A historic winter storm has led to a massive crisis in the state of Texas and, as with most devastating weather-related events, the most vulnerable and marginalized have bore the brunt of the storm. Millions of homes and businesses are without power, water pipes are bursting, and carbon monoxide poisoning cases are on the rise. Unhoused people are suffering on the streets and there has been no clemency from public officials. One Dallas homeless shelter lacked electricity for hours, leaving 130+ homeless people and dozens of staff scrambling; The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in downtown Dallas were using generator-powered heating fans, coats, blankets, and sleeping bags for their staff and the 250+ homeless folks to stay warm after they lost electricity. This same pattern of events has occurred at other centers and hotels housing homeless individuals, but many are left completely without any form of shelter or food, struggling to survive in these inhumane conditions.
The most recent figures show that as of 2020, there were nearly 27, 300 homeless individuals in the state, an increase of 5% from 2019 and, like with all homeless crises across the country, homelessness in Texas disproportionately affects people of color; 37% of the entire homeless population is Black, while only 13% of the state population is. Poverty, housing and job discrimination, incarceration, lack of quality health care, and education inequity (read: systemic racism) are all causes of such racial disparities. Housing in Texas is becoming less affordable, displacing poor and working class people, and experts conclude that this will continue for years to come. Emergency shelters and warming centers have been set up at churches, event centers, and other locations to help those without having have a safe and warm place, but the resources are limited. Homeless organizations and nonprofits are utilizing all their resources to provide necessities to unhoused folks, the cost of the needs are high, so if you are able to, please consider donating, or sending links to class privileged friends and/or families; the storm will eventually subside, but it is important that privileged communities and individuals continue to invest in marginalized ones, especially via mutual aid.
Places to donate:
https://aaul.org/ — Austin Urban League is hosting an emergency donation drive for housing insecure Texans until Feb. 21st
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/genericItemsPage/29SWX62XDKBLG?ref_=wl_share — a Black-led collective providing mutual aid in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and you can help by purchasing items off the wishlist
https://t.co/menlNJmdvh — ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition) is a Texas-based charity that has created a substantial list of places to donate
https://freelunchatx.com/contribute — Free Lunch is raising money to deliver blankets, hand warmers, and hygiene kits to homeless people in the Austin area
https://kidsmealsinc.org/ — Kid Meals Inc is asking for donations to deliver meals to homeless youth in Houston
Sources:
Erum Salam, “Texas homeless face limited options for food and warmth amid winter storm”, The Guardian
Amanda Arnold and Claire Lampen, “Everything to Know about the Dire Situation in Texas”, Cut
Everton Bailey Jr., “Dallas homeless shelter loses power, and some being houses in hotel forced to move”, The Dallas Morning News
Written By: Seena Farhadi