News & Stories
Spread Kindness and Provide Essentials to People Experiencing Homelessness
The Downtown Austin Alliance and Downtown Ambassadors continue working to address the welfare of individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic with Project Outreach, an extension of the Downtown Ambassadors’ mission to help keep downtown vibrant and to ensure the health and safety of...
Read More⟶Downtown Alliance Launches Project H20 to Help Our Unhoused Neighbors
We’ve partnered with community and city organizations to assist people experiencing homelessness in downtown through an initiative called Project H20. Beginning this past weekend, our Downtown Ambassadors will be providing water, masks, and information about additional resources to those facing homelessness....
Read More⟶ATX Helps Continues Fundraising Efforts to Open Temporary Shelter
ATX Helps, a coalition led by the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Austin Alliance, continues to raise funds in order to bring a first-step navigation center to Austin. “ATX Helps will be able to start construction and...
Read More⟶Volunteers Help Count Homeless Population through Annual Point in Time Count
This year, several members of our staff joined more than 900 volunteers for the annual Point in Time Count, a census of the homeless population of Austin/Travis County. Between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM on Saturday morning, volunteers set out...
Read More⟶Call for Volunteers: 2020 Point in Time Count
Join us in volunteering for this year’s Point In Time (PIT) Count. The PIT count is an annual census of the homeless population in the Austin/Travis County area. On the morning of January 25th, 2020, hundreds of volunteers will head...
Read More⟶Rathgeber Center Set to Open Next Month
Families experiencing homelessness in our community will begin moving into the Rathgeber Center next month. The brand new 212-bed shelter in East Austin will partially open in February with a plan to be fully operational in September, if adequate...
Read More⟶You Can Provide Shelter for Our Unhoused Neighbors this Holiday Season
“We can bring attention to this critical issue in our community and take this opportunity to rally support among our friends and the community who care about downtown and women and children in need..."
Read More⟶ATX Helps Coalition Launched to Raise Funds for Immediate Shelter
Last Thursday, the Austin Chamber announced ATX Helps, a new coalition created to raise $14 million to provide immediate shelter and support services to Austinites experiencing homelessness. Learn more about immediate housing solutions, how they compliment permanent housing like the Rathgeber Center, and how you can help!
Read More⟶Update & Response to Camping and Sit-lie Ordinance Amendments
On Thursday, October 17, Austin City Council approved changes to the camping and sit-lie ordinances that: prohibit camping on sidewalks prohibit camping, sitting, and lying within fifteen feet of a door jamb of a residence or a business during operating...
Read More⟶Letter to the Mayor & City Council on the Proposed Amendments to Camping and Sit-Lie Ordinances
The Austin City Council will consider amendments to the public order ordinances at its October 17 meeting. We support recommendations that prohibit camping in areas determined to be dangerous and on sidewalks anywhere in the city. However, we believe that...
Read More⟶Projects Working Towards Homelessness Solutions
Learn more about two current projects that are helping individuals and families in our community who are experiencing homelessness and find out how you can get involved.
Read More⟶Proposed Amendments to Public Order Ordinances
We have been working closely with the Mayor and City Council on amendments to the public order ordinances that will be discussed during a special meeting of City Council on Wednesday, September 18. We submitted the following letter to Mayor Adler and City Council this morning with our recommendations for adjustments to the ordinances.
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