Just over a year ago, the city of Austin effectively decriminalized homelessness by rescinding a 1996 law that made camping in public spaces illegal. Some community groups and even the Texas governor pushed back strongly against the decision.
While much of the news this year has focused on the pandemic, homelessness in Austin, and in Texas, is still a problem. The Texas Observer’s Gus Bova told Texas Standard that Austin’s count in January actually showed an 11% rise in its homeless population, though he said that’s likely because the new rules made it easier for volunteers to find homeless residents.
But greater visibility of the homeless population also means greater awareness of the city’s affordable housing shortage.