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 funding is secured. Families will be moved from the downtown shelter opening up beds for single adults at a time when we are in dire need of temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation has pledged to raise $500,000 for the Rathgeber Center including a $100,000 challenge grant from Dick Rathgeber and a $100,000 contribution from the Foundation. We still need $175,000 in additional donations to meet our goal. We’re calling on downtown stakeholders to help us fill the fundraising gap needed to operate the shelter.