Advocacy
Homelessness
Advancing innovative, caring solutions to unsheltered homelessness.
Reducing unsheltered homelessness is complicated. It requires a systems approach where we have the right balance of housing and services, as well as street outreach, to connect people to resources. The Downtown Austin Alliance has been a longtime advocate for improved policies, planning, and implementation of research-based programs. We also spearhead and directly fund many innovative new approaches to addressing this issue.
See Our Full Advocacy Agenda⟶Our Homelessness Advocacy Priorities
Expanding HEART Austin
In February 2024, we funded and implemented a six-month street outreach pilot called HEART Austin – the Homelessness Assistance Response Team. The team proactively engages with people experiencing homelessness to understand their needs and connect them with resources. After a successful pilot, we effectively advocated for city FY 25 budget funding needed to advance from pilot to year-round program with an expanded geographic area and service schedule. This will go into effect in late 2024 or early 2025.
Learn More About HEART⟶Increasing Funding
We advocate for increasing funding for non-congregate shelter, emergency services and the services needed to sustain permanent supportive housing projects.
Improving Our Homelessness System
We bring together government leaders, nonprofit and private sector partners, as well as researchers and innovators, to explore ways to improve Austin’s homelessness response system.