The first phase of the Austin City Council’s Homeless Encampment Assistance Link Initiative will be complete by late summer, according to a blueprint published by the City’s Homeless Strategy Office. Also known as the HEAL Initiative, it’s a plan that began earlier this year involving a targeted approach at four homeless campsites deemed to be in dangerous locations.
Dianna Grey, the City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer, updated the City Council Tuesday. Under the plan, the homeless camps, which are located in south-central, east, downtown, and northwest Austin, would be established as non-camping areas by the end of August. Before that deadline, Gray said the plan would also involve quickly moving all of the people into housing, be it temporary or permanent.
“What we’re seeing now is our community coming together to put the resources behind the proven housing and outreach strategies identified in Austin and across the country,” said Dianna Grey, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer. “HEAL is, by design, an iterative and collaborative initiative that will not only have an immediate impact on the lives of people living in unstable and inhumane conditions, but will also build the entire system’s capacity to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.”
A preliminary budget of $4.3 million has been identified and the negotiation of contracts and agreements for outreach, shelter, case management, housing and other support has begun.
Funding actions will appear on City Council agendas over the next month.
