Homelessness
News & Stories on the Latest in Downtown Austin
Homelessness Initiatives Downtown
Community First! Update Our contributions to Community First! Village have now reached the $1 million mark. In 2017, our board approved a pledge to donate $2 million over ten years to support the nearly $120 million capital campaign to develop phases...
Read More⟶Downtown Austin Alliance makes fourth $200,000 grant payment to Community First! Village
Official Press Release Published November 16, 2020 Donation is part of 10-year, $2 million pledge made in 2017 The Downtown Austin Alliance announced its fourth $200,000 donation to Mobile Loaves & Fishes for Community First! Village, the master-planned development...
Read More⟶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...
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