Homeless Resource Center
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 April-December
1997.
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 or access to services
off-site.
Basic Data
Program Manager: Joyce Pohlman,
Department of Health and Human Services (707-5412)
Contract Monitor:
Edith Valdespino, Department of Health and Human Services
(370-8908)
Contractor: Surrena Schreiber, A/TC MHMR
(445-7728)
Lease Term: To be negotiated
Contract Term: April 1,
1997 through December 31, 1997
Contract Award: $152,397 (includes Day Labor Program)
Revised April 8,
1997
Back to the April 1997
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