Among the housing options being considered for the homeless is the city-owned Health South building on Red River in downtown Austin.
Last year, council passed a resolution to convert the building into a low-income development, but council member Kathie Tovo said there is a benefit in also making it a transitional shelter.”Health South won’t be that longer term option. Again I think it should still continue to be in the mix as a shorter term option if they’re aren’t enough places for individuals experiencing homelessness to be in the short term.”
Tovo does not believe the short-term housing would derail the original plan for low-income housing at Health South. Not only could the building be used for housing itself, but it could also be used to handle the volume of personal belongings many people carry with them from camp to camp, shelter to shelter.
Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzalez says the Health South building on Red River could be of benefit, at least in the interim.
“Maybe the parking garage might serve as a storage facility, so we’re beginning to explore that conversation because we know ultimately that development will take some time.”
Not everyone agrees, as Council member Jimmy Flannigan is opposed to the idea due to the cost, saying “One of my concerns with the Health South conversation is that the money we would invest to repair it would not end up being the best long term use of those dollars.”
Despite his objection, Health South is still under consideration and if utilized as such, Health South would likely be a short-term emergency shelter, unlike another proposal being considered to purchase old hotels and motels for long-term housing.
(Photo:Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images)
