Housing Affordability, Instability, and Temporary Homelessness in Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery Counties

Home prices and rent in the Houston area have steadily increased over the last several years, as have the costs of day-to-day expenses like groceries and child care, putting pressure on residents’ ability to pay for their housing. In early 2026, to understand how costs were impacting residents’ housing situations, members of the Greater Houston Community Panel were asked about their housing costs and recent experiences with housing instability.