Austin officials and other local leaders are seeking to fund up to hundreds of millions of dollars in new homeless services over the next decade, based on recent proposals to scale up the region's homelessness response system.

The setup

Recommendations for extensive new investments were made by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO, in a report from the nonprofit last summer. That review also showed the amount of people seeking homeless services around Austin continued to rise through the early 2020s, including a jump in clients experiencing homelessness for the first time.

Members of City Council's Public Health Committee in late 2024 recommended finding new, sustainable ways to fund the proposed housing and service additions based on ECHO's findings, and the full council voted to back that process Jan. 30.

What's happening


Hundreds of new shelter spaces and thousands of units for rehousing and supportive housing programs are needed to meet the Austin area's needs through 2034, according to ECHO's review of the homelessness response system. Those investments could cost nearly $350 million in total, according to the analysis.

The changes are aimed at addressing the needs of people who just became homeless or are on the streets for a short time, and those who may have been homeless for years or have other disabling mental or physical conditions.

“This goes beyond just numbers of units and dollars. We have an opportunity to end trauma and suffering for thousands of people who live in our community," ECHO Executive Director Matt Mollica said.
The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition reported that thousands of new shelter and housing units are needed in the Austin area in the next decade. (Courtesy city of Austin)
The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition reported that thousands of new shelter and housing units are needed in the Austin area in the next decade. (Courtesy city of Austin)
Council's January vote doesn't immediately adjust current strategies or commit new money to homelessness programs, although it could lead to such changes in the near future. The ECHO plan will now guide some of the city's work, and officials said it serves as a starting point for this year's budget planning and funding projections—especially given tight financial forecasts and the dwindling federal assistance Austin and Travis County used to develop new housing and other services.

“It really sets out a next step in how we approach investing in our homelessness response system," Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said.


What's next

City staff will now start evaluating how the new investments could be supported, through existing city resources like housing bonds or new funding. They'll also review how much financial support for the regional system should come from Austin versus local government entities like Travis County, Integral Care and Central Health.

A report on financing options and local collaborations is expected back to council's Public Health Committee in March.