No more sitting or lying on sidewalks? City considers adding Riverside Terrace neighborhood to civility ordinance
The Riverside Terrace community is discussing the possibility of adding the 'sitting and lying upon public sidewalks' article to the civility ordinance. Do you think this will increase safety or unfairly target the homeless population?
Austin shelters werenโt prepared for outages despite lessons from 2021 winter storm, advocates say
Activists who work with unhoused people noted improvements in the cityโs planning and coordination, but said shelters were difficult to reach for some and couldnโt accommodate families with children.
Chainsaws and dry socks: Austinites step up for neighbors during ice storm
Friends in North Austin removed downed trees from neighborsโ roofs, while closer to the city core, volunteers rushed to meet the immediate needs of people without homes โ those most severely impacted by the freezing temperatures.
Stronger Houston: Tonyโs Place helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing in Houston area
The organization provides everything from food, laundry, showers, access to medical care, education and employment opportunities to LGBTQ youth who may be experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.
In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casarโs record on Austin homelessness, police funding
Casar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austinโs most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.
Austinโs homeless residents left with nowhere to go amid camping crackdown
Months after Austin voters reinstated the cityโs public camping ban, authorities are clearing many of the largest encampments. Their former residents are going โanywhere itโs safe and out of sight, out of mind,โ one man said.
Some California counties winding down hotels for homeless
But counties say that with some federal relief funding expiring soon or its status uncertain, it's time to transition residents from expensive hotel rooms to cheaper, more stable housing. California is one of several states, including Washington, that turned to hotels to shelter homeless people as the virus took hold. The department has said it plans to move homeless people out of all 29 hotels by June. Russ Heimerich, spokesman with the state's Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, says counties have resources to continue housing homeless people in hotels. They say hotel residents have flourished with regular checkups and meals.
Hundreds of HISD students are homeless and COVID-19 is complicating matters. How the district is trying to help
The Houston Independent School District, like many large districts, is always looking for ways to help their homeless students and does so their Student Assistance Program. This year, HISD estimates there are about 7,700 students currently enrolled in the Student Assistance Program, but COVID-19 is complicating matters. According to HISD, one of the biggest hurdles in helping homeless students is identifying them. A study on homeless students from 2012-13 to 2016-17 by the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University found jarring statistics. The HISD Student Assistance Program estimates the 2018-19 identified homeless student graduation rate at 88%.