City of Austin prioritizing funding for homeless response
Federal funding for homeless programs is running out
The Austin City Council held its first meeting of 2025. One of the commitments is finding funding to tackle homelessness for the next 10 years
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin City Council held its first meeting of the year. One of their commitments is finding funding to tackle homelessness for the next decade.
Austin's commitment to tackle homelessness
The backstory:
Austin City Council passed a resolution directing the city manager to look at funding sources.
According to the resolution, the city needs about $350 million over the next 10 years.
"We need our federal and state partners on board as well. This is a community-wide crisis that will take the entire community to solve," Matt Mollica, executive director of ECHO, said.
American Rescue Plan funding, also known as the COVID stimulus package, is encumbered.
The city also needs to work through which programs use other federal funding sources and how what's happening in Washington will affect that.
"Even with the confusion at the federal level regarding our grant funding and funding programs and offerings at the federal level, it really underscores why the time is critical now for us to act," Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said.
The resolution says the cost for funding rapid rehousing and emergency shelters is about $15.4 million per year. Austin has a higher rate of homelessness than other cities.
"Unfortunately, the number of people entering our system outpaces the number of people exiting," Fuentes said.
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) says she's brainstorming options.
"We should look at all state properties within the city of Austin and within Travis County that would be appropriate for repurposing or co-locating deeply affordable housing," she said.
Local perspective:
Alfredo Reyes of Vocal Texas shared his story. His first step off the street came after hearing about a cold weather shelter.
"I'm a U.S. veteran, and I was homeless for seven and a half years. For most of that time I slept on a bridge near the airport," he said. "I got connected with services. I got rapid rehousing, then got a voucher and I got housing. Then I got a job with Vocal Texas, and now I'm moving into my new house on February 1."
Reyes hopes others can get help like he did.
"I'm one of the lucky ones. You know, there's a lot of other people out there on the street. It's hard to find help when you need it," he said.
The Source: Information from Austin City Council meeting