Houston District I Council Member Joaquin Martinez said during a City Council meeting on Tuesday that the city's new homeless services facility at 419 Emancipation Avenue could open before the end of May. "Mayor correct me if I'm wrong, but I think before the end of this month, they should be open and operating," Martinez said.

The facility is expected to include up to 222 beds and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is expected to serve hundreds of people each year as part of Houston's effort to move people experiencing homelessness into more permanent housing.

A spokesperson for Martinez's office said the office does not have an official opening date for 419 Emancipation and that Martinez was not available for an interview. A spokesperson for Mayor John Whitmire's administration said the facility's soft opening could happen on May 27 or May 29, and referred further questions to The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.

The Harris Center said in a statement that it continues working with the city toward opening the facility in late May or early June. The City of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department said the facility remains on track for a targeted opening in late May to early June.

Earlier this year, Houston City Council approved a nearly $39 million agreement allowing The Harris Center to operate the facility through 2029. According to the city, The Harris Center was selected through a competitive process that evaluated operational capacity, experience serving people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health needs, organizational readiness, and long-term sustainability.

In a statement, Housing and Community Development Director Mike Nichols said the facility will operate with trained staff, on-site security, coordination with the Houston Police Department and Metro Police, and support from community service providers. The Houston Police Department's Homeless Outreach Team and Metro Police Department's homeless outreach team will have offices on the facility campus, according to the statement.

Second Ward resident Scott Singleton said he is worried the homeless hub could create public safety concerns, pointing to a case where a man walking his dog near the facility was allegedly attacked by someone appearing to struggle with mental health issues. Singleton said residents have been promised a direct neighborhood safety line to quickly contact HPD's homeless outreach officers once the facility opens, but details remain unclear. Community members are expected to discuss the project during a public safety meeting next week.