Earlier this month, Matthew Mollica stepped into his new post as executive director for the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition. On this edition of Austin Monitor Radio, he talks to Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns about the timing of that move, how Austin compares to other cities he’s worked in, what it will take to end homelessness in […]
ECHO
The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is, according to its website, “a collaborative funding and planning nonprofit that is fiercely committed to ending homelessness in Austin, TX.” The groups brings together resources to serve the city’s homeless population and works with agencies to bring together leaders, volunteers and other nonprofits to help the cause.
Posted inAustin
ECHO has a new leader
The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, one of the leading organizations involved in addressing Austin’s homelessness problem, will have a new top executive today as the group’s co-founder, Ann Howard, steps down to focus on her campaign for a seat on the Travis County Commissioners Court. ECHO’s new leader, Matthew Mollica, comes to Austin from Denver, […]
Posted inCity Council
Council action would pave the way for $30M in private dollars to house the homeless
A resolution slated for consideration at next week’s City Council meeting could pave the way for foundations and other private sector entities to contribute to the estimated $30 million annual cost to provide housing for the city’s homeless population. The resolution would create a local government corporation that would be charged with raising funds from […]
Posted inUncategorized
Sparks fly over proposed changes to camping laws
Representatives of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and the Downtown Austin Alliance continue to stress that they are working together to end homelessness in Austin. But their conflicting messages to City Council on Thursday about proposed changes to ordinances that target the homeless population were definitely not on the same page. Council Member Greg Casar […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: ECHO’s Ann Howard
Ann Howard, the executive director of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver this week to talk about recent initiatives, challenges and the current state of homelessness in Austin. To get the latest on the fight to end homelessness in the city, listen in below. Austin Monitor Radio […]
Posted inAustin
Real estate group hears tough talk from homeless advocates
As one of the city’s leading advocates for the homeless, Ann Howard knows not to waste an opportunity when she gets in front of a room full of people who can help her cause. So she didn’t mince words last week when she had the attention of hundreds of real estate professionals at the monthly […]
Posted inPublic Health
Seton offers homeless groups space to address trafficking, services
Nonprofits addressing homelessness in Austin will get some long-sought-after help in steering clients through the area’s network of services designed to get them off the streets and into stable housing. Seton Healthcare Family has announced a new partnership with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) and the SAFE Alliance, offering some of the health care […]
Posted inTravis County
County dedicates $3M to permanent supportive housing
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday morning to dedicate $3 million to permanent supportive housing for repeat users of the criminal justice and health care systems. The county’s $3 million, comprising $600,000 annually over five years, is roughly a fifth of the total $15.5 million dedicated to the program, which aims to create 250 […]
Posted inAustin
City budget boosts spending for homelessness services
The new city manager and City Council agree: The city needs more money to address the homelessness situation. The proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget submitted by City Manager Spencer Cronk includes $3.1 million in new spending on homelessness-related services. That’s on top of the roughly $25 million of spending on such services that will continue […]
Posted inAustin
Homelessness action report calls for doubling spending
If Austin wants to get serious about ending homelessness, it needs to spend about twice as much on the variety of programs that currently serve the more than 2,000 people living on the streets. That’s according to an action plan endorsed by the Membership Council of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, which is chaired by […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission hears update on Austin’s homeless
Representatives from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) and the Austin Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) briefed the Public Safety Commission Monday night on the state of the city’s homeless population. “I think in Austin we know what we need to do,” said Ann Howard, executive director of ECHO, “but we need to […]
Posted inAustin
Mayor, community leaders unveil new facility for the homeless
A $14.6 million facility combining housing and services for Austin’s chronically homeless is expected to break ground in Central East Austin early next year with the support of Mayor Steve Adler, the Downtown Austin Alliance, various nonprofit organizations working to end homelessness and several prominent community leaders. The 40,000-square-foot Housing First Oak Springs facility will […]