Some out on street won’t take shelter

A group of men relaxed Friday around a wroughtiron patio table beneath U.S. 59 in the Third Ward.

Austin Lee Stevens, a lifelong Houstonian, has seen his share of floods. He doesn’t deem Hurricane Harvey — now a Category 4 storm expected to make landfall early Saturday — worth fretting over.

“We plan to stay here,” Stevens said. “We’re going to smoke weed and play dominoes.”

Stevens and the other 40 or so people who stay in tents under the overpass near Almeda plan to ride out the biggest storm to hit Texas in decades uncovered and exposed to the winds and rain expected to drench the area.

“My mom always said not to worry about what you can’t control,” Stevens said. “I’m leaving it up to God. So why should I be worrying?”

Though social services are available, there are a number of homeless people who refuse to take shelter from the storm.

“It’s an all-hands-ondeck situation,” said Marc Eichenbaum, special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives. “Homeless outreach teams have been out for days informing our unsheltered homeless individuals about the weather and offering them immediate placements in shelters.”

Fortunately, Eichenbaum said, there has been a 70 percent drop in the numbers of unsheltered homeless since the city’s homeless initiative began in 2011.

“Even though there are less individuals on the street, it’s still a big challenge,” Eichenbaum said.

In addition to Houston police and Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies, first responders have been venturing out to help the homeless, he said.

The Coalition for the Homeless released a list of shelters Friday that were immediately available.

“Our women and family shelters are at capacity,” said Star of Hope’s Scott Arthur. “The men’s shelters have a little bit of room and we’re referring any other inquiries to our community partners.”

A 40-year-old man who gave his name as Bill Gates said some officers came to inform them that shelters were available.

“I’ve been here a long time,” said Gates, who was born and raised in the Fourth Ward — only a mile or so from the intersection of Almeda and Cleburne. “I’ve seen every storm and I’m still here. I know we’re going to make it through this one too.”