Embedded Files
Homelessness , Challenges & The Road Ahead
A Data-Driven Overview of Austin & Travis County
My assessment by George Koehler
The Scope of Homelessness in Austin
Key Data:
· Point-in-Time (PIT) Count (Jan 2025): 3,238 people experiencing homelessness on a single night.
· Unsheltered: 1,577 people (49%) were sleeping unsheltered.
· Sheltered: 1,661 people were in shelters.
-1,200 family households with children are unhoused , many of the mothers and children are forced into unsheltered settings like tents or cars.
· Total Engaged (Mid-2025): Nearly 5,000 people engaged with the response system.
· Annual System-Wide (2024): 28,348 clients served by Homelessness Response System
Notes
To understand the challenge, we must first look at the numbers. The most recent Point-in-Time count recorded over 3,200 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2025. Nearly half of them were unsheltered. However, the PIT count is a snapshot and likely an undercount. The system actually engaged nearly 5,000 people in the first half of 2025, and over 28,000 individuals utilized homeless services throughout 2024. I think it is important to note that although the numbers look daunting, and the city has just cut $16.8 million from social services, Collectively all of us - G&D humanitarian, Trinity, Sunrise, Charlie Center etc.can make a huge difference. We cannot service everyone and should guard against getting discouraged. Each person we help is a monument to our good work and we should concentrate on our rejoicing in that. The homeless challenge that we have chosen to face is not specific to the Austin area it is a nationwide tragedy. it is important for the charities to look to identifying ways that they can work more efficiently, and save money so that they are able to minister to the growing number of homeless patrons. iIt is also necessary for the charities to meet together periodically, so everyone can. get a clear picture of what the other is doing, and possibly discover. efficiencies that one is doing that another May institute. We must understand that we are not in competition with each other, the charities that work with the homeless are a community that not only work with the homeless, but must work with each other from time to time sharing information or excess resources
Who is Experiencing Homelessness?
Key Data (from 2025 PIT Survey):
· 13% are Veterans.
· 44% are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
· 68% became homeless in Austin-Travis County.
· Student Homelessness (AISD, 2025): ~35 unsheltered, ~280 in shelters/transitional housing, ~70 in motels/hotels, ~970 "doubling up".
· Youth: Foster youth are at significant risk, often exiting care without family support or affordable housing.
Notes
This issue touches many parts of our community. Notably, 44% of those surveyed are experiencing homelessness for the first time, and over two-thirds became homeless right here in Austin. We also see vulnerable populations like veterans, youth aging out of foster care, and even hundreds of students in AISD who are either unsheltered or living doubled up with other families. instead of just serving our brother sisters generally we need to look more at the specific groups that they are in and try and adjust our ministry accordingly. For example, the veterans administration has a very robust program for getting homeless veterans off the streets. If they are veterans and take the bus to the Austin VA clinic, take the elevator to the second floor, turn right, go to the end of the hall, and look to the right again there is the veterans homeless project. By showing up physically it forces the VA to do something immediately. alternately, they can call on the phone and ask to talk to a social worker, but this is a convoluted process which works much less favorably than the above suggestion. Those who are experiencing homelessness for the first time should be identified, and referred to Trinity House or the Charlie Center, so they can get a mailbox, and have an interview so they can find out where to go for Services they specifically need and to identify a plan for their specific need. This not only will put them on the right road, but give them confidence and the joy of a plan to solve their problem. Student homelessness is of the highest priority. this group is the most vulnerable, and a very robust effort should be made to get these kids into a shelter. There is a very great chance that they may be raped , assaulted, and be victimized due to theft . It is imperative that a safe environment be found for them. Violence is getting much worse than it has been in the past. Outreach ministries should take particular care to keep themselves safe. Our outreach drivers visiting homeless camps with food. absolutely cannot go alone - if anything looks dangerous or they get a bad feeling about something. it is imperative that they leave. We have equipped our people with pepper spray as a last resort for their safety, some carry Narcan also. These things should be made standard practice systemically among the charities that have out reach programs.
The Drivers of Homelessness
Key Factors:
· Affordable Housing Crisis:
· Austin has struggled to meet affordable housing goals; rents remain high compared to other Texas cities.
