Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Austin Homelessness Summit reaches 78% of $515M goal to house 3,000 people in 3 years


The Homelessness Summit is made up of community partners including Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Justice Coalition, Homes Not Handcuffs, and Notley's HomeFront Fund. (CBS Austin)
The Homelessness Summit is made up of community partners including Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Justice Coalition, Homes Not Handcuffs, and Notley's HomeFront Fund. (CBS Austin)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

Community members are working to find solutions for Austin's growing homeless population.

Local leaders on Thursday shared the progress on their goal to rehouse 3,000 people experiencing homelessness in three years.

Homelessness Summit Chair Lynn Meredith said they have reached 78% of their $515 million goal. The goals over three years are to house 3,000 individuals, add housing capacity and build a better system. Out of the $515 million goal, $268 million are committed from federal ARPA funds by the City and County, along with additional public dollars.

In the short term, there are immediate needs to move people who were living in tents into other housing, and there are long-term capital needs such as building shelter capacity and infrastructure that the city might use to fight homelessness for 30 to 40 years.

ALSO | Home sales in Austin are calming, experts say

"Our elected officials at the city and the county have engaged in a dialogue with our coalition and with many members of the community and heard clearly how these ARPA funds could be deployed to build out a homeless response system that could equally address those in our city that are currently unhoused," said Meredith.

$131 million are anticipated funds from housing tax credits, private funders, vouchers, and Housing Trust fund.

"We still have another $115 million that we need to raise from foundations, philanthropists, corporations, and the greater community as well," said homelessness summit volunteer and business leader, Leo Ramirez.

But council members are also looking for more partners to make it happen. District 9 Council Representative Kathie Tovo says, “Clearly if we want to see the true potential of our prevention services we’re going to have to see some additional fundraising come forward from our private sector in every category including mental health.”

The summit is made up of community partners including Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Justice Coalition, Homes Not Handcuffs, and Notley's HomeFront Fund.

"What this opportunity represents for our community is the opportunity to invest, create a solution, to put on the ground a plan that everyone has been asking for," said CEO of Lifeworks, Susan McDowell.

A plan that includes crisis services, housing programs, targeted prevention, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing.

The city council calls Austin’s investment in homelessness mitigation and prevention “seed money” to get these programs started. They’re looking to other partners to carry the ball and provide the major funding in the future.

Loading ...