A new 24-hour civility ordinance will prohibit sitting, lying, or storing belongings on sidewalks in downtown and East Downtown, as Houston begins a pilot program to reshape its homelessness response.
For years, Houston has enforced civility ordinances across numerous neighborhoods. In areas where the ordinance was applied, it became unlawful from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to “sit or lie down on a sidewalk or on a blanket, stool, or any other object placed upon a sidewalk; or place or deposit any item of bedding materials or personal possessions on a sidewalk.”
At Wednesday’s Houston City Council meeting, one agenda item proposed an update to that ordinance, extending its enforcement to 24 hours a day.
The new language stated that the rule would “no longer allow sitting, lying, or storing belongings on the sidewalks, even during overtime hours.”
The update will first apply to two neighborhoods as a pilot program intended to “promote more directed interactions between the administration and those suffering chronic homelessness,” to facilitate “structured and reinforced wrap-around support.”
The ordinance update passed by a 14–2 vote, with the 24-hour restriction now in effect in Downtown and East Downtown. The move is part of Mayor John Whitmire’s broader initiative to address homelessness across Houston.
However, the proposal raised concerns among some council members, who questioned whether it was meant to provide help or criminalize homelessness.
Larry Satterwhite, director of public safety and homeland security for the mayor’s office, told the council that many homeless individuals use sidewalks as overflow spaces while awaiting shelter beds. “Right now, they don’t know another life,” he said. “They are resistant to the things that we are offering because they don’t know that life, and there is a lack of trust.”
Whitmire has defended the ordinance as a necessary balance between public safety and compassion. “It’s a tool being used by our neighborhoods as we have more residents downtown,” he said. “But there is no doubt about it, a solution to the homeless conditions is a top priority. It’s one of the reasons I listed to run for office.”
He emphasized that the updated ordinance is just the beginning. Whitmire said the next step is securing funding for shelter beds and staff, and he noted that another proposal focused on assistance and long-term resources is expected to go before the council within 60 days.