· Voters approved $350 million in affordable housing bonds recently, but the need far outpaces supply.
· Only 426 of 20,000 targeted units for lowest-income residents have been built.
· Evictions & Barriers:
· Evictions, criminal histories, and income requirements block vulnerable people from accessing housing.
· Systemic Gaps:
· People exiting foster care or with behavioral health needs lack sufficient safety nets.
· Economic Pressures:
· Rising costs and stagnant wages make it difficult for many to keep up with rent.
Notes:
At its core, homelessness is driven by a severe shortage of affordable housing. Despite voter-approved bonds, we are far from meeting the demand. Barriers like evictions on a record and income requirements often keep the most vulnerable out of the housing they can afford. Combined with systemic gaps for youth and those with mental health needs, the pressure on individuals and families is immense. Organization, such as Foundation Communites, and those organizations engaged in providing the “little houses for the homeless” need to be supported more and this concept needs to be expanded. A large number of the prisoners getting out of jail immediately become homeless. They should be directed to some of the charities in town that work with these people to rehabilitate them and help them find jobs. The chaplain of the Travis County sheriffs department is very much interested in starting a navigation service to assess the needs of these people and direct them to somewhere they can be helped such as Pastor Ike at Austin restoration ministries. Dianne’s is also on a committee looking into this. Thatt committee meets once a month at New Life Church in north Austin, for those who are interested.
The Response – Progress & Investments
Key Data:
· System Growth (2019-2024):
· Total beds/units increased by 108% (more than doubled).
· Emergency shelter beds increased by 70% since 2022.
· Permanent housing beds grew by 35%.
· Outcomes:
· 3,055 people moved into housing in 2024.
· Average time from assessment to move-in decreased by 25%.
· First decline in 5 years in the number of newly homeless individuals.
· Investment:
· Established a standalone Homeless Strategy Office with a $3M operating fund.
· FY 2025-26 budget includes $35.5 million to expand housing affordability and reduce homelessness.
· $2.9 million dedicated to Homeless Strategies and Operations.
Notes
The city has made significant, measurable progress. Since 2019, the total number of beds and housing units available has more than doubled. Emergency shelter capacity is up 70%, and we've seen the first decline in new homelessness in five years. Importantly, over 3,000 people were moved into housing last year. This progress is the result of significant investment, including the creation of a dedicated Homeless Strategy Office and millions in new funding.
The Challenge – Encampments & Enforcement
The Policy Landscape:
· Public Camping Ban: Proposition B (2021) and HB 1925 made camping in public a criminal offense.
· State Intervention: Governor Abbott ordered state-led sweeps of encampments.
· City Policy: City gives 72 hours' notice before cleanups, offers shelter when available, and connects people to services.
· The Gap: City leaders acknowledge there aren't enough shelters for everyone displaced.
· Data: 1,307 citations have been issued under camping ban laws since 2021.
Notes:
One of the most visible and contentious aspects of this issue is encampments. The city and state have enforced camping bans, often giving 72-hour notices before cleanups. (but not always) However, advocates and even city leaders point out a critical flaw: we simply don't have enough shelter space for everyone. This means people are often moved without a place to go, raising persistent questions about where they are supposed to go. We must work very hard to get rid of the sweeps. They are a Ludacris solution that only causes people pain to have a garbage truck show up with intimidating,police officers and to have everything that our homeless own thrown into the back of the garbage truck .It robs people of their dignity, Is threatening, and leaves them with nothing + that we in the charities have to replace. We must work to get people on the city council who are sympathetic to the needs of the homeless. Sylvia. Xie Is running for city Council next election. She is against the sweeps. She is presently a watch commander at EMS, and a very intelligent lady. On the state level, we need to work to support James Talirico who is running for US senator from Texas. He is a very benevolent man who cares about people. Dianne and I know these folks personally, and they are very good persons that we endorse wholeheartedly. We cannot ignore the fact that in order to get the help that we need, we cannot overlook the political situation.
The Path Forward
Key Takeaways & Recommendations:
· Sustain Momentum: Progress requires continued investment; stopping now would lead to regression.
