The City of Austin has announced that it will extend operations for the Salvation Army’s downtown homeless shelter for up to 30 days. This extension will be funded by the city and will cost up to $100,000. The Salvation Army will work with the city’s Homeless Strategy Division to find housing, transportation, and move-in assistance for the 48 remaining residents. The Salvation Army will also continue to provide case management to those who move to temporary housing.
The closure of the downtown shelter has received criticism from city officials, activists, and residents. The Salvation Army had reached out to the city in January 2020 and again in May 2021 to seek city support, but to no avail. The Salvation Army had been contracted over $1 million by the city for the downtown shelter. The city has pointed to a March 8 press release which did not mention previous talks with the organization in 2020 or 2021.
The city of Austin has taken a step in the right direction by providing additional support to the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter. This extension will give the Salvation Army enough time to find housing, transportation, and move-in assistance for the remaining residents.
