Government
Council reverses Austin shelter closure plans Austin leaders are seeking to indefinitely continue operations at a 300-bed homeless shelter, reversing course from the facility’s planned closure. What’s happening Last year, an east side convention center ware- house was converted into a shelter to boost local capacity. It’s taken in more than 1,000 people since last August at the lowest annual per-bed cost of four city-funded shelter facilities. Earlier this year, City Council voted to ramp down and shutter the shelter by March 2025. But in September, a proposal from Mayor Kirk Watson was approved to maintain the “critical” site as the city searches for new shelter options. “Those who are experiencing homelessness cannot wait for inaction,” Watson said. Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said the Marshalling Yard is now a key piece of Austin’s work
Task force planning Austin climate bond Voters in Austin will likely be weighing a climate-centered bond package by 2026, and its development is underway. The big picture The volunteer 2026 Bond Election Advi- sory Task Force was created this summer to oversee the bond framework, part of a broader “comprehensive climate implemen- tation program” City Council is pursuing. The task force will meet for the first time Oct. 21, after press time, and its final project recommendations are due next July. Those could include land purchases, infrastructure updates, conservation initiatives and more. Council also voted on Sept. 26 to plan for topics like children’s play areas, homeless shelter and housing, and municipal building upgrades.
The temporary city shelter has served more than 1,000 clients since opening last August. Marshalling Yard shelter outcomes
Negative exit*: 107 Exit to housing: 172 Exit to unknown destination: 485
*NOTE: NEGATIVE EXITS CAN INCLUDE A RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, COMMITMENT TO A SUBSTANCE USE OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
addressing homelessness and helps with client intake at other city-owned shelters that would’ve been cut off with the facility’s closure. The Marshalling Yard’s 300 beds represent almost 18% of the nearly 1,400 shelter beds around Austin. One year of operations was initially budgeted at $9.14 million, with $500,000 more later dedicated to run it through March 2025. Money was pulled from Austin’s federal COVID-19 relief funds. Watson’s resolution directed city staff to find money outside Austin’s homeless services budget to continue operations.
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