A property off I-35 is expected to serve as a new city homeless navigation center after City Council approved the site's acquisition, despite objections of some South Austin residents and votes against by area council members.
"This housing navigation center is one of those critical upstream interventions that allows to keep families in their housing units and not on the street, while making sure that those who’ve recently become homeless have ways to quickly get access to housing," Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said.
How we got here
Navigation centers serve as central locations for the homeless to connect with a variety of services. The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center at 4430 Menchaca Road, Austin has operated as a citywide resource hub for years, drawing many homeless clients to that site daily.
Sunrise's South Austin center has drawn criticism given its location near an elementary school and park, and due to frequent public safety and nuisance complaints around the property. Attorney General Ken Paxton also sued to shut the facility down last year; legal proceedings are ongoing this fall with a hearing next scheduled for Nov. 6.
For months, Austin officials have been planning for a relocated navigation center under greater city oversight. Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations in early September announced a property at 2401 S. I-35, Austin, as a potential option for the new facility.
City Council voted in favor of the $4.38 million property purchase Oct. 9. The new navigation facility could open as soon as next spring.
"I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity, and council’s confidence in our office to move that project forward," Gray said. "For us, we made a commitment to Austin that we’re going to work homelessness from both ends; we’re going to take steps to stop new people from becoming homeless and we’re going to take steps towards getting people off the streets and into housing."
Officials approved the purchase 8-3, with council members José Velásquez and Zo Qadri—who represent the surrounding area—voting against along with West Austin council member Marc Duchen. They said reservations about the city's site selection process and local feedback influenced their decisions.
“I’m voting no not because I oppose the mission, not because I oppose the resources, and it sure as hell is not because I’m turning my back on my unhoused neighbors or my faith that commands me to serve those most in need," Velásquez said. "I’m voting no because I’ve personally not had enough time with this item. I’m voting no to the process and to the pace, and I’m voting no because I have not had sufficient time to dispel the rampant [mis]information surrounding this issue.”
Duchen had also sought to postpone council's vote for a month to allow for more consideration, but his motion had no other support on the council dais. He said he hopes to see improved public engagement out of City Hall, and that too many unanswered questions remained about the project for him to support the purchase as presented.
"If I had to buy a $4.5 million home in two weeks, I’d try and figure out some of the things that I’m confused about. And right now, I’m not at that place," he said.
A closer look
Over the past month, many residents in South Austin communities near the I-35 site rallied against the HSO plan. They've raised concerns about the existing homeless presence throughout their neighborhoods, the property's location in relation to area elementary and high schools, and impacts on public safety.
City leaders had said community feedback would determine whether or not the purchase moved forward, but some residents also said the plan seemed like a done deal and their concerns wouldn't impact a final purchase.
Public messaging from the HSO centered on Austin's high need for a new navigation center and the benefits of the I-35 site. Those included the property's larger footprint, improved access and security options compared to Sunrise, its location down the block from the city-owned Southbridge shelter and near transit lines, and greater distance from places such as schools, parks and residences than the current navigation center.
The office labeled it as a good fit in the community to serve the local population of homeless people, including students, and those at risk of homelessness given area eviction and displacement trends. The HSO also said the new facility will operate as an "orderly, professional environment" that's screened from public spaces with management to prevent overflow into surrounding areas, a frequent criticism of the Sunrise center.
Put in perspective
Dozens of Austinites, most against the purchase, turned out to City Hall to weigh in on the process in October. Council's vote followed several community rallies and public forums about the plan.
Retired teacher Erika Shadburne said more support for the homeless, especially homeless students, is needed in Austin but that the chosen location isn't the right fit.
“We do need a navigation center, I think this is really important,, and I’m excited about it. Let’s not put it next to a school again," she said. "We’ve seen what happened with Sunrise. The city has not been able to protect the neighborhood from ... what goes on around the navigation center. So let’s set this up for success and find a spot, hold off on this and find a really good spot that’s not close to a school.”
Resident Cameron Crow said he and his family members live near both the current Sunrise property and new proposed site, and raised concerns about city management of the facilities.
“What’s very clear: No matter what goes on inside the boundary of the center—the old one or the magical new one that you’re going to create—the externalities are unmitigated," he said. "There’s extreme examples of crime in the existing area, and there’s a crisis of crime that you’ve heard from many of the neighbors in the proposed area. Nobody on this ‘against’ list is saying no services; we don’t want to try to figure out the navigation center model. We’re saying it’s not in an appropriate location."
Many people also testified in favor of the new navigation center, saying it's a needed piece of local homeless systems in a place that will serve clients well.
“It’s a location that truly meets the goals and standards the city has set for helping our neighbors experiencing homelessness. This site simply makes sense: It’s close to the central resources and services that are already part of Austin’s homeless response network," resident Diane Quinones said. "Being located near a major transit corridor means clients can reach medical care, job assistance and other programs more easily, helping them take real steps forward toward stability and housing.”
Andi Brauer, with the Central Presbyterian Church and Homeless Advocacy Project, pushed back on homeless-related crime concerns and said local worries stemmed from neighbors' fear of the unknown about a necessary project.
“We have been kicking this can down the road for year after year after year because it’s always, ‘We want to get them help, we don’t want them near us.’ And I’m speaking out for the thousands of people who are homeless in Austin that need more resources, but aren’t as organized to come and speak up about it today," she said.
What's next
With the property acquisition now moving forward, HSO will continue planning for the launch of the new navigation center.
In the next few months, council members will be considering recommendations for site improvements with "enhancements of the built environment" based on community feedback, as well as social service contracts for future operations at the site. It remains to be seen whether Sunrise or another entity will run the I-35 facility, and HSO said that selection will involve more public input. The office will also lead the creation of a new local panel to oversee the center's launch and operations.
“I think we heard loudly that people in the neighborhood weren’t opposed to our efforts to try to stop folks from becoming homeless, but they have some general concerns about how this might impact the broader neighborhood. And so we’re being mindful of that," Gray said. "That advisory body’s going to include folks who live and work in the neighborhood so that they can hold us accountable, they can co-create this process with us, and they can know that their values and their concerns are reflected in the final product.”
The homelessness office also committed to finalizing a "good neighbor agreement" with community members before opening the navigation center. According to information from a recent public meeting, that policy would cover issues like:
- Safety and local security with site patrols and law enforcement collaboration
- Maintenance and cleaning with landscaping and upkeep of both the property and nearby public spaces
- Public engagement through a point of contact in the community and standing meetings of the advisory body
- Expectations for homeless clients to respect neighbors and neighboring properties
- Ongoing partnerships with businesses, transit agencies and other local groups
“We’re moving with a sense of urgency to form that body. I’m planning to do some work this weekend to start putting that together," Gray said. "Our plan is to be able to come to council at the end of the calendar year with a recommendation around what the menu of services will look like and who the vendor would be."
