Laredo council directs staff to launch homelessness campaign and seeks legislation for a dedicated mental‑health facility

The City Council opened a lengthy discussion on homelessness, policing, mental‑health needs and service coordination across multiple departments and community partners.

Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino framed the item as an urgency that requires “compassion and action,” citing the spread of encampments beyond downtown and impacts on businesses and residents. Staff described a multi‑department project to identify individuals, expand outreach and run a high‑visibility enforcement and assistance pilot with 90‑ and 180‑day planning windows. City managers estimated a six‑month pilot could cost on the order of $1,000,000, noting multiple departments and private partners would be involved.

Police Chief Villavadrius and other law‑enforcement officials explained operational constraints: officers sometimes spend hours handling emergency detentions and transporting individuals to facilities outside the city because the region lacks a local state hospital that can accept individuals for long‑term mental‑health care. The chief said short hospital stays and rapid release into the community create a revolving‑door dynamic.

Council heard from advocates and service providers, including representatives of Bethany House, who described the recent opening of a 24‑hour shelter and interim capacity for 56 emergency beds and resource coordination. Council members urged better cross‑agency coordination — including the county, district attorney’s office, constables and health partners — and asked staff to map gaps and resources.

Council then voted to direct management to develop a public‑awareness and coordination campaign (motion carried) and later approved a motion to pursue legislation and advocacy for a dedicated mental‑health facility modeled on regional examples and for court‑supervised diversion courts. The motions passed on recorded council votes.