Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Homeless Strategy Office outlines HEAL encampment work, shelter capacity and outreach gaps
Summary
David Gray, director of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office, told the Public Safety Commission the office used HEAL initiatives and partnership with public-safety agencies to move more than 400 people into shelter last year, but said shelter, mental-health and respite capacity remain insufficient.
David Gray, director of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office, told the Public Safety Commission on Feb. 4 that the office was established in December 2023 and now administers roughly $30 million in annual service contracts for street outreach, case management and permanent supportive housing.
Gray described three core collaboration areas with public-safety partners — street outreach, public-space management and emergency shelter operations — and said the city’s HEAL (Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link) initiatives moved more than 400 people from encampments into shelter during the past year.
The office “conducted 12 HEAL initiatives” and four “supplemental sites,” Gray said, and the city’s work with Transportation, Public Works and Austin Police Department resulted in hundreds of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
