AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin's homeless community can expect to see a 300% jump in available permanent supportive housing (PSH) units this year alone.
On Tuesday, members of the Austin Homeless Strategy Office and the Housing Department attended a City Council work session to discuss plans for new emergency shelters and housing projects.
The organizations plan to add day-to-day operations to BRIDGE shelters next month, provide new landlord incentives, continue the PSH and Rental Housing Development Assistance programs, improve the Local Housing Vouching Program and search for new PSH partnerships, among other developments.
"We are moving full steam ahead in partnership together to build our entire system infrastructure," Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said during the session.
"The fact of the matter is we don't have the luxury of choosing if we want to go all in on more shelters or more housing, we need both, and I'm really proud of the fact that we're making strides in closing the gaps in our system."
Currently, statistics put Austin ahead of the rest of the United States when it comes to homeless individuals moving out of shelters and into more permanent housing options.
Approximately 60% of Austin's homeless community has found support in rapid rehousing, PSH or additional relocation units.
Looking ahead, the groups hope to construct more than 1,000 PSHs by 2026, marking a 630% increase over the next three years.
Homelessness Help Lines
Those who are experiencing homelessness in Austin can call 3-1-1 for additional support.
Resources are also available for homeless individuals experiencing mental health concerns. By dialing 9-1-1, a recently added option allows for specific emergency assistance.
With these new developments, Austin's homeless population could see an increase in options for more permanent homes.