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Austin 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 renewed the contract with Austin/Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation (ATC MHMR) to provide services through the Homeless Resource Center from January-December 1999. The City and County continued their agreement to allow ATC MHMR to subcontract out the operations of the ARCH to another non-profit organization, the Capital Area Homeless Alliance.

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.

Current negotiations between the City and CSC to develop the downtown area may require that the resource be relocated by March 1999. City staff have begun the process of identifying alternative sites for this program.

Description

A recent proposal forwarded by the Austin City Council proposes to build a new Resource Center on property adjacent to the Salvation Army shelter. This Center would be co-located with a proposed new homeless shelter serving homeless men. The new Resource Center would provide centralized intake and referral to all homeless, as well as offering services that homeless persons need in order to make the transition to self sufficiency. The Resource Center would also include an expanded health care clinic. Funds for the design of the new homeless shelter and resource center have been recently approved by the Austin City Council. The City is now working with The Salvation Army and other key partners to develop plans for the facility.

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, 1999-December 31, 1999

Contract Award: $180,000

Revised January 20, 1999

Back to the January 1999 Contents


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