Operated by the Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities under a $39 million contract<\/a>, the facility has served more than 420 people since opening in late May.<\/p>\n According to Nichols, 110 people who were served have landed in \u201cpositive placements,\u201d and 150 had \u201cunknown\u201d outcomes, choosing to leave the program.<\/p>\n However, the center has struggled to quickly move people through the program, averaging more than 60 days at the facility. Nichols said the new Pathways 2 Independence program should help.<\/p>\n Additionally, the program could provide other services such as short-term housing for formerly incarcerated people, according to Kelly Young, president and CEO of the Coalition.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think we can solve homelessness \u2014 anybody\u2019s homelessness, any reason for homelessness,\u201d said Young.<\/p>\n The Coalition oversees about $70 million in annual funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which comes with restrictions. The new initiative relies on local philanthropic funds, including the Brown Foundation, Cullen Foundation, Houston Endowment, Kinder Foundation, and Sarofim Foundation.<\/p>\n An 11-member executive committee will oversee the funds. Members include Young, city and county representatives, and leaders in mental health, medical care, and business.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not the city\u2019s money, it is philanthropy\u2019s money,\u201d said<\/a> Nichols. \u201cThey want to drive this funding to help people to get off the street \u2014 but be creative, to be flexible, which is different than we have with government money.\u201d<\/p>\n
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