A new initiative from the City of Austin looks to streamline its approach to homeless encampments, Austin-based media outlets reported.
Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported that the city launched the Homeless Encampment Management Team on Tuesday, Aug. 23, which consists of leadership team and three sectors: Planning, operations and policy.
The leadership team will be headed by a representative from the city’s homeless services department, with members hailing from the Austin Police Department (APD), Austin Fire Department (AFD), Parks and Recreation Department and Watershed Protection Department, per KXAN.
According to Austin ABC affiliate KVUE, the multi-departmental group will use $5 million earmarked for citywide cleanups.
City officials said, the station reported, that the team will use “a citywide lens to encampment management,” adding that a new Homeless Encampment Management (HEM) tracking and prioritization tool will aid the efforts.
“The launch of a formalized cross-departmental Homeless Encampment Management Team and prioritization tool will help the City of Austin ensure that its resources are efficiently and equitably deployed,” Dianna Grey, the city’s homeless strategy officer, said, KVUE reported. “At the same time, the structure will enhance our ability to track conditions in encampments, as well as related public space management activities.”
KXAN reported that city leaders had mused implementing sanctioned encampments to no avail but resumed discussions last month.
Grey herself informed the city council why it eschewed the proposal in the first place, according to the station.
Austin FOX affiliate KTBC reported that nearly $84 million of the newly adopted city budget is devoted to the prevention and handling of homelessness.
