SOURCE: CBS AUSTIN
The City of Austin and police say they’re taking huge steps in getting the homeless off the streets through a pilot program called “Guided Path.”
“This has been something that’s been in the works now for close to a month,” said Homeless Strategy Officer Lori Pampilo Harris. “It is one thing to not see tents right, and then there’s another thing to actually house people.”
At a Public Safety Commission meeting on Monday, Harris announced an update on the ongoing pilot program. Through this initiative, the city is focusing on providing critical resources to those living around the ARCH. In the last month, Harris said service providers have been able to identify 99 people experiencing homelessness, survey them, and provide critical resources to more than 70 of them.
“As of last week, six people out of those 99 are now housed, two people have been reunited with family. three people have been accepted in respite, and 75 of the 99 people surveyed are now enrolled in a program or pending enrollment into appropriate programs that lead them into permanent housing,” said Harris.