ALISON HAS
Advocated for a Humane and Comprehensive Response to Homelessness
In 2019, I voted against allowing public camping because I did not believe that the City had planned for the subsequent challenges we would face, such as maintaining the safety and sanitation of public spaces. As a city and a community I believe we should compassionately help our neighbors exit homelessness, and we should do so with a comprehensive strategy that addresses community concerns. I have heard from many constituents on this topic, and I share your frustration with the current situation.
Though I voted against the repeal, I’ve invested hundreds of hours on this issue. My work has focused on three fronts:
Managing the safety and sanitation of public spaces;
Advocating with council colleagues and city staff to ensure we are advancing a comprehensive strategy with defined metrics for our investments; and
Addressing immediate housing, mental health, treatment, and employment opportunities and solutions for those experiencing homelessness.
Managing Public Spaces
After the 9-2 vote by the Council majority to repeal the camping ban, many of you have expressed concerns about camping in public spaces . In District 10, the site we hear about most frequently is at 183 and Oak Knoll. Earlier this year, COVID required the City’s encampment response crews to pause their operations. At this time, monthly cleaning at these and other sites have recommenced along with regular visits from city departments to provide resources, referrals, assessments, COVID testing, and other public sanitation services that align with CDC guidelines. I will continue to work with city staff and service providers to ensure those in encampments are receiving services, targeted case management and intervention alongside the regular clean-ups.
Advancing a Comprehensive Strategy
For too long the City invested money to address homelessness and our only metric of success was whether the money was spent; those days are over. To target our investments, we must remember that homelessness has many profiles. We have children who have aged out of foster care, families fleeing domestic violence, people actively working but who can’t afford rent, individuals struggling with abuse and addiction or mental health. All of these profiles require different interventions, and those interventions are now being aligned. Where we have targeted our efforts as we did a few years ago for veterans and now towards ending youth homelessness, we have seen real results. In January, for instance, we partnered with LifeWorks to fund a new housing development, the Works II in East Austin. This initiative allowed us to expand shelter and housing options for young parents exiting homelessness, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth who are aging out of the foster care system. By the first quarter of 2021 we should reach our goal of ending youth homelessness in Austin.
We know we need more housing for single adults experiencing homelessness. In the last year we added emergency overnight shelter capacity for families through the newly opened Salvation Army Rathgeber Center for Families. This step also allowed the Salvation Army downtown shelter to focus on sheltering single adults. We also have added a number of units of permanent supportive housing in the city.
We also need a bridge between emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing. Bridge housing is necessary to stabilize single adults and transition them into self-sufficiency. Collaboration between our staff and service providers led them to establish the Motel Conversion Strategy.
The City is acquiring motels to convert into single occupancy units that offer stability and wrap around services. The City intends to deploy 300 units total. The City initiated its first motel purchase late last year and finalized the transaction this Spring. Due to the pandemic, the facility is being utilized for temporary shelter services. Once the pandemic is clear, the motel’s 87 units will be rehabilitated for housing purposes and they will become part of the City’s homelessness portfolio.
Addressing Immediate Needs and Long-Term Solutions
I’ve championed important and evidence-based strategies to address homelessness including:
Funding for more permanent supportive housing units with wraparound services
Funding for integrated mental health response, substance use disorder treatment, case management, permanent supportive housing and employment training;
Purchase of a domestic violence shelter and funding for wrap around services for survivors of domestic violence;
Additional funding for the Workforce First program run by The Other Ones Foundation that trains and employs people experiencing homelessness to clean parks;
Additional funding for the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) to expand the program beyond downtown; and
Funding for additional Community Health Paramedics, whose responsibilities will include medical care and other resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.
relevant newsletters:
Updates on Homelessness
Sept. 10, 2020
District 10 Updates
Oct. 24, 2019
September Newsletter
Sept. 16, 2019
August Newsletter
August 2, 2019