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State-designated homeless campsite in SE Austin now has website, seeking volunteers

The camp has already created a governing council and plans to seek status as a nonprofit.

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The related video is from a report over the camp's council from January 2020.

The state-designated homeless campsite near U.S. Route 183 and Montopolis Drive in southeast Austin now has a website.

The website came online Thursday, according to a blog post on the site.

The camp's residents refer to the homeless campsite as Camp R.A.T.T. (Responsible Adult Transition Town).

RELATED: 'For the homeless, run by the homeless': People at state campsite start their own council

In the blog post, the camp discusses some of its hardships and what it needs to "further evolve ... living conditions."

Some of what they said is needed includes propane tanks to use for a communal kitchen and warm water, ride-share assistance so its residents can work and buy groceries and soil for a garden they said could be therapeutic and functional.

RELATED: State homeless campsite lease offered up at $1, Gov. Abbott says

The camp is in the process of seeking nonprofit status so it can accept donations online and is requesting $1,000 to help make that happen, according to its website.

It is also looking for people in the tech, construction, food and automotive industries to serve as ambassadors to help the residents "become better connected" and "to secure camp resources (such as communal wifi)."

RELATED: Austin's homeless begin moving into new campsite designated by the State

The state-designated campsite opened on Nov. 7, 2019, on more than five acres of land. 

At the time, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott told KVUE the camp's location is the state's closest-available site to Downtown Austin.

"The state-provided location includes portable restrooms, hand-washing stations and comes with commitments from local charities to deliver food multiple times during the day," John Wittman said. "This location will provide access to healthcare providers and homeless caseworkers to provide care for the homeless." 

RELATED: Homeless man says governor's campsite now home to more than a dozen people

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