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The 7th Street Hope Center

Summary

The Seventh Street Hope Center is a multi-purpose facility designed to meet the needs of all segments of the homeless population. The Center is made up of three components: a 100-bed shelter for men, a day resource center and a health clinic for all homeless persons. The shelter capacity will be expanded to 250 men during extreme weather.

Status

Although a longer-than-expected negotiation period has delayed the original timeline for completion, it is hoped that the Center will be operational by Summer, 2001, with the Resource Center possibly opening earlier. A firmer timeline will be developed once the agreements are signed and the design and construction of the building moves forward.

Issues

Concerns and issues have differed from homeless service providers and homeless persons, and area businesses and residents. The main issues have focused on maintaining cleanliness and safety in the area, while at the same time creating a low-demand shelter that will encourage "hard-to-serve" homeless persons to become engaged in services. By involving a diversity of community representatives, many of these issues have been addressed more easily.

Description

On April 6, 2000, the Austin City Council approved a proposed loan and operating agreement between the City of Austin and Booth Services (a non-profit subsidiary of the Salvation Army) for the construction of the 7th Street Hope Center and the operation of the shelter component. Booth Services will sublease space to other community entities for the operation of the resource center and health clinic. The agreement includes a 40-year forgivable loan for construction and design, with a separating operating agreement for the shelter tied to the loan. Final negotiations with are in process and it is anticipated that the agreement will be signed by the end of May, 2000. The project will be funded through $3.6 million in CDBG funds, and $300,000 in Disproportionate Share funds.

The Shelter component is intended to provide an option to sleeping outside to chronically homeless men who have been unable to successfully access other shelters and services. Shelter is available to any adult male, regardless of drug or alcohol use, or mental illness, provided the client is not a danger to himself or others. However, repeated presentation in an intoxicated state may result in termination of services. Clients are allowed 30 nights of shelter within a 90 day period, with extensions available at the discretion of case managers.

The Day Resource Center will be open to all homeless persons, and will provide centralized intake, referral and basic services (including showers, mail/messaging, computer access). In addition, other services that help homeless persons reach self-sufficiency will be co-located at the resource center (e.g., legal aid, case management, mental health outreach, assistance for homeless children in AISD). The Health Clinic will replace the Homeless Health Clinic currently operated at the Salvation Army. The new expanded space will allow staff to serve more clients more efficiently. Homeless families, adults and youth will be able to access care for acute, and when possible chronic, health care needs.

While the majority of the negotiations for these agreements have been between the City of Austin and Booth Services/Salvation Army, the development of this project has involved extensive community input. The Coordinating Council, an advisory group comprised of service providers, advocates, homeless persons, downtown business and neighbors, and other community members, offered proposed rules and policies which attempted to respect the needs of both homeless clients and neighbors of the Center. The physical design of the building was developed with input of a similar group of representatives to ensure that the needs of both residents and businesses, and providers and clients, are met. An Advisory Council, comprised of representatives appointed by both the Salvation Army and the City Council (on recommendation from the Coordinating Council) will continue to provide input and recommendations to Booth Services on shelter policies and on the hiring and termination of the Shelter Director.

Basic Data

Project Contact: Carol Swicker, City of Austin Health Department, 707-5929

Contractor: Booth Services

Revised May 10, 2000

Back to the July 2000 Contents


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