AUSTIN, Texas — Back in April, the Salvation Army shelter on East Eighth Street in Downtown Austin closed indefinitely. Now it may get a new life.
On Thursday, the Austin City Council will vote on a 1-year agreement with the Salvation Army to lease the building where the organization provided shelter to people experiencing homelessness for more than 20 years.
Council documents say that there are currently no suitable City-owned properties in the downtown area that offer the services that the Salvation Army used to offer. If the 1-year lease is agreed on, it will start on July 1 to avoid major disruptions to those who need the shelter’s services.
On Thursday, the council will also discuss a contract with Urban Alchemy, which would operate the site. If that contract is approved, the center will be able to serve 150 people nightly.
Later this summer, City of Austin leaders will also consider a temporary emergency shelter that will provide around 300 more beds for people experiencing homelessness.
ECHO, or the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, estimates there are thousands of people experiencing homelessness in Austin. Since the city’s camping ban was reinstated in May 2021, many of these individuals have spread out throughout the city or gone into hiding, making it hard to connect them with services.
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