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LifeWorks: youth homelessness rising in Austin; agency urges prevention and more housing
Summary
LifeWorks told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee that youth homelessness has increased since 2020, the by‑name list has grown substantially, and the nonprofit is expanding housing and prevention programs while urging more targeted investments.
Liz Schoenfeld, chief executive officer of LifeWorks, told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee on April 2 that youth homelessness in Austin and Travis County has risen notably since 2020 and that the community must scale housing, prevention and supportive services to change the trend.
Why it matters: Schoenfeld described youth homelessness as a distinct phenomenon from adult chronic homelessness with different causes—family instability, foster care and juvenile justice system involvement—and said early intervention and tailored supports can prevent long‑term homelessness.
What LifeWorks presented
- Scale and scope: LifeWorks served about 2,700 young people last year across 19 programs. The organization said the youth cohort represents roughly 10 percent of the community’s homeless population (people ages 18–24). Schoenfeld presented by‑name list…
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