any homeless individual could enter and be directed toward other housing and recovery services. The city describes it as a centralized access point rather than a long-term shelter.
At Tuesday’s City Council session, dozens of nearby residents packed the chamber to voice concerns, followed by a heated evening meeting in the community. Many said they support the idea of a navigation center but object to its location, arguing their neighborhood has been repeatedly forced to absorb the city’s homeless population.
The discussions grew tense, marked by shouting, interruptions, and accusations that officials were ignoring public concerns. Residents described feeling dismissed and claimed city leaders were rushing the project without adequate transparency or neighborhood input.
City Councilwoman Twila Carter sought to reassure the crowd, saying, “This proposal is not a shelter; it’s a navigation center. It’s a compass for people to find their way, to try to direct people to where they need to be to seek help.”
Meanwhile, former ABC13 reporter Wayne Dolcefino, who now runs a media consulting firm, held a separate news conference Tuesday on behalf of nearby residents at Stanton Lofts. Dolcefino said he was hired to investigate the project’s potential public safety impact and warned the hub could draw what he called the “worst of the worst” to the neighborhood.
“They’re the people that are really messed up,” Dolcefino said. “You would not want to walk out your door if you knew some severely mentally ill person was wandering behind the front door. Nobody would again.”
Defending his involvement, he added, “Sure, did some people hire me to help? Yeah, because, you know, I issued a press release, and I have strong opinions about this. But if that makes me a disrupter, then call me a disrupter.”
Mayor John Whitmire responded that the plan would actually improve neighborhood safety. “We’re doing the neighborhood a huge favor because we will have all types of resources there and we’ll have HPD, we’ll have the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
Whitmire said the vote will return to council next Wednesday following the brief delay and predicted approval of the purchase. The navigation center could open as early as the first quarter of next year, he added.
