‘Conversations on a Bench’ invitations Houstonians to have open, sincere talks about homelessness, dependancy, and psychological well being

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An invisible line separates stability from disaster, however are we at all times keen to speak about it?

Whereas it might really feel troublesome, that is precisely what neighborhood members are inspired to do throughout “Conversations on a Bench,” a 24-hour in individual and on-line occasion the place anybody can stroll up, sit down, and have interaction in open, significant conversations. The conversations go on rain or shine.

This yr, this nationwide dialog begins Thursday at 2 p.m. till Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.

In Houston, Open Door Mission CEO Brandan Thomas will welcome the general public to the bench, situated at 5803 Harrisburg Ave. Folks can sit down, share their story or just hear.

“With the intention to enhance our metropolis, our state, and our nation, we have to perceive its folks and the true challenges they face. These conversations matter as a result of they provide a voice to these on the brink, to these overcoming obstacles, and to those that merely wish to assist,” Thomas mentioned.

These unable or unsure about stopping by, however nonetheless desirous to take part can be part of on-line throughout the 24-hour livestream to ask questions and listen to tales in real-time.

The occasion is going on throughout the U.S. and Canada in partnership with Citygate Community, North America’s largest affiliation of faith-based missions.

Houston’s Open Door Mission might be becoming a member of over 100 CEOs from different missions who will all be sitting on a bench, every in their very own metropolis.

Collectively, every CEO will face completely different challenges, completely different climate, and completely different discussions with the objective to have significant, partaking conversations that hopefully create thought-provoking concepts and spark change.

Thomas began “Conversations on a Bench” in 2017 when he was the CEO of Winchester Rescue Mission in Winchester, Virginia. He was in search of a option to not solely increase cash for the mission, however share the tales of the work occurring there.

Thomas sat on a bench for twenty-four hours, inviting conversations about homelessness, starvation, human trafficking, and the various obstacles folks face in on a regular basis life.

Based on organizers, the response was extraordinary.

Out of it got here transformative tales of restoration to expressing heartfelt frustrations with systemic challenges.

It could additionally come as no shock that an occasion about the true, uncooked, complexities of life resonated, particularly given among the financial and housing stability hurdles dealing with cities in every single place, together with Houston.

The Kinder Institute for City Analysis’s 2025 State of Housing in Houston and Harris County report discovered that affordability gaps have solely deepened. It states that residents in Houston and Harris County expertise an affordability hole of $175,967 and $129,763, respectively.

The burden would not get any lighter in the event you’re a renter.

Massive will increase in hire created extra cost-burdened households, the report states.

Homelessness stays a continuing within the dialog.

In March 2025, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and town launched extra particulars a couple of $70 million plan to finish avenue homelessness by 2026. ABC13’s companions at Neighborhood Affect reported that the primary almost $22 million for the mission was secured.

Nonetheless, it is not one thing that gives an answer in a single day.

ABC13 has repeatedly reported on metropolis plans and up to date efforts to decommission some encampments downtown whereas others have appeared.

Based on the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless, 3,280 folks in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties have been homeless throughout final yr’s rely.

The nonprofit’s report says 34% of them reside on the streets, exterior of shelters. The report additionally exhibits that 39% of these residing exterior have been doing so for 3 years or extra.

Homelessness, in response to the nonprofit, has dropped greater than 60% in Houston since 2011 as metropolis officers concentrate on outreach and reasonably priced housing.

Even so, as “Conversations on a Bench” is predicted to indicate, it is an ongoing worthy dialog whether or not you have confronted a disaster or just wish to higher perceive the world round you.

Discover extra details about Open Door Mission and “Conversations on a Bench.”