“We can have as many cleanups as we want…but if we don’t attack the root of the problem, we’re just going to be a hamster on a wheel.”
HOUSTON — A homeless encampment along Whiteoak Bayou just north of downtown Houston is causing increasing concern for local residents, who report both safety issues and environmental damage. Community members say the problem has been developing for years, with recent cleanup efforts providing only temporary relief.
At the intersection of Cottage and Searle streets, residents describe what they call “ground zero” of a growing issue. The bayou banks are covered with trash and homeless settlements that neighbors consider problematic despite efforts to clear the area.
“We can have as many cleanups as we want…but if we don’t attack the root of the problem, we’re just going to be a hamster on a wheel,” said Victoria Villanueva, a community member.
Residents report that while the Houston Police Department responds to their calls, the issues extend beyond accumulated debris.
“They do come out and they do kind of let us know they found fugitive or felons and so that’s kind of just what we’re up against,” said Jennifer Jacoby, who has lived in the area for 20 years and says the sense of safety her family once felt has disappeared.
One resident, who did not want to be identified by name, expressed concern about nighttime safety, saying, “If you come here at night time you’re in jeopardy.”
Beyond crime concerns, residents believe the encampments are causing significant environmental damage to the bayou ecosystem.
“It’s killing the fish. I mean this thing used to be bubbling with fish. You don’t see a single fish or turtle or nothing,” one person said.
Jacoby said there used to be many turtles in the creek.
Community members are frustrated, believing they’ve done their part by reporting issues. They now hope city officials will take more decisive action before the situation worsens.
“We don’t need there to be a murder, a house that burned down with children and family, and for someone to say ‘Oh, let us run and do something.’ Do it now, do it before it happens,” urged Villanueva.
HPD’s homeless outreach team is reportedly addressing the situation. According to HPD, several citations and warnings to vacate were issued last week. The department describes an ongoing process in collaboration with community members and the Northside Management District cleaning crew to improve quality of life in the area.