Houston homeless prepare for Harvey

Miguel Mendoza, left to right, Robert Lam, and Alejandro Canton with the City of Houston General Service Department break down a tent that was left behind as officials evacuated a homeless encampment due to serious health hazards under the Highway 59 overpass, between Caroline and La Branch streets Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Houston. People will be able to return once the city is done with cleanup of the area. ( Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle ) less Miguel Mendoza, left to right, Robert Lam, and Alejandro Canton with the City of Houston General Service Department break down a tent that was left behind as officials evacuated a homeless encampment due to ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Houston homeless prepare for Harvey 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A group of men relaxed Friday around a wrought iron patio table beneath Highway 59 as it flies over Almeda 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 plan to ride out other biggest storm to hit Texas in a decade uncovered and exposed to the winds and 15 to 25 inches of rain expected to drench the middle and upper Texas coast.

"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?"

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

"It's an all-hands-on-deck situation," said Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives Marc Eichenbaum. "Homeless outreach teams have been out for days informing our unsheltered homeless individuals about the weather and offering them immediate placements in shelters."

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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. "These are the times we're thankful that the unsheltered homeless population has been reduced."

In addition to the Houston Police Department's and Harris County Sheriff's Office teams, regular first responders have been venturing out since Harvey's destructive potential was discovered, Eichenbaum said.

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The Coalition for the Homeless — which is working with the city on coordinating the preparation of sheltered for homeless individuals — released a list of shelters Friday that were immediately available for those without cover.

"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 police officers came to inform them that shelters were available. SOme of the women went to the shelters, he said.

Gates was born and raised in the Fourth Ward — only a mile or so from the intersection of Almeda and Cleburne.

"I've been here a long time," Gates said. "I've seen every storm and I'm still here. I know we're going to make it through this one too."