In March, the City of Austin reluctantly took over the task of cleaning up the many homeless camps within the city limits, which had previously been under the purview of the Texas Department of Transportation. Since the baton was passed, Austin’s Public Works Department has gotten to work, with a focus on some of the city’s largest camps, including Packsaddle Pass at Highway 290.
The cleanups are proving to be a learning experience for city workers, many of whom are having to clear furniture, clothing, debris, and discarded drug paraphernalia from these camps, according to a new report from Fox 7. Kyle Carvell, public affairs manager for Public Works, told Fox 7 they never know what they’re going to find, but they are trying to leave impacted homeless people with a bit of dignity throughout the whole process.
“We have crews out there disposing of those items. We do provide multiple-day notice in advance, because we do understand some of the items in those locations belong to individuals and we are sensitive to that,” Carvell told Fox.
Some city officials have also begun discussing the possibility of adding dumpsters to camps with the highest concentration of homeless people, which would include the Packsaddle Pass camp as well as another growing camp at Highway 183 and Cameron Road.
These cleanup projects will cost taxpayers $1.5-million over the next four years. That covers 81 separate underpasses. Mayor Steve Adler has expressed concern that some of the city’s current programs may have to be scaled back in order to make room in the budget for the camp cleanings.
