Local Economy

The pandemic brought about a whirlwind of anxiety over Houston homeowners, which remains to this day. Of the top ten most populous cities in America, Houston boasts the most homeowners. Because of that, the city’s real estate market has felt the impact of COVID-19 more profoundly. 

Workers at the Port of Houston have been laid off or let go in droves in the wake of the miasma of tariffs imposed on China, a chief exporter of goods to the port. The Port of Houston is the seventh largest port in the United States.

A mere minutes-long drive down a prominent Houston street will reveal at least one restaurant boarded up or advertising a property sale. One of the top eating scenes in the nation, Houston was hit hard when the Texas economy shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, a devastation of the local food industry not seen since Hurricane Harvey ravaged the city.

Latino hands helped build Houston. Every local building, street, highway and bridge contain the fingerprints of Latino laborers. Yet, Houston Hispanics hold the second highest prevalence of poverty.

A fog of uncertainty has fallen over Houston’s energy sector during the pandemic. Oil and gas workers are going home every day in Houston uncertain about their livelihoods. About the future of their industry, one that has been hobbled by coronavirus.

COVID took a wrecking ball to a big part of the Houston economy: Hispanic entrepreneurs. With street after street of boarded up business and “for lease” sign, the pandemic reminded the city just how much its economy is tied to Hispanic businesses. Hispanics make up 38% of small business owners in Houston. These numerous businesses employ thousands of people. And they’re still dazed from the blow of the pandemic.