Strengthening Our Community’s Response to Homelessness

Designated earlier this year as the lead agency for the Heart of Texas Homelessness Coalition and the region’s HUD-funded Continuum of Care, Prosper Waco plays a central role in coordinating how our community prevents and responds to homelessness. This work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief shared by many local partners: homelessness in our region is solvable—and our community has the commitment, expertise, and capacity to make that vision real.

At the center of this effort is Darién Acevedo, Prosper Waco’s Director of Homeless Systems, who is guiding the development of a more effective, unified response. Her work involves bringing together the many local organizations and systems that touch homelessness—shelters, housing providers, healthcare teams, schools, law enforcement, developers, bankers, philanthropy, and more.

“Through unified strategies and strong community partnerships, we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient and effective system of care—one that helps ensure homelessness in our region is brief, rare, and non-recurring,” Acevedo shared.

This coordination is becoming especially critical as communities nationwide brace for federal budget reductions that will impact permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs. A new HUD cap on how Continuum of Care funds can be used is projected to reduce nearly half of the local funding that stabilizes individuals and families in long-term housing with supportive services.

The implications are significant. Individuals who have worked hard to regain stability may be at risk of returning to homelessness. Providers may see increased demand. And emergency systems—including hospitals, EMS, shelters, and law enforcement—could feel added pressure.

Yet despite these challenges, Waco’s prevailing story is one of collaboration, momentum, and hope. Local partners recognize that our region is small enough—and our network strong enough—that coordinated action can lead to meaningful progress. What has been missing in recent years, many say, is alignment. Prosper Waco has been called on to address that gap.

In recent months, Prosper Waco and the Heart of Texas Homelessness Coalition have been:

• Rebuilding connections among housing and service providers.

• Strengthening communication and referrals across systems.

• Engaging new partners, including housing developers, employers, healthcare systems, and financial institutions.

• Prioritizing prevention, focusing on affordable housing development, household stability, and long-term family success.

Prevention is a central focus because every stabilized household and every newly built affordable unit reduces the likelihood of future homelessness.

Meanwhile, the Heart of Texas Homelessness Coalition is also updating its communitywide strategic plan, using shared data and common priorities to establish clear goals for the years ahead.

As Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week invites us to reflect on these issues, Prosper Waco encourages residents, organizations, and leaders to stay engaged.In this work, there is a role for every willing partner—and together, Waco can continue building a homelessness response system defined by compassion, creativity, and long-term solutions.