During a recent city council work session held at 222 North Tennessee Street, public comments highlighted pressing issues surrounding affordable housing and homelessness in Collin County. Miranda Vanderheiden, a social work graduate student from Texas A&M University, addressed the council, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions in one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

Vanderheiden pointed out that Collin County's housing market is among the most expensive in Texas, which has contributed to a significant homelessness crisis. According to the annual point-in-time report, 3,718 individuals were reported as unhoused during a single night in January. She advocated for the \"Housing First\" approach, which prioritizes providing stable shelter before addressing other issues such as employment or substance abuse treatment.

Research presented by Vanderheiden indicates that the Housing First model not only effectively combats homelessness but also offers substantial financial savings. It is estimated that this approach can save up to $23,000 per individual annually compared to traditional shelter programs. Furthermore, for every dollar invested in Housing First initiatives, communities can expect an average return of $1.44 in savings on emergency housing, healthcare, judicial services, and welfare costs.

The council did not have any additional public comments on agenda items, and discussions quickly transitioned to the regular meeting agenda. However, Vanderheiden's remarks underscored a critical need for the council to consider innovative strategies to address the growing challenges of housing affordability and homelessness in the region.