CONTINUING TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN
As Mayor and City Council members, we have been listening to the people of Austin, our city staff, and the many stakeholders who work with people experiencing homelessness in our community. We’re certain our colleagues join us in committing to a continued community conversation on homelessness leading to further Council action in September that would include, but not be limited to, the kinds of ideas described in this document. We post this onto the public Council Message Board because the entire Council joined in setting homelessness as our City’s highest priority and all of us will continue working together on this issue. This document is intended to present ideas for action and we welcome discussion on these and other ideas.
OUTLINE:
- Proposed principles and goals
- Proposed community agreement and direction
- Our community needs multiple housing types and services for individuals experiencing homelessness
- We know what works
- New programs, expansions, and increased housing capacity on the horizon
- Possible places from among which to increase restrictions on camping, sitting, and lying
- Ordinance standards, interpretations, and applications
- Rules regarding camping where it occurs as we build out more housing and services
- Rules for parks
- Non-policing tools to encourage people to go to better and safer places
Let’s find a constructive way to move forward to end homelessness.
Mayor Adler, Council Member Tovo, Council Member Kitchen