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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. The ARCH also houses several co-located agencies that provide services to homeless persons, including legal and benefits assistance, comprehensive case management, assistance to homeless children in schools and arts programs.

Status

The City's recent agreement with the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) required that the resource center be relocated from its previous location on West 2nd Street. As of August 1999, the Homeless Resource Center is now located at 701 West Fifth Street, occupying the east side of the building.

Under the auspices of the Community Action Network (CAN), the City and County contract with Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation (ATC MHMR) to provide services through the ARCH from January-December 1999. Austin Travis County MHMR subcontracts out the operations of the ARCH to another non-profit organization, the Capital Area Homeless Alliance.

Issues

Downtown merchants, businesses and residents of West End and Downtown neighborhoods initially expressed concerns about the City leasing the new site 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 City has addressed these concerns by requiring the contractor to increase on-site security and maintenance. The City will also conduct regular visits to the site to address any neighborhood concerns that may arise. Landscaping and other design amenities will be added to the site to enhance its appearance. These and other conditions pertaining to use of the site are outlined in a sublease agreement between the City and the contractor.

Description

The new ARCH location is only an interim site until a new, permanent resource center is built. Under the City's Homeless Self Sufficiency and Responsibility Initiative, the Austin City Council has recommended development of a new homeless facility that includes a larger resource center, a 100 bed men's shelter and a new homeless health care clinic. The resource center component of the facility will provide centralized intake and referral to all homeless persons, and offer services that homeless persons need in order to make the transition to self sufficiency.

The Austin City Council has approved funds for the design and construction of the new homeless shelter, resource center and clinic. The City recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) soliciting bidders to construct and operate the new facility. In July, the City Council approved a staff recommendation to accept the proposal submitted by a non-profit subsidiary corporation of The Salvation Army. Staff are now working with representatives of the subsidiary corporation to negotiate a legal agreement that outlines the requirements for the design, construction and operation of the new center.

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: (701 West Fifth Street) Current - May 31, 2001

Contract Term: January 1, 1999-December 31, 1999

Contract Award: $180,000

Revised October 27, 1999

Back to the October 1999 Contents


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