Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (D) announced on July 27 that the state capital has received $65 million from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to go toward addressing rampant homelessness. In his latest Watson Wire newsletter, the mayor said he has spoken to the Office of the Texas Governor and local community partners about the issue before he was elected to lead the city of over 960,000 a second time.
“Our unhoused population has increased significantly in recent years, but on any given night, there’s only one shelter bed for every five persons experiencing homelessness,” Watson said in the newsletter. “According to an analysis from the city’s Homeless Services Division, we need about 1,000 additional shelter beds. “That means we are far short of what we need to help folks living on our streets, under highway overpasses and in our parks … Connecting people experiencing homelessness with services while in our shelters is vital in helping them to get healthier, to feel safer, to find relief from the elements, to receive job training, and to resolve their housing,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
According to a report issued by Austin ABC affiliate Channel 24 on July 27, Watson is aware the number of homeless encampments is more than the figure for shelters. KVUE reported that the city is expected to allocate the funding evenly among three non-profit organizations: namely, The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), Caritas of Austin, and Lifeworks.
"What you will see me continue to do is advocate for the full continuum, so that we can not only address the needs of those of our neighbors that are living homeless, but also address the desires of the voters of the City of Austin," Watson said according the report.
According to a report from Austin NBC affiliate Channel 36, the mayor stated that while the goal is to add 1,000 shelter beds within three years, progress should be seen by the end of this year. He told the station in regards to permanent supportive housing, the city “isn’t taking its eye off the ball,” adding the focus should be “on the entire continuum.”
Watson further mentioned that Austin voters in 2021 approved a measure to impose a camping ban, and state lawmakers approved enforcement of the ban, according to his newsletter.
“That really can’t be meaningfully and humanely done without more shelter space,” Watson said.
In expressing his gratitude, Mayor Watson credited the efforts of the governor's staff and the TDHCA for facilitating the substantial investment aimed at alleviating the homelessness crisis in Austin.
The $65 million funding injection comes as a crucial lifeline for the city, enabling the establishment of more shelter beds and vital support services.