AUSTIN (KXAN) — A coalition of homeless advocates and city leaders set a goal on Thursday to house 3,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in the next three years.
The report from the Summit to Address Unsheltered Homelessness in Austin set benchmarks to house 100 people by June, 200 by August, 400 by December, 1,200 by October 2022, and 3,000 by April, 2024.
“For the first time, we have a strategy that is based on a shared vision for how to accelerate our response to unsheltered homelessness in Austin,” Lynn Meredith, chair of the coalition’s Core Leadership Planning Group and ECHO Board member, said in a statement. “It’s a culmination of the work done during the Summit, but also reflects the many years of input from dedicated citizens and leaders, and community conversations that have occurred—including many forums, hearings, and panels that have taken place over the past several years.”
The report called for a “radical expansion” of affordable housing to address the public camping issue facing the city.
On May 1, Austin voters will decide whether to reinstate the city’s ban on camping in public spaces. Several efforts in the state legislature would enact a statewide ban.
KXAN politics report John Engel will continue to update this developing story throughout the day and will have a full report at 6 p.m.
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