AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin is changing the way its employees who are addressing homelessness work together.
On Tuesday, the interim city manager announced the creation of the city's Homeless Strategy Office.
Right now, the city has employees working on homelessness in Austin Public Health's Homeless Strategy Division. Going forward, those employees and city personnel in other departments whose work relates to homelessness will work in the stand-alone Homeless Strategy Office.
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza shared the news in a memo to Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Council members on Monday.
“While the Homeless Strategy Division was embedded within one department, the initiatives to address homelessness span multiple departments and require focused coordination,” Garza said. “Consequently, I am establishing a stand-alone Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) to serve as a focal point for addressing homelessness comprehensively, strategically, and compassionately.”
David Gray will lead the office as the Homeless Strategy Officer, promoting him from the interim role he has held since September.
The reorganization will begin on Dec. 4.
According to the city, the primary responsibilities of the Homeless Strategy Office will include:
- Procuring, managing and monitoring homelessness-related contracts between the city and third-party vendors.
- Overseeing operations at city-run and city-owned homeless shelters.
- Collaborating with city agencies and community organizations in efforts to expand the availability of housing across the continuum of need, including emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing.
- Overseeing and approving plans for public space management, including outreach, clean-up and compassionate encampment closures.
- Working with the Communications and Public Information Office to help manage communications regarding the city’s approach to assisting individuals with resolving their homelessness.
- Working with the Intergovernmental Relations Office to manage relationships between the city and local, state and federal agencies and officials.
- Collaborating with Austin/Travis County's Homelessness Response System partners to uphold best practices, policies and procedures for organizations that serve unhoused people in our community.
- Engaging with local businesses and philanthropic entities to broaden the funding base for homeless response services.