As the Austin City Council continues its search for answers to the growing homeless crisis, another outside official is may be called in to help assist in drumming up solutions.
At its February 6 meeting, council will vote on a contract with Matthew Doherty, the former head of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Doherty served on the council under Barack Obama, but was let go last year by the Trump administration. The Austin City Council will vote on an 8-month, $95,000 contract with Doherty in the hopes of bringing in a fresh pair of eyes to focus on the problem.
Previously, Doherty served as a consultant to California governor Gavin Newsom. Doherty also served on the King County Housing Authority in Seattle and the San Diego Housing Commission.
It’s widely expected that city leaders will vote in favor of contracting with Doherty. The vote will come a couple of weeks after council also voted to form the new Homeless Services Division, which divvies up the duties of former Homeless Strategy Officer Lori Pampillo Harris, who was hired last year only to step down one month later. Her contract expired at the end of December.
