The city of Houston awarded the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD funding Jan. 7 to expand a crisis response team that supports residents at risk of and currently experiencing homelessness.

The big picture: Houston City Council authorized a one-year grant for the Harris Center’s Behavioral Health Response Team, or BHRT, which will serve approximately 250 individuals per year, according to agenda documents.

As part of the initiative, the Harris Center will partner with The Way Home—a coalition to prevent and end homelessness in Houston—to link individuals with behavioral health providers, substance use treatment, job training and other services.

Some context: More than 3,000 unhoused residents were identified in the Greater Houston region during a January 2025 point-in-time survey, approximately 37% of whom were unsheltered, per the report. 

Looking back: The grant is part of a broader initiative from Mayor John Whitmire’s administration to end street homelessness in Houston by the end of 2026, a $70 million plan that debuted late 2024.

Biscuit Belly is expanding its reach across eight states and is projected to have 20 locations by the end of 2026, according to the company's social media.

On the menu: Serving Southern comfort food and homemade biscuits, Biscuit Belly is expected to open this fall in the Houston Heights area. Along with biscuits, the restaurant serves breakfast sandwiches, omelettes and pancakes as well as other breakfast staples. 

More details: Founded in 2019 by former pharmacists turned restaurateurs Chad and Lauren Coulter, the concept of the restaurant centers around an inventive brunch menu with bold new twists on Southern favorites, according to the restaurant’s website. 

• White Oak Drive, Houston

The annual We Are Houston 5K, Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon runners will hit the streets this weekend, Jan. 10 and Jan. 11. Here is what residents need to know about street closures, alternative routes and where to expect significant delays.

What residents need to know: These streets will be closed on race day starting at 6 a.m.:

• Congress from Crawford to Smith
• Smith from Congress to Franklin
• Franklin from Smith to Washington (all lanes except one westbound curb lane)

• IH-69 Eastex southbound from Polk Street to SH 288 South Freeway
• IH-69 Southwest northbound from SH-288 to Alabama Street

Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced Jan. 5 its transition to a new fare system, RideMETRO, which replaces and discontinues the METRO Q Fare Card.

The gist: METRO riders can purchase the RideMETRO $2 fare card, according to METRO’s website, and load money at any of the following locations:

• METRO RideStore locations
• METRO Online RideStore
• RideMETRO app
• Participating retail locations
• Ticket vending machines

Riders can check their balance on the RideMETRO app. After 10 paid trips, riders get one free trip, according to METRO’s announcement.

The cost: No fare increases are taking place as part of the new fare system, according to the METRO website.