In a nutshell
Members of two City Council committees recently proposed a review of the local coordinated assessment process, which can direct people experiencing homelessness into city-supported housing programs. Additionally, they asked to consider new ways to bridge the gap for those moving from shorter-term housing into more intensive and permanent options.
The committee update came as several currently or formerly homeless individuals shared issues about their experiences with lengthy assessments and waits for entry, confusing program processes, and lacking rental support or case management.
“I have a lot of friends right now in rapid rehousing, and they have no idea what’s going to come next," Vernon Jarmon, who was formerly homeless and a rapid rehousing client, told city officials. "No one should end up back on the street if they have rapid rehousing. Too many programs ain’t working, and we need programs to work.”
Following that committee action, the full council voted May 30 for an evaluation of the housing programs. That move also called for a local, collaborative review of how Austin's philanthropists are supporting homelessness strategies and ways for members of the homeless response system to better align their work.
Explained
Rapid rehousing, or RRH, is timed support that moves homeless individuals into temporary housing. Participants can receive case manager assistance and rent support for a set period, typically up to two years, with the goal of stabilizing their housing and reaching self-sufficiency.
Permanent supportive housing, or PSH, offers longer-term rental assistance and more intensive supportive services for the chronically homeless who require more personal care.
Quote of note
“We need to know each and every person is afforded a fair and equitable access to both the program and staying in it until permanent housing is secured," said Laura Ann Martinez, a leader with the organizing group VOCAL-TX, during May testimony. "The early exit from the rapid rehousing can cause many problems, including evictions, owing monies upon move-out and, as was the case with me, a return to being unhoused. All of these can make the situation worse for those experiencing these difficulties.”
Current situation
Local RRH initiatives are split up across more than a dozen city contracts. Some of that funding comes through Austin's budget, but the majority is now supported by one-time federal dollars from the city's American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
More than 2,200 people got help with housing through city-supported RRH in fiscal year 2022-23, the most recent with data available, according to the city's Homeless Strategy Office. The total number of people served exceeded the city's expectations by nearly 19%.
Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said the majority of participating households successfully moved through the programs, with about three-fourths reaching positive housing outcomes.
However, Gray also noted readjustments will lie ahead as much of the ARPA money being spent on Austin's 13 rapid rehousing contracts will soon be used up.
“Nobody wants to drive the car to the cliff and then just fall off the cliff. And so we are doing things now to make sure that, as the ARPA dollars fade out, we are able to also maybe phase out some of that work," he said.
Gray said Austin's homelessness office is reviewing all of its RRH contracts and setting new enrollment standards to ensure participants are served through the December 2026 ARPA deadline, and so providers don't take on more clients than they can support. He said a "rebalancing" of the programs should be completed by June 15.
“A lot of people are concerned about what happens when the ARPA dollars run out. And so we are not blind to that. We want to be very transparent that we are forecasting this as a challenge," Gray said.
Council member Vanessa Fuentes said PSH and RRH funding will be in focus during the upcoming city budgeting process and thanked VOCAL-TX's many representatives for showing up to testify on their experiences with the programs.
“I appreciate all of your advocacy and your efforts, and stand with you in ensuring that as we as a council deliberate the budget in the coming months, that we ensure that we’re making the necessary increases in investments in rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing services," she said.
In other news
The focus on improving and maintaining shorter-term housing support comes as the city continues to project a dramatic increase in its PSH capacity over the coming years.City housing and homelessness officials expect supportive housing in various stages of development will bring more than 1,000 additional units online for people exiting homelessness through 2027, adding to the approximately 237 units now on the ground.
“The bottom line is that the investments are being made. It does take time to build, but we are approaching solutions in a collaborative and thoughtful manner," Housing and Community Development Officer Jamey May said May 22.
Still, officials also noted that many recent PSH projects have advanced thanks to ARPA funding, and more investments from other sources will be needed to continue similar efforts into the future.
