City Council is expected to vote this week on approving the purchase of a commercial building in South Austin that will serve as the city’s second homeless shelter.
A pair of resolutions slated for Thursday’s Council meeting spells out the details of the move to purchase 1.6 acres of property at 1112 W. Ben White Blvd. from Alma Tierra Ventures LLC for a maximum of $8.6 million. The building on that property will be renovated to provide up to 100 beds for the homeless, with an operational structure geared toward helping residents move into permanent housing of their own.
The opening of a South Austin shelter was made a priority in recent months because of the growing homeless camps located under expressways in the area. It is expected to cost $2.3 million annually to maintain, with Council’s coming budget talks this summer expected to include discussion about how to fund ongoing support for services for the homeless.