HOUSTON – Residents in one Heights neighborhood say they are increasingly afraid to go outside as confrontations with people living along a nearby bayou escalate, raising concern for both public safety and the well‑being of those experiencing homelessness.

Neighbors on Shepherd and Larkin describe a rise in aggressive behavior, thefts and, in some cases, weapons.

Alfredo Figueroa, who has lived in the area about eight years, said the situation has worsened recently.

“We’ve always had a little bit of a homeless problem, but nothing like what’s going on now,” Figueroa said. “Most of these people are on drugs and they sometimes carry weapons. They become violent. They try to intimidate people.”

He recounted incidents including package thefts, people using yard hoses to bathe, a brutal st

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