Homeless Mental Health Strategic Plan

The City of Killeen has partnered with the City of Temple to hire a consultant to help appropriately address homelessness in Bell County. 

View strategic plan to reduce or eliminate homelessness in Bell County: Operation: Rise

It is a months-long process and part of the Homeless and Mental Strategic Plan. Dr. Robert Marbut, Jr. has gathered statistics on those experiencing homelessness in Bell County. He has also conducted focus groups and invited agencies from all over the county to participate, including faith-based groups, service industries, first responders and school districts.

Marbut conducted surveys to gather data on demographics, as well as completed site visits and tours with agencies and stakeholders, including free health clinics. Marbut observed successfully run facilities that support individuals experiencing homelessness, including The Bridge in Dallas, Haven for Hope in San Antonio, Community First Village in Austin and Centex ARC (Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center) in Temple.

Marbut presented his initial findings to City Council on Sept. 6, addressing the five, strategic keys to successfully manage and reduce homelessness (understanding the exact problems, addressing the root causes/triggers, making big changes, improving service delivery, and ‘engaging’ vs. ‘enabling’), key data observations (including duration, gender trends, pre and post-employment numbers, homeless veteran rates and home-grown metrics).

The consultant is studying five cohorts of homeless groups in Bell County, including those in encampments, males, women, families and individuals at risk of homelessness.

Arbor of Hope is a nonprofit organization that will have a campus in both Killeen and Temple that leads the county-wide coordination and management of all homeless services and issues. The purpose is to provide transitional housing for the temporary and long-term homeless community. The goal is to have a wide range of services provided on-site by multiple agencies.

Both campuses will include a transformational center for up to 100 people, kitchens and cafeterias, health care facilities, services for people who suffer from mental health and addiction, places to purchase food, community garden space and facilities to help create job opportunities.