Resource Center for the Homeless
Summary
The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) is a program that provides basic services to persons who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
Status
Under the auspices of the Community Action Network (CAN), the City and County recently negotiated a contract with Austin/Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation (A/TC MHMR) to provide services through the Homeless Resource Center from January-December 1998.
Issues
Downtown merchants and businesses initially objected to the City leasing this facility for use as a Homeless Resource Center. They expressed concerns about security, and that the presence of this facility would discourage further business development in the area because the number of homeless persons frequenting the area would increase. The lease with the City was made contingent upon the contractor taking reasonable steps to address these concerns.
Description
Services provided by the Resource Center for the Homeless include basic and supportive services designed to address the basic needs of homeless and near-homeless individuals. Assistance includes clothing, haircuts, use of the telephone and message services to facilitate employment, and access to a variety of other services, including mail, laundry, bathroom, shower and temporary storage. Austin/Travis County MHMR is also working to enhance the collaborative of agencies providing services on-site, or access to other services off-site.
Basic Data
Program Manager: Joyce Pohlman, Department of Health and Human Services, 707-5412
Contract Monitor: Billie Garrett, Department of Health and Human Services, 707-3249
Contractor: Surrena Schreiber, A/TC MHMR, 445-7728
Lease Term: Under negotiation
Contract Term: January 1, 1998-December 31, 1998
Contract Award: $180,000
Revised January 29, 1998
Back to the January 1998 Contents
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