· Fill the Gaps: Need for more permanent supportive housing and affordable units for the lowest-income residents.
· Reduce Barriers: Address eviction records, criminal histories, and income requirements that block housing access.
· Need for Coordination: A coordinated, systemwide response is essential; no single organization can solve this alone.
· Funding: The system needs an estimated $100 million to fully meet the need.
Notes
The data shows we are on the right track, but we are not there yet. To truly make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, we must sustain our momentum, fill the gaps in permanent supportive housing, and reduce the barriers that keep people from accessing it. It will take continued coordination, investment, and compassion from the entire community. We must work to help people treat the homeless with more respect, kindness, and humanity. The motto of our Charity is. “ Charity by example.” we, all of us , not only in our charities, but in our personal lives must set an example for others to follow. This requires daily attention. In London, England, presently there are only 34 homeless people in the whole city, they are called “rough sleepers.” This is an example that we must strive for here, and the way to do it is by raising people’s compassion and getting them to care about others. When you come right down to it the only way to conquer homelessness is through love.
One of the most powerful stepping stones out of homelessness is the simple dignity of a job. But for someone who has been weathering life on the streets, the path to employment can feel impossibly steep — no updated resume, no interview experience, clothing that doesn't reflect the capable person underneath, and little access to the resources most of us take for granted, like knowing how to search for an opening or even how to schedule an interview. With the right support, though, every one of those barriers can be overcome.
"In the CPC Neighbors program, no one walks the journey alone. Each client is gently guided through every step — from building a resume to preparing for interviews — and given the real, tangible resources they need to succeed. I had the privilege of watching that come to life when a woman sat down at the table with her mentors. Together, they explored her strengths, matched her skills to real job openings, and then — right then and there — she picked up the phone and made the call. That moment of courage and possibility is exactly what this work is all about.
We are so grateful and energized to be partnering with CPC on this meaningful project. And yes — getting to hand out ice cream along the way makes it all the sweeter! 🍦"
Springtime gets very busy with every organization we support wanting to meet for coffee, or hold a fundraising gala, or just ask for more donations as funding got cut, or clients increased dramatically, or they are running a program that is being very successful. I love hearing the stories of their successes and don't mind getting dressed up a bit and making the rounds.
How much of an impact are we making? After a $2000 donation to a local group we got an email of thanks that said the donation would enable them to continue the workforce program going on Tuesdays now instead of cancelling it due to low funding. "I was going to scale back this year, BUT, with your donation, I think I'll start them in May and serve every Tuesday afternoon in May."
Or this from an organization in Montana that we sent $2500: "In just the first six weeks of this year, nearly 60 older neighbors enrolled in Meals on Wheels. Because of you, we were able to welcome each person right away. I just wanted you to know that your support is making sure neighbors don’t have to face recovery and the challenges of aging alone."
Or this from the free symphony "we are greatly thankful that you are supporting "brain food" in addition to nutrition and wellbeing. So many do not have the wherewithall to afford attending concerts with their families."
"Thank you for your continued support. We have been able to increase our shower program to 2 day every week. We are inching closer to 300 housed..." We support them quarterly and I have been cooking a meal weekly for their lunch meal for the homeless for over 2 years. Love being a partner.
Seven months after the July Central Texas floods, many families are no longer in immediate crisis, but they are still rebuilding. Thanks to you donors, Catholic Charities has helped 380 people across 5 Central Texas counties to address everyday needs and help survivors move forward.
giving out food
dry goods selections
This is a little bit long. I run a food pantry every Saturday in Austin, TX. It is partly salvage/ food rescue, donation, and is also supported by the Central Texas Food Bank. We collect around 9000 or more pounds of food each week of all kinds to distribute in our "underserved" area. We let them select their own food so they get what they want to eat. I really try to make sure we have plenty of nutritious food each week.
We do not ask for much information from the clients, and there are many. We collect brief statistics. Winter seems to bring many more of them to us, swelling the number served from 400 per week to nearly 600. Sadly, so many are elderly and unhoused. This number does not include the food we share with groups that do street outreach to the homeless. That raises the number served by another 250-450 persons per week.
