Only Homeless Shelter in Killeen Likely to Close by October 1 Due to Lack of City Funding

Friends in Crisis, the only homeless shelter in Killeen, Texas, is set to close by October 1st after two consecutive years without city funding. The organization, founded in 2015 by Families in Crisis at the city’s recommendation, initially relied on a Community Development Block Grant to establish the first shelter in the city. However, the city withdrew its support a decade later, leaving the shelter to operate on a shoestring budget. Last fiscal year, Friends in Crisis did not appear in the city’s budget, and Director of Operations William Hall noted that the organization has been using reserves in anticipation of potential funding, which has not materialized.
In an effort to secure continued support, Friends in Crisis requested approximately $350,000 in funding as the City Council prepared its fiscal year budget. The request was denied, and the city faces broader budget constraints. During a recent City Council meeting, the council voted to move forward with a proposed budget and potentially raise the tax rate to the highest allowable level without triggering an election. The current rate is 0.7014, and the maximum allowable rate is 0.7302. Interim City Manager Kent Cagle recommended raising it to 0.7301.
Council Member Mellisa Brown proposed using some of the additional revenue from the tax increase to support Friends in Crisis, suggesting the allocation of $63,908 to keep the shelter open. However, the rest of the council did not support the idea, stating that the budget was already finalized and should not be altered so close to its deadline. Brown expressed disappointment at the lack of support, emphasizing the impact of the shelter’s closure on the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Brown warned that the closure of Friends in Crisis will worsen the plight of the homeless during the coldest months of the year. She noted that without shelter, 80 to 100 people will have no place to go overnight, increasing the risk of illness and further exposing them to the elements. “That means more people potentially having illnesses from being out in the cold,” she said. “That means more people being on the streets, on the sidewalks, in the businesses and their doorways at night in downtown.”
Beyond the humanitarian concerns, Brown argued that the lack of a shelter will place additional strain on the city’s resources and budget. She called forward Fire Chief James Kubinski and Chief of Police Ped, likely to highlight the potential risks to public safety and the broader community. The situation underscores the need for compassionate and strategic public policy that reflects the value of every individual, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which calls for advocating for the vulnerable.

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