Homelessness

The annual homeless count by the Department of Housing and Urban Development shows an increase in people living outside. The 2020 numbers in the report do not reflect the impact of the pandemic.

Volunteers for Austin Mutual Aid used their own money to house Austin's most vulnerable during the extreme weather last month.

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.