That is not the real story, though. The stories I hear each week, though, are the real deal about proud people having to line up for free food as they are out of other options. Some days it makes you want to cry. We hug each other instead.
Like the woman I talked to whose mom (89 yrs old) fell, and because she was a sudden caregiver, she lost her job. I talked to another woman who is waiting to hear back for a job; the call might not come, and she is hungry now. Many have jobs, or some benefits, but the cost of food is so high that they come to us for enough to eat all week. One woman and her teen son get $35 per month SNAP (food stamps), not enough to last a week!
There are people who are living in their cars or a tent in the woods, who cannot get food benefits because they have no address. I see people who cannot carry the food to their cars, so we carry it for them-2-3 bags will sustain them through the week, but the distance where they parked is too far. I have talked to people who ride the bus but have to limit what food they take to what they can carry onto the bus.
About half of the volunteers are also clients, and many are sharing food with their neighbors and extended families. Looking at our stats sheet, so many are in multi-generational units with many over 70 listing kids, young adults listing seniors.
Do we get people who are gaming us for food? Maybe. Not sure I’d sit in line for an hour or more to game a group out of 2-3 bags of food. Do they have phones? Sure they do. It is hard to exist without one. Some have jewelry too or a nice car, but I do not know their past stories. Maybe nice things were gifted to them, or some are things they had before they were unemployed or fled Domestic Violence.
Yes, I am retired and run a food pantry each week because I cannot walk away or close my eyes to the hungry.
Sleeping pads and covers
shoes and boots
buying more shoes
Report from a friend on the streets here in Austin TX during the freeze. Thank you Abriel.
Noticing that many unhoused people were in socks, flipflops, crocs or broken down shoes during this deep freeze, we decided to focus on shoes first and warm clothes second. Because y'all have been so damn generous, I hatched the idea to get all the people at one shelter (37 women and 86 men) into good weatherproof shoes and a new pair of clothes with a coat (if they needed them). We decided to focus on getting women et al supplied first, with elder women and disabled women at the top of the line. That's what we accomplished yesterday. (After I write this, today, we will focus on getting men supplied.)
Around noon, my mom and my lovely sweetheart and I sorted and bagged clothing and shoes from the distribution center run by Community Response Trust and Austin Mutual Aid at the church on 6100 Berkman, Austin (amazing groups! incredible teams!) and from the Goodwill Outlet, the Bins, and gear brought to my porch by friends. Veronica and Christa taped up the shoes in pairs with painter's tape, and wrote the size on each. We filled both of our cars. We also stashed a donated box of 50lbs of granola in the car; people at the shelter had been hungry the previous night.
The previous night, we'd dropped off two coolers of hot egg sandwiches and beans and rice cups at the shelter, cooked by Norma and packed by Millie volunteering for storm response with Austin Mutual Aid. Everyone was ranging around very hungry because dinner hadn't arrived yet (7pm) so the supervisor decided that only unhoused people who'd just been brought out of the cold, the busload of 22, would eat from our delivery.
Y'all, every single donation of a loaf of bread or a pair of socks or $5 goes into immediate, crucial service. Never imagine your donation is too small.
The wonderful rec center supervisor, Tamika, was mopping the floor when we arrived around 2pm. She liked the idea and got on board, allowing us access to the women's room in a small gym. It was blanketed with their mylar blankets and pallets.
I asked the women sleeping to please forgive us for disturbing their safe spots, explained the purpose and then everyone helped. This was incredibly fast and fun, and a transwoman named Marvelous (welcomed as a member of the women's dorm) jumped right up to help us set up folding tables and arrange the goods with flair and verve. Put her on RuPaul, y'all.
In two hours, every woman got roughly what she needed and when we didn't have her size, we took her order to bring back shoes. For the women who need incontinence supplies that they don't have, and the women whose garments are soiled, or who are just in blankets, a change of clothes is a lifeline.
One young woman who moved me deeply is Jewels. She started crying hysterically when we were setting up and said that she never gets good things when there's something like this; she is always last. She had terrible burns and scabs on her face and difficulty speaking. She was distraught. I said she could shop first, and we would help. My mom helped her go through the clothes for things in size zero before everyone else came in. She brightened and found an amazing outfit - a green hoodie, knee-high brown boots, grey leggings, a black leather jacket, and her entire look transformed.
