x
Breaking News
More () »

Austin City Council passes resolutions to increase funding for homeless shelters

The additional funds come from the $63 million allocated to homelessness in the City's budget.

AUSTIN, Texas — On Thursday, the Austin City Council voted to increase the amount of funding for several organizations helping the homeless populations in the city.

The additional funds come from the $63 million allocated to homelessness in the City's budget.

RELATED:

Volunteers to count Austin's homeless during 2020 Point In Time Count

City of Austin scraps plans to turn this hotel into homeless housing

Gaps in funding for the Guided Path, funding for Integral Care, Front Steps, Family Eldercare, Caritas of Austin and the Salvation Army will be covered by the passing of the resolution.

The Salvation Army said the money would be used to help increase case management at its downtown shelter.

Case managers are integral to helping homeless individuals get jobs and find housing.

The Salvation Army said the shelter is at just under 50% case managed, compared to other shelters in the area that are 100% case managed. The case managers at the downtown shelter are taking on up to 22 families each.

RELATED:

Austin City Council votes to end arrests for small amounts of marijuana

More storage options for the homeless could be coming to Austin

"So with this increased funding, we'll be hiring more case managers and also increasing our case management load by getting more people who are in are shelter program more case managed so they can get into affordable housing and improve their financial status,"  said Corey Leith, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army.

Leith said the shelter's long-term goal is to become 100% case managed, and the funding from these resolutions could bring the shelter close to 70%.

WATCH: Homeless camp growing near Austin apartment complex

PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING:

Hundreds of South Austin residents affected by contaminated water

Trudy's Tex Mex restaurant files for bankruptcy

Williamson County sued after inmate says he did not receive proper treatment for testicular problems

Lawsuit dismissed over playscape for terminally-ill Georgetown boy

Before You Leave, Check This Out