BY CHLOE YOUNG
The conditions
Put in perspective
ALICE households in WilCo ALICE: asset limited, income constrained and employed
Nonprofit organizations say homelessness services are not just important for those who are currently unhoused, but everyone in the county facing hard times. “A lot of those folks, they can get back on their feet,” Erickson-Collins said. “It’s just this one crisis situation that lasted a little bit too long.” Increases to the cost of living and housing costs in the Cedar Park and Leander area have created challenges for families, Hollaway said. Many families in the area are considered ALICE, or asset limited, income constrained and employed, Holloway said. The term, coined by United Way, describes people who are above the federal poverty line but making less than it costs to make ends meet. “It’s amazing how many people are one paycheck away from financial ruin or homelessness,” Hargrave said. The creation of more rental assistance and rapid rehousing programs could help ensure more residents don’t fall into or stay experiencing
Disability rights advocate John Woodley has been visiting The Charlie Center to receive support while living in his vehicle. Woodley said he recently transported someone from Round Rock to a cold-weather shelter as there were no options in the area. “I don’t think there’s resources, period,” Woodley said. “They don’t prioritize people with disabilities to get into housing, and that’s a big problem.” Kocen, who formerly lived in her car and on the streets of Round Rock, said she now understands that the hardships of life can happen to anyone and the importance of treating unhoused residents with respect. “Given a chance, I’m sure many of them would be great at being your neighbor,” Kocen said. The Wilco Homeless Coalition is working to improve understanding and awareness of homelessness, Erickson- Collins said. “Homelessness is not something that happens to somebody else. It can happen to any of us.” she said.
40K 30K 20K 10K 0 60K 70K 50K
2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
SOURCE: UNITED FOR ALICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: 2020 DATA WAS NOT COLLECTED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
homelessness, Erickson-Collins said. The city of Austin has reopened several former hotels as supportive housing. Additionally, the city provides $1,000 monthly payments to qualifying low-income families, most of which are spent on rent, according to a 2024 study from the Urban Institute.
Going forward
How to get involved
HCCM is raising $3 million to open a nonprofit mall to house various nonprofit services near the Cedar Park and Leander border. “[This] could be transformative,” Cedar Park City Council member Heather Jefts said in December. “We are all just one health crisis, one car crash away from needing [HCCM’s] services.” The organization has received zoning approval to build eight tiny homes for transitional housing at its
current food pantry off Lacy Drive, Hollaway said. Moving forward, the Wilco Homeless Coalition wants to support organizations providing winter sheltering, including outreach efforts in Georgetown and Taylor, Erickson-Collins said. “Almost all of the resources … are coming through small nonprofits or through churches,” Erick- son-Collins said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for cities and the county to provide services.”
WilCo Homeless Coalition wilcopitcount2025@gmail.com
The Charlie Center www.thecharliecenter.org
Hill Country Community Ministries www.hccm.org
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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
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