Houston expands civility ordinance, adds mental health response for homeless crisis

12 hours ago 5

HOUSTON – For the first time, peace officers in Houston will now be able to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with mental health crisis resources—part of a newly expanded city ordinance aimed at addressing complex issues on the streets of Downtown and East Downtown.

The update, approved during a City Council meeting this week with a 14-2 vote, expands the existing Civility Ordinance, which previously restricted sitting, lying down, or storing personal belongings on sidewalks in 12 areas of the city between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. That restriction will now apply 24/7 in Downtown and East Downtown.

Mental health crisis teams now involved

In a major shift, the expansion includes a new amendment introduced by Councilwoman Dr. Letitia Plummer, allowing officers to call in specialized mental health support teams when they believe someone may be in crisis.

“In instances where law enforcement observes an individual appearing to be experiencing a mental health crisis, the officer may engage appropriate mental health-crisis resources,” said Dr. Plummer. “That includes dispatching our Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) or the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CERT).”

Importantly, these mental health services may be deployed either in-person or via telehealth.

Aligned with new state law

This amendment comes by way of a significant change to Texas’ Health and Safety Code, which takes effect in September 2025. The change allows peace officers to detain individuals in a suspected mental health crisis without a warrant—a new and controversial tool.

However, Chief Larry Satterwhite with Houston’s Public Safety and Homeland Security division voiced concerns over the city’s limited resources.

“I’m just not sure that we have the resources to make this happen every time someone says no. They say no, a lot. So, we’ll bring this team out every time?” he asked.

To address those concerns, the amendment uses flexible language, saying officers may deploy mental health services, not must or shall, depending on team availability.

A double-edged sword?

While some council members believe expanding the ordinance could help steer unhoused individuals toward shelters or housing options, others fear it could lead to an increase in citations for vulnerable populations.

Mayor John Whitmire expressed concern that enforcement may lead to unintended consequences, particularly for people without access to basic communication or identification.

“These folks don’t have addresses or phone numbers. We don’t know their next of kin,” said Dr. Plummer. “So if they do get a citation, how does that look? We have to really flesh out those details.”

She added that the city is trying to avoid criminalizing mental illness and homelessness.

“The Harris County jail system is not a mental health facility. It is a jail.”

What’s next?

The expanded ordinance will be rolled out as a pilot program, meaning it’s subject to change. Officials plan to evaluate its impact using data from the Houston Police Department and housing services.