According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, “more than half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and one crisis away from homelessness.”
In the Houston region, specifically, 50% of homelessness is caused by economic crises, such as job loss or bills becoming higher than earnings, which debunks common stereotypes that homelessness is overwhelmingly caused by substance use.
In short, it can happen to anyone. In this case, it happened to Joe.
Gone In a Flash
Joe has always been a family man. For years he lived a peaceful life, just outside Houston, with his mother and two daughters. Until a house fire turned their world upside down.
He recalls, “Mom said she wanted to listen to the news, so I went to lay down. I dozed off, and the next thing I knew, she was screaming, ‘House on fire!'”
The entire house was up in flames, and smoke drowned every room.
By some miracle, Joe and his family escaped the burning building unhurt.
But the fire consumed everything they owned, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
No shelter.
No paperwork to file insurance claims.
Absolutely nothing.
“Everything was a total loss…”
The devastation was total. Joe describes the immediate aftermath: “We just had to pay all the bills and I didn’t even have shoes on my feet. Everything was a total loss.”
On top of that, Joe had to leave his job after a hospitalization and prolonged health concerns prevented him from working.
With nowhere else to go, Joe found temporary housing for his family while he lived in his truck for six months, calling Houston’s 3-1-1 line daily to try and navigate the complexities of rebuilding his life without any of the essential paperwork that had been destroyed in the fire.
Joe couldn’t apply for recovery or housing assistance without documents proving home ownership.
But then, one day — “I woke up, walked into the burnt house, and found the paperwork I needed inside a bag. The bag was burnt on the outside, but the paperwork was untouched. Everything I needed was right there.” This discovery was the first step toward recovery.
A Fresh Start
The real breakthrough came when the 3-1-1 program referred Joe to Endeavors’ Houston Rapid Rehousing program, which provides a caring, stable, and healthy environment for individuals like Joe experiencing homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties.
We work with local emergency shelters and homelessness prevention groups to enroll qualifying residents through coordinated entry. Our support includes behavioral health services, referrals to community resources, and basic needs assistance.
A case manager from the program quickly conducted the intake process, and within two months, Endeavors found a two-bedroom apartment for Joe and his family.
“She told me, ‘I’m going to find you somewhere to stay,’ and she did. She gave me an address and asked if it was okay with me. I said, ‘Man, it’s inside. It’s all right with me.’ I was so happy.”
The day Joe received the keys to his new apartment, his case manager was waiting for him with furniture and a welcome box of items to make his new place a true home.
“When I’m here, I’m at home…”
Joe’s new home symbolized more than just a roof over his head; it was a beacon of hope and stability after months of uncertainty.
That hope soon multiplied when Joe’s application for assistance from the Texas General Land Office was approved!
This meant that Joe’s home would be rebuilt on his family land, right next to his beloved family tree.
Within a year, Joe and his family moved from the apartment Endeavors had found them into their brand new home complete with a wheelchair ramp.
Reflecting on his journey, Joe said, “I know when I’m here, I’m at home. I lost everything, and this is a blessing. You’re a real blessing.”
About Endeavors Endeavors is a longstanding national non-profit that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans, and those struggling with mental illness and other disabilities. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through innovative personalized services. For more information, please visit endeavors.org.