Part 2 of a three-part series Mike Villegas learned his oldest child had died on Christmas Eve 2016. Villegas said he was doing work around the house with his 12-year-old son. When he went out to the front yard, he noticed a police car parked outside the house. “I knew immediately that this was not […]
homelessness
Posted inCity Council
City Council approves plan to end homelessness
The rising concern surrounding homelessness and its growing numbers will receive greater attention and resources moving forward, now that City Council unanimously approved a resolution to endorse the city’s Action Plan to End Homelessness at its April 26 meeting. The action plan is the result of the combined efforts of the city and the Ending […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: The ARCH
On this week’s show, Front Steps Executive Director Greg McCormack joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard to talk about the challenges and future of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. Listen in; the entire show is embedded below. The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers […]
Posted inAustin
Innovation team sets sights on bedbugs, overcrowding at homeless shelter
The Innovation Office earlier this month issued a set of recommendations to mitigate serious problems plaguing the 14-year-old Austin Resource Center for the Homeless at East Seventh and Neches streets. Last week, the office’s so-called i-team briefed the Downtown Commission on the suggestions it put forth in a March 1 memo after months of research. […]
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 inThe Code
City regulations may create more homelessness
City ordinances prohibiting panhandling in certain areas, criminalizing camping in public places, living in a car or tent, or sitting or lying on the sidewalk in parts of downtown are creating barriers that make it more difficult for people to overcome homelessness. That’s the conclusion of an audit from the Office of the City Auditor […]
Posted inAustin
Campaign would raise $60M to house homeless
The Mobile Loaves & Fishes nonprofit announced plans to help reduce Austin’s homeless population over the next 10 years through a series of expansions of its Community First! Village project in Northeast Austin. The expansions will be paid for with a decade-long, $60 million capital campaign that will let the village provide housing and supportive […]
Posted inAustin
Homeless service providers say pilot program made downtown Austin safer
An effort to reduce crowds loitering outside the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless has made downtown safer, local service providers say. A 30-day initiative was launched last month to address homelessness outside the ARCH, where dozens of people congregate on lawn chairs and blankets on any given day. The goal was to disrupt the […]
Posted inAustin
Increased support outside ARCH to target crime, help homeless
Four months after city officials called on the Austin Police Department and other public safety departments to address a spike in drug use around the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, the next phase of help is about to begin. Starting Aug. 15, a coalition of public safety and social services groups will begin a […]
Posted inAustin
Council considers using city-owned buildings to ease overcrowding at homeless shelters
City Council is looking at using city-owned buildings as temporary homeless shelters. The idea comes from Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, who says overcrowding at downtown shelters has led to harsh conditions for people experiencing homelessness. Speaking at City Hall on Tuesday, Tovo said it’s an issue that demands action as the city works to […]
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
Homelessness in D4 spurs residents looking to marshal housing resources
Residents in the North Austin area focused in District 4 are looking to assemble a network of local service groups and government resources to respond to what’s believed to be an increase in the homeless population there. There’s no official count for the number of individuals with no permanent residence in the district, but anecdotal […]