BY GRACIE WARHURST
The local impact
Looking ahead
Community resources for the unhoused in Williamson County
Navigation Services of Georgetown began when Michelle Augustine realized that without proper identication, people in the unhoused community were unable to get a job, stay in a hotel or apply for an apartment. “We saw a need, … and we just decided maybe we could do something about that,” Augustine said at a Feb. 17 panel on homelessness. Bob Weiner founded Helping Hands of George- town to help feed the unhoused community. Today its mobile food pantry serves sack lunches Monday through Thursday, as well as warm dinners on Sundays, and provides hygiene products, blankets and sleeping bags. It also helps ll what Augustine called “a major gap” in Williamson County services—a warming shelter during extreme weather events. “There’s so many good people out there that help me get on my feet,” said Tony Sinclair, a Williamson County resident experiencing homelessness. “I just want to be normal again.”
In the future, Bond said she hopes the city can collaborate with local nonprots for a more compassionate solution to homelessness. One of the best solutions would be a day shelter where unhoused folks and nonprots could gather, she said. “Making it more and more hostile isn’t helping,” Bond said. Schroeder said the city’s role in combating homelessness is limited, and that some social services are outside the city’s responsibility, but that city ocials will not “let the problem go unaddressed.” Currently, there are no city-sponsored resources specically for those experiencing homelessness in Georgetown, Bond said. The county oers a comprehensive list of resources on its website, including directing those struggling with housing insecurity to The Caring Place.
Helping Hands of Georgetown: partners with the Georgetown community to address basic needs, particularly food insecurity First Presbyterian Church pantry: coordinates administrative needs for the unhoused community The Caring Place: oers food, utility, rent, transportation and medical assistance through
donations and thrift store prots Kat Kares: provides free hot meals Bluebonnet Trails Community Services:
provides medical and mental health assistance Lonestar Circle of Care: provides medical, dental and health care Georgetown Behavioral Health: oers psychiatric and behavioral health care San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: oers food, showers and a warm weather shelter
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY HOMELESS COALITIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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GEORGETOWN EDITION
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