Officials at the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD and partner organizations held a ribbon-cutting at the Harris Center Respite, Rehabilitation and Reentry campus in Houston to open 26 supportive living apartments intended for people with serious mental illness transitioning from the criminal justice system and experiencing homelessness.

The apartments are meant to integrate housing with behavioral-health services located across the parking lot from the new units, Harris Center leadership said. “These apartments represent that vision in action,” Wayne Young, who leads the Harris Center, said at the event.

Mayor Whitmire said the project required sustained effort from multiple partners. “What the hell took it so long? It took leadership, took commitment, took vision, took resources,” the mayor said, adding the day was “a great day for the city of Houston.”

Trina Ita, deputy executive commissioner of behavioral health services for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, described the apartments as part of a recovery-oriented continuum. “Access to safe and affordable housing is such an important component for persons in recovery,” Ita said, noting the state has recently increased behavioral-health investments.

Lisa Wright, chief executive officer of Community Health Choice, said the insurer joined the project to support people “who don't want to just survive. They wanna thrive.” Wright said Community Health Choice committed financial support after discussions with Harris Center leadership and that the organization would “help you out.”

Speakers described several quantitative and funding details: Wayne Young said the campus was acquired with city and county grant support; Young said the supportive apartments were “built entirely through the financial support of the city, the state, and Community Health Choice.” He also cited a seed contribution of $3,000,000 provided years earlier by former Representative Garnet Coleman and said the project took multiple years to complete, with various speakers describing a roughly four- to seven-year development timeline.

Young said Harris Center staff estimate that, on any given day, about 100 people with serious mental illness are at the intersection of criminal justice involvement and homelessness and receive care and services on or near the campus. Event speakers and organizers said the proximity of services to the apartments should make reentry supports more accessible.

No formal votes or legislative actions were taken at the ribbon-cutting. Organizers invited partners and dignitaries to participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and described continuing outreach and programming, including information about the 988 suicide-prevention line and an upcoming Harris Center foundation luncheon.

The event brought together city and county representatives, law-enforcement leaders and nonprofit and private partners; several speakers thanked staff and foundation board members who helped deliver the project. Organizers said the apartments are now open and that operational details and service connections will be provided by Harris Center and partner agencies.