What is Esperanza Community?
Glimmer | Austin + The Other Ones Foundation
Click to see a 2 minute video from our partners at The Other Ones Foundation about the shelters we provided for people experiencing homelessness at the Esperanza Community.
Esperanza Community is a gathering of around 170 people experiencing homelessness in South Austin who moved there after the Texas Governor opened up a disused 5 acre storage and parking area. People moved there voluntarily – from the streets, under the bridges, and in the parks. They brought their tents and set up Austin’s first Tent City. The site was lacking sanitation, electricity, running water, showers, and other humane basics. Emergency food and water was provided by Texas State, while other local nonprofits and churches have been on site providing showers, laundry, food, and clothes to the residents.
The Other Ones Foundation
The Other Ones Foundation, a local homelessness nonprofit, set up their offices on site, and moved in alongside the residents. The Other Ones Foundation surveyed the site and the residents, and began to organize alongside the residents, creating a vision and plan of an organized community with suitable facilities.
The Other Ones Foundation is providing essential services while also functioning as the camp service coordinators, and offers access to transitional shelter, employment opportunities, case management, hygiene and laundry facilities, mail, and a community kitchen.
GLIMMER|AUSTIN IS PROVIDING TEMPORARY SHELTERS TO THE ESPERANZA RESIDENTS
Glimmer|Austin is partnering with The Other Ones Foundation, and the residents of Esperanza Community, to provide temporary shelter accommodation – as an alternate to the tents that are currently living in. These shelters were originally designed by IKEA Foundation, in partnership with Better Shelters, who have provided 60,000 of these to refugees in over 66 countries. Glimmer|Austin sees the potential in repurposing the shelters and offering them to the residents of the Esperanza Community. This is the first time they are being offered to people experiencing homelessness, and offer a much better and cost effective alternate to tents. And we are employing, training and and paying “dignified income” to the homeless – so that they are able to build their temporary homes.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE, TO BUILD A COMMUNITY
The vision is to replace all of the tents that are currently on site with around 200 mini homes and temporary shelters. And to replace the Port-a- Potty with sewerage. To connect to the local electricity supply so that heat, A/C, light – and power for mobile phones – is available. Shower and laundry facilities will be upgraded. A food kitchen, and more. And its takes a collective effort along with financial support to realize and build the vision. And already caseworkers are working with the residents, seeking to place them in permanent alternative housing and shelters.