Editor’s note: The above video is from previous coverage that initially aired on Friday, Oct. 31.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the city of Austin enters the third and final week of its homeless encampment cleanup surge, the Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations office released an update about how the effort has gone so far.
Director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations (HSO), David Gray, said in a memo dated Nov. 3 that the second week of operations “focused primarily on smaller sites and individual encampments across the city, including areas within parks, entertainment districts, major intersections, and waterways.”
The memo also noted that crews returned to previously cleared sites to ensure they remained clean and clear, while outreach and operations teams went to assess locations that are scheduled for attention next week.
According to the memo, the operations have so far resulted in the following:
- 392.32 tons (864,918 lbs.) of debris have been collected and removed.
- 109 individuals have been connected to shelter.
- 62 individuals have been connected to other available resources and support services.
- 40 citations have been issued, and 15 arrests have been made.
-
A homeless encampment located in the 4400 block of E Riverside Drive before it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations) -
A homeless encampment located in the 4400 block of E Riverside Drive after it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations) -
A homeless encampment located at Parque Zaragosa before it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations) -
A homeless encampment located at Parque Zaragosa after it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations) -
A homeless encampment located at Dove Springs District Park before it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations) -
A homeless encampment located at Dove Springs District Park after it was cleaned out by the city of Austin. (Photo courtesy: Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations)
The third week of this initiative will focus on encampments in “harder-to-reach areas, including deep sections of greenbelts, district parks, and nature preserves, as well as other sites identified during scouting operations,” the memo said.
According to the memo, the initiative is on schedule and will continue daily through Nov. 8. The HSO office plans on releasing a comprehensive post-operations report after the initiative is complete.
Credit: Source link
