The City of Austin announced Tuesday that more than a dozen people have been moved out of a public campsite that it a high-risk for both flooding and fire. 15 people previously living on city parkland near Old San Antonio Road and I-35 have since been moved to a temporary bridge shelter, kicking off the second phase of the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link initiative.
As part of the HEAL initiative, homeless camps are targeted that pose the highest public health and safety risks. Those living in the targeted camps are offered transfer to shelter, and connection to concrete housing resources.
In the first phase of HEAL, which took place from June to August of 2021, approximately 150 people were moved from high-risk encampments to the Southbridge and Northbridge shelters. The Homeless Strategy Division aims to shelter and house at least 200 people through HEAL this fiscal year.
“Today, we were able to help address critical health, safety and environmental concerns, providing people with access to dignified shelter and housing services,” said Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey. “While we are not currently able to offer immediate shelter and housing to all people impacted by the reinstatement of the camping ordinance, HEAL is an important strategy for responding to some of the most pressing needs, and we look forward to its expansion.”
Last June, the Austin City Council voted to dedicate $106.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds toward addressing homelessness. Travis County Commissioners Court voted in September to allocate $110 million in ARPA funds to build housing units for the homeless in the Austin area.
“We have tremendous momentum and opportunities to make a difference for the thousands of people living unhoused across our community. What we are learning through HEAL and other interventions in our work will ensure that we dedicate these new resources to improve lives and our community,” said Grey.
