SEARCH and Rescue

Chris Hanslik says he can’t take credit for Houston’s 60% reduction in homelessness since 2012, moving more than 34,000 people off the streets and into housing. But as board chairman of Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and past chairman of SEARCH Homeless Services, he certainly played a role.

 “We lead the country in reducing homelessness and have become the model, which started about 14 years ago with switching the paradigm to a housing-first model. You get people housing, then figure out what other supportive services they need,” he says.

That is accomplished through The Way Home, a homeless response system coordinated by the Coalition, which comprises more than 100 local government and nonprofit agencies. One of those is SEARCH, which finds housing and provides services such as treating mental health issues or addiction, finding work or training, accessing veteran benefits, and securing childcare.

“I think most people have a general view of homelessness where there is not a lot of sympathy or empathy toward the people on the streets, not realizing the real stories—and that good people can have some bad things happen and find themselves there,” Hanslik says.

Many of those stories have happy endings, with people finishing their education and becoming homeowners after accessing services.

“The role I play is an easy one,” Hanslik insists. “The real work is being done by our caseworkers who are out on the streets connecting with the people that are living out there. Those are the true heroes. I admire their work and feel lucky to be there as a support system.” The staffers worked through pandemic, flooding and freezes, putting aside concerns for their own personal situations.

Good people can have some bad things happen and find themselves [on the street].

Hanslik heard about SEARCH Homeless Services while a law student at South Texas College of Law Houston. He volunteered for a few service projects, including handing out sleeping bags and serving warm meals.

Then in 2004, not quite a decade into building his business law practice at BoyarMiller, Hanslik was re-introduced to the nonprofit world through his managing partner, Bill Boyar, who served as chairman of SEARCH and on the board. SEARCH founder Shelly Cyprus’ vision of ending the city’s homelessness and treating people with dignity resonated with him.

“While you’re at school, you’re trying to find your way,” Hanslik says. “Now that I was a professional, I’d been practicing nine years, I was like, let me lean into this more.”

SEARCH has its own daycare, the House of Tiny Treasures, to provide early education for kids of the agency’s clients. Hanslik has brought his family, starting when his daughters were around 3 and 6, to volunteer at events like splash days or holiday parties, helping at the cookie-decorating table or popping popcorn by the playground.

“My kids were on the jungle gym with other kids, and they were just kids, mine more fortunate and the others homeless, living in shelters—but they didn’t know the difference,” he says. 

In 2015, Hanslik was nominated to the board of SEARCH and became chairman for three years, which exposed him to the Coalition for the Homeless. He was asked to join the CFTH board in 2021, and served as vice chair for two years before becoming chair in 2024.

Hanslik sees a parallel between this service and his role as chairman of BoyarMiller.

“We have people involved in different organizations where their passion lies, and we just encourage them, ‘If you’re going to do it, go all in,’” he says. “It’s a good way for young professionals to demonstrate leadership. That’s one of the things we tell our younger lawyers: This is the perfect time to develop some leadership skills, and it can serve you well both professionally and personally.”

Hanslik sees anything that’s good for Houston as good for his business clients. That’s true of the economic impact tied to another passion: football. He is a board member and former chair of the Texas Bowl and was on the host committees for Super Bowl LI and the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. 

Houston-Area Homelessness by the Numbers

• $185 million Public funding for homeless services in 2024
• 34,000+ People housed since 2012
• 90% Success rate (people not returning to homelessness within two years)
• 23,000+ People seeking homeless assistance in 2023
• 3,280 Number of people experiencing homelessness in the Houston area at any given time