Community Leaders Unite To Raise Awareness Of Homelessness in Montgomery County.

CONROE, TX -- The Homeless Coalition of Montgomery County is working to bring a greater awareness to homelessness in Conroe and Montgomery County, and is doing so with the help of volunteers, numerous county officials and subsequent agencies.

On Nov. 16, the coalition recognized the efforts of those officials with an appreciation luncheon in Conroe.

"It would be extremely difficult for a group to fight homelessness without the help of government officials, both at the county and city level, as well as leaders of nonprofits and other volunteers," Coalition Vice President Tyler Dunman said. "That's the mechanism with which we eliminate homelessness, and they are critical to that. It's not only good to see that they're critical to that, but that they're giving their time and efforts going for that."

In recent years, homelessness has become more and more visible in areas of Greater Houston, especially as more and more areas are becoming more urban.

Along FM 1960, the homeless population has been a bit of a fixture for many years, and thus is hardly uncommon for motorists to see the familiar faces holding signs in grassy medians or at busy freeway intersections.

Stewart Roan, who is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, has been staying at a homeless camp not too far from FM 1960.

Roan said he was a truck driver in the military and had a good job with a local company in his hometown when he came out, but lost his job.

“It happens,” he said. “I make due with the kindness of others, and hopefully I won’t be out there too long.”

Roan wouldn’t say why he was in Houston, or talk about his family, other than to say he has one and isn’t sure when he will see them.

While many are looking to find a way home, others are setting up camps in wooded clusters within walking distance of busy roadways, and sometimes beneath freeway underpasses.

Earlier this month, the City of Houston and the Texas Department of Transportation closed down a large homeless camp beneath the Southwest Freeway near downtown Houston, amid safety concerns and reports that the homeless in the camp were using Kush, and often walking on the entrance ramps.

However, there are a number of local initiatives at work in Houston and Montgomery County that will hopefully help many of the homeless find help, and find homes.

Last weeks Veteran’s Day observances brought more than barbecue to some, and in fact resulted in the the introduction on Green Zone Housing to many in the Montgomery County communities of Magnolia and Montgomery.

Volunteers with Green Zone Housing worked to transform a used shipping containers into a model home, to demonstrate that these can be transformed into affordable and quality living spaces.

Green Zone Housing provides permanent housing to our homeless veterans. Through “sweat equity,” veterans earn ownership of their new homes by functioning as project managers of their home construction.

One of those Green Zone projects was unveiled during the the Cooking for Courage Barbecue in Magnolia, Texas this past Veteran’s Day weekend, and there are plans to unveil the first one Community in Montgomery, Texas later this year.

In Conroe, the Homeless Coalition is beginning renovations to the former site of the Montgomery County Food Bank, transforming it into a refuge of sorts for homeless people in the community.

Dunman said this will provide a central local, for those in the homeless community.

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Image: Bryan Kirk, Patch Staff