Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
City considers how to fund homelessness response
Local marijuana policy may be repealed Austin’s voter-approved ordinance limiting local marijuana enforcement could be overturned, after a Texas appeals court sided with a state challenge to the policy. Austinites approved Proposition A in May 2022, stopping police from issuing cita- tions or making arrests for most low-level marijuana misdemeanors. Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued several cities over the adoption of such ordinances. A district court judge ruled against the state in 2024, but Paxton appealed. On April 24, the 15th Court of Appeals sided with the state’s push for a temporary injunction to block Austin’s ordinance. The case will now head back to a lower court. In early May, Austin attorneys filed for a rehearing and said the appeals court had incorrectly ruled on the case.
Officials are considering how to support their priority of homelessness response and sustain that funding. The big picture Many of Austin’s homelessness programs have been funded with one-time local spending and federal relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Officials are now looking to turn some of those one-time items into permanent investments, replace the federal ARPA funds that are running low,
and expand some services. That increase in funds could come through a tax rate election, asking voters to authorize hiking taxes beyond a state-imposed cap. “We’re just trying to maintain current efforts at that level, and ... my constituents want to increase the level of support...” council member Chito Vela said. Council is set to review a new policy May 22, after press time, and would decide whether to call one during budget deliberations.
Capacity in Austin’s Homelessness Response System City officials and local homelessness advocates hope to continue increasing the number of shelter beds and housing units available for people experiencing homelessness.
Supportive housing
Rapid rehousing
Shelter
2,000 2,500 1,000 1,500 500 0
NOTE: TOTALS DON'T INCLUDE TEMPORARY SAFE HAVEN VETERAN SPACES OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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