Find alternatives to calling the Houston Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- 211 by United Way
- With dedicated United Way THRIVE and veterans specialists on staff, 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE connects families and veterans with resources to meet their unique needs, offering assistance with housing, rent, food, and domestic violence
- 211 in the Houston area
- https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/211/
- Gulf Coast Community Services Organization
- Offers emergency rental, food, and transportation assistance; some services require service commitment – food pantry open to all
- Walk-in emergency pantry at 9320 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77054, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- (713) 393-4700
- https://www.gccsa.org/emergency-assistance-2/
- HTX Mutual Aid Coalition
- A project of BLMHTX and ImagiNoir, the Coalition provides direct services through rental, food, financial, and COVID-preparedness assistance to Black and Brown communities in Harris County
- (409) 999-3823
- BLMHTX.org
- SEARCH Mobile Outreach Program
- The SEARCH Mobile Outreach team travels throughout Houston to common gathering areas for individuals who are homeless and provides on-the-spot assessment, assistance, intervention and referrals.
- (713) 739-7752
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mon-Fri
LGBTQ+
- Montrose Center – LGBT Switchboard Houston
- Comprehensive services for Houston’s LGBTQ+ community
- 24/7 LGBT Helpline
- (713) 529-3211
- http://www.montrosecenter.org/
Mental Health
- Behavioral Health Connections, Inc.
- Offering mental health assessments to patients in crisis. 24/7 mobile, on-site assessments within an hour, tele-visits within 30 minutes.
- (713) 779-2424
- https://bhconnections.org/
- Crisis Intervention of Houston, Inc.
- 501c3 Nonprofit, helping people in crisis through intervention and referral.
- (832) 416-1200 (General)
- (832) 416-1177 (Hotline)
- (832) 416-1199 (Teen Hotline) or TEXT (281) 201-4430
- info@crisishotline.org for Crisis Response Team
- Harris Center for Mental Health – Helpline
- 24/7 helpline providing crisis intervention, suicide assessments and intervention.
- (713) 970-7000
- Texana Center
- 24/7 mental health crisis services including assessment and intervention
- 1 (800) 633-5686
- https://www.texanacenter.com/services/behavioral-healthcare-services/mental-health-crisis-services/
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Fort Bend Women’s Center
- 24/7 emergency helpline for women and families. Provides emergency housing and shelter, meals, childcare, and sexual assault advocacy
- (281) 342-HELP (4357)
- https://fbwc.org/
- Houston Area Women’s Center – Rape Crisis Hotline
- 24/7 services, free of charge
- Sexual assault: (713) 528-7273
- Domestic Violence: (713) 528-2121
- https://hawc.org/ Chat available through website
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- Crisis Intervention of Houston, Inc.
- 501c3 Nonprofit, helping people in crisis through intervention and referral.
- (832) 416-1200 (General)
- (832) 416-1199 (Teen Hotline) or TEXT (281) 201-4430
- info@crisishotline.org for Crisis Response Team
- https://www.crisishotline.org/
- Teen Crisis Hotline
- 24/7 Hotline
- (713) 529-8336
- Texas Youth Helpline
- 24/7 helpline for youth, assisting runaways, youth seeking removal from their home, parents with missing children, and more; staffed by trained volunteers
- 1 (800) 989-6884
- Text: (512) 872-5777
- http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Youth_Helpline/default.asp
Elders
- Texas Department of Family Protective Services – Abuse Hotline
- 24/7 abuse hotline for reporting abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home.
- 1 (800) 252-5400
- https://www.txabusehotline.org/Login/Default.aspx
- U.S. Veterans Outreach Center
- (832) 683-6954
- This is a direct phone number to the Outreach Coordinator, who will then direct callers based on their specific needs. Among their services, the outreach group provides resources/materials to local homeless Veterans living on the streets.
Crime
Coming soon.
Substances
Coming soon.
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Houston Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.