Homelessness

The H.O.M.E Center raised more than $25,000 in a week to help people during the severe winter weather.

The director of the Highway 80 Rescue Mission sent staff out over the weekend to urge people to come inside, but says there's no way of knowing if they got everyone.

The city hopes to ultimately house at least 83 people at the Candlewood Suites in North Austin. Neighbors argue that will lower property values, affect nearby business and lead to an increase in crime.

The plan directs the city manager to identify encampments in dangerous locations, provide resources to house people living there and then suggest policies to prohibit camps at those sites.

Austin voters will most likely decide whether to stay the course or to revert back to previous rules surrounding homelessness on May 1.

Council members approved the $6.75 million purchase of a 65-room hotel in District 7, but punted on buying another hotel after pushback from Council Member Mackenzie Kelly.

Gov. Abbott is calling for a statewide ban on camping in public places, and a GOP-backed group wants to put the ordinances on the ballot.

The count marshals hundreds of volunteers each year to survey the entire Austin area's homeless population. Organizers say that's not safe for anyone this year.

The City of Austin has used hotel and motel properties to safely house Austinites who are homeless and at-risk of the coronavirus during the pandemic. As the city moves to close them, those people aren't sure what's next.

Challenger Jennifer Virden has put public safety issues at the fore of her bid to unseat incumbent Council Member Alison Alter.