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Special Report | Homelessness Takes the Spotlight in Austin

HOMELESSNESS TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT IN AUSTIN

Over half of Austin’s homeless have struggled to get off the streets for more than a year

By Community Impact Staff |  6:00 am Aug. CDT

In August, Community Impact Newspaper reporters and editors for our Northwest, Southwest and Central Austin editions spoke to homeless individuals, service providers, political leaders and experts to learn about an issue that has become increasingly urgent in the city. 

We asked what factors caused the growing homelessness challenge locally and learned from those doing the work every day that a community-wide effort will be needed to reverse this worsening crisis. We also took a deep look at communities outside of the state of Texas that are struggling to find answers and those that have found proven, effective solutions  to find out what Austin can learn from those communities. 

Community Impact Newspaper will continue to report on homelessness, and we hope that this page will serve as a resource to all. Part of our mission is to build networks of engaged citizens in the local neighborhoods we cover, which means we have a responsibility to inform our readers not just about the challenges in our city but also connect residents with those seeking solutions. To find information on 29 local organizations working to end homelessness in Austin, check the end of this page and each article.

Spike in Austin homelessness sparks cry for all-hands response

Our Central, Southwest and Northwest Austin editions explore the symptoms of the city’s homeless crisis and how community groups are working with the city to offer support to those individuals in need. Read story

Austin between ends of national spectrum on homelessness

Austin is not the only economically successful American city where homelessness has become an increasingly pressing and urgent concern. Community Impact Newspaper looked at Austin’s crisis in the context of its national peers, examining communities where the problem is growing and asking what can be learned from those that have successfully addresses homelessness. Read story

STATISTICS ON HOMELESSNESS

2018

552,830

people experienced homelessness in United States.

17.5%

of all people experiencing homelessness nationwide (counted on a single night in 2018) were classified as chronically homeless.

2018

7,992

people experienced homelessness in Austin.

54%

were chronically homeless.

Sources: U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development 2018 Annual Homelessness report to Congress, ending community homeless coalition / Community Impact Newspaper

Number of people who experienced homelessness

The number of people who experience homelessness for any amount of time in a year in Austin has increased over the last several years.

Chronically Homeless

Although the homeless population has grown 13% since 2015, chronic homelessness has skyrocketed.

22%
21%
29%
54%

How can you help?

As homelessness continues to become a more serious issue in Austin, these local organizations are doing the work to help homeless individuals get off the streets and provide solutions for the community. This list of resources is noncomprehensive.

Outreach and support

Youth and family services

City or public resources

Faith-based organizations

Homeless and need help?

The Coordinated Assessment Application is a survey that helps service providers connect homeless individuals with community resources. The following three locations offer walk-in assessments, according to the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition website.

  • Goodwill of Central Texas: 1015 Norwood Park Blvd., Austin
  • The Southeast Health and Wellness Clinic: 2901 Montopolis Drive, Austin
  • Trinity Center (Mondays and Tuesdays are women only): 304 Seventh St., Austin

211 Texas is a service from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that can connect residents to services they need. 211 presents information from state and local health and human services programs. The service is free and anonymous, and the hotline is available at all times.

SHELTER BEDS IN AUSTIN

The Salvation Army’s Rathgeber Center was scheduled to open in the summer but has been delayed by several months. Meanwhile, the city is developing a new shelter in South Austin on Ben White Boulevard. When those two shelters open, the city of Austin will have more than 1,000 shelter beds for the homeless.