She posed like she was on a runway for pictures.
[Content warning: violence, DV]
Jewels asked for a hug and apologized for the burns on her face. While in the hug, she whispered to my ear that her boyfriend had poured lighter fluid in her mouth and set her on fire. She had been in the hospital but was put out right before the freeze. We made a date to meet tonight so I can help her get more support and domestic violence services.
She said she was 3 days sober and afraid to leave the shelter in case her (ex)boyfriend found her again to kill her. "Would you accept help from us?" I asked. "Can you help me stay sober? Can you help me get away from him?" she whispered. "Yes. I'll help you, will you stay sober and keep detoxing here?" I whispered back. "I want to," she said. "I believe in you," I whispered, "Do you believe in you?" "Yes," she said. "Were you able to go to the police?" I asked. "No," she said, "he's affiliated."
Friends, I don't want her to go back into the streets alone. I'll pay for a hotel room if need be until she has a safe location, as long as it's feasible.
People absolutely loved my Mom. She is a champion clothing folder and gave everyone compliments. A woman named Rita told my mom she wanted to be her when she was old. She loved my mom's bright knitted hat and said she has a BFA in textile arts and when she gets her housing voucher, she's going to start weaving again. She said she hopes her daughter, Grace, looks at her like I look at my mom, one day. People loved that we were there as a mother-daughter-girlfriend team. My mom was in so much joy to be of service.
We had two piles of clothing supplies left and about 10 pairs of men's shoes so we set up one more table in the main area. I thanked the men for letting the women go first & let them know that we didn't have enough for everyone but would come back with more tomorrow. I counted up how many socks and pairs of underwear we needed to buy at Costco for everyone. I took Marvelous' order of a pair of size 10 men's shoes in a feminine style if possible, which I can fulfill from my own closet (I wear size 11.5 women's) --what fun.
After giving away all the supplies and closing up, we relaxed at a pho restaurant for dinner. We each said what our favorite moment was from the day and who touched our hearts the most.
I talked with Janis B who leads organizing and serves the unhoused with Community Resilience Trust. She is the hub of many wheels and a very good neighbor. She had the idea to try to extend the shoe provision to all the shelters before people have to go back outside on Weds morning.
Then we drove to Costco for more shoes, blankets, coats and a huge frying pan for the mutual aid kitchen. I bought 20 boxes of underwear and 130 pairs of thick socks with your gifts.
Then we went to Walmart where I bought cell phones for Jewels and another DV survivor so they can reach caseworkers and get support. I texted my friend S who works at SAFE, our local shelter for women and children experiencing partner violence, about the situation for Jewels. She apologized profusely that there's no space--there are 70+ women on the waiting list. But she shared that there's a program that could possibly pay for her to get home (to her small town in Alabama) if she has family there who can help her.
We went back into the shelter and activated the phones in our cars in the parking lot, which took an hour of tedium on a recorded line but finally worked. Mom listened to classical radio and read the newspaper. Christa and I brought in the phones in a grocery bag. The workers had shifted to the night crew who didn't know us. But these kind guys at the desk wanted to help, and let us into a small private classroom. They got Jewels; the other woman, Lily, was not found.
I gave her the new phone and phone number and PIN and showed how they worked. She said, "I can call my Mom! I can call my Mom!" She hid the phone in her bra and cried and we had another long hug. Then we bid the men's and women's room goodnight and said we'd be back tomorrow with supplies for the men. That's where this story leaves us -- I'm leaving for there now to get more coats and shoes if there are any, then to the thrift store and Costco.
*Note: All our friend's names are changed.
If you've already shared support, thank you. If you'd like to help, here's my info:
Venmo: @abelouise
Cash app: $Abriel-Young
Zelle or Paypal: abelouiseyoung @ gmail
Or drop off clothes etc on my porch in Windsor Park, Austin - DM me for address, or at 6100 Berkman Drive, South side of the United Methodist Church.
May all beings be safe, may all beings be well, may all beings who breathe know love.
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