AUSTIN, Texas — The south Austin homeless hotel is not yet fully purchased by the city, and already, council says the city is in talks to buy another.
“It looks like we’re in negotiations for a second one coming up, and I think that it’s really important for us to move forward with a third and a fourth, in different places across the city, so that way we can house and help support hundreds more people,” said councilman Greg Casar.
The Rodeway Inn off I-35 will be the first of its kind in Austin. The plan is to convert the motel into low-barrier housing, as well as offer in-house resources to homeless people and the surrounding community.
Matt Mollica with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition says there still is no set move-in date for the homeless, as the city is still going through inspections, but his hope is soon. At Tuesday’s City Council Work Session, he says plans are already in motion to have this type of housing multiplied.