Lucy Tompkins / Texas Tribune

Lucy Tompkins worked for the Tribune as a housing and homelessness reporting fellow through The New York Times’ Headway Initiative, a philanthropically supported initiative that examines the world’s challenges through the lens of progress. She began her career as an education reporter at the Missoulian in Missoula, Montana. In spring 2020, she joined The New York Times as a general assignment fellow on the national desk, then spent a year reporting on housing, health and other issues with the Headway team. She grew up in Bozeman, Montana and studied journalism and anthropology at the University of Montana. She is based in Austin and speaks Spanish fluently.

Investigations

At the fringes of Houston’s prosperity, the city’s eviction machine is running full throttle

by Lucy Tompkins / Texas Tribune and Alexa Ura / Texas Tribune June 9, 2023June 11, 2023

Houston is now experiencing one of the biggest spikes in eviction filings nationwide. The Houston metro area has seen 42 percent more eviction filings in the last year than a typical year before the pandemic — a historic high for the city.

Teressa Tolon, 24, and her mother, Nakisha Platt, 47, take a walk through the neighborhood where Platt recently purchased a home with the help of the Community Land Trust

Investigations

Houston wanted to lead the nation in long-term affordable housing. Now it’s backpedaling.

by Lucy Tompkins / Texas Tribune and Houston Landing February 21, 2023June 8, 2023

This story was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Four years […]