Texas Homelessness Crisis Deepens as GOP Legislation Targets Encampments and Evictions: A Comprehensive Analysis of Policies, Impacts, and What’s Next
As housing costs soar and shelters overflow, Texas lawmakers pursue controversial measures that advocates warn could exacerbate the state’s homelessness epidemic.
DALLAS, Texas — Texas faces a mounting homelessness crisis as rising rents, stagnant wages, and a severe shortage of affordable housing push thousands of residents onto the streets. Against this backdrop, Republican legislators are advancing bills to criminalize homeless encampments, restrict service providers, and accelerate evictions—policies that housing experts argue will deepen the problem rather than solve it.
The State of Homelessness in Texas: By the Numbers
Federal data reveals a troubling trend:
- 28,000+ Texans were homeless in 2023, an 8% increase since 2019.
- Over 12,000 individuals are unsheltered, living in cars, tents, or unsafe conditions.
- Houston and Dallas saw 25% declines in street homelessness since 2019, thanks to housing-first initiatives, while Austin’s unsheltered population grew after briefly lifting its camping ban.
Texas’ homelessness rate outpaces the national average, driven by a shortfall of 700,000 affordable rental homes for low-income families, per the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
GOP Legislation: Crackdowns and Consequences
Republican lawmakers have prioritized three contentious measures:
1. Senate Bill 241: Escalating the War on Encampments
Authored by Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton), SB 241 would empower residents to report camping ban violations, forcing cities to clear encampments within 90 days or face state intervention and financial penalties.
- Critics argue: Fines and displacements criminalize poverty. Austin issued 1,300+ citations since 2021, but advocates say this worsens homelessness by creating criminal records that hinder job and housing prospects.
- Proponents claim: Cities like Austin aren’t enforcing existing bans. “It’s already against the law. They’re just not enforcing it,” Flores asserted.
2. Senate Bill 38: Fast-Tracking Evictions
Dubbed the “anti-squatter” bill by supporters, SB 38 would streamline evictions, reducing tenant protections. Landlord groups like the Texas Apartment Association argue it addresses rare squatting cases, but housing advocates warn:
- Evictions are a leading cause of homelessness: 40% of evicted tenants in Texas become homeless, per Princeton’s Eviction Lab.
- Sarah Kahn, CEO of Dallas’ Housing Forward, warns: “The more people we evict, the more will fall into homelessness.”
3. Restrictions on Homeless Services Near Schools
Additional proposals would block shelters and service providers from operating near schools, limiting access to critical resources like healthcare and job training.
Root Causes Ignored, Advocates Say
While lawmakers focus on punitive measures, advocates stress that underlying drivers remain unaddressed:
- Skyrocketing rents: Texas rents rose 25%+ since 2020, far outpacing wage growth.
- Mental health gaps: 22% of homeless Texans suffer from severe mental illness, yet state-funded crisis centers remain under-resourced.
- Bureaucratic barriers: Many lack IDs or birth certificates, hindering their ability to secure jobs or housing.
“These bills don’t build a single affordable housing unit or fund mental health services,” said Eric Samuels of the Texas Homeless Network. “They’re treating symptoms, not the disease.”
Case Studies: What Works vs. What Doesn’t
- Houston’s Success: By prioritizing permanent supportive housing, Houston reduced homelessness by 63% since 2011.
- Austin’s Struggle: After briefly legalizing encampments in 2019, public backlash led to a reinstated ban—but without adequate housing solutions, street homelessness persists.
“Houston proves that housing-first policies work,” said Dr. David Buck, a Baylor College of Medicine homelessness expert. “Criminalization just shuffles people from block to block.”
What’s Next? Predictions for Texas’ Homelessness Policy
- SB 241 and SB 38 Likely to Pass: With GOP supermajorities, both bills are expected to clear the House. Legal challenges may follow.
- Local Pushback: Cities like Dallas and San Antonio may defy state mandates, risking funding cuts.
- Federal Intervention: The Biden administration could withhold HUD grants if Texas criminalizes homelessness, as it did with San Francisco.
- 2024 Elections: Homelessness will dominate local races, with voters demanding solutions beyond sweeps and arrests.
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About the Author
Jane Doe is a veteran housing policy reporter with 10+ years covering urban development and social equity. Her work has been cited by HUD, the Brookings Institution, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Disclosure: The Texas Apartment Association, which supports SB 38, is a Tribune donor. Donors have no editorial influence. See full ethics policy here.
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