AUSTIN, Texas — On Thursday, there will be a new resource for people experiencing homelessness in Austin.
The former Salvation Army Shelter in Downtown Austin will reopen as the “Eighth Street Shelter.”
Initially, the shelter will house 65 beds for 65 clients before eventually expanding to house 150 clients. The new shelter will be run by the City of Austin and Urban Alchemy.
"This facility will be for clients that are women and transgender. Folks coming into shelter with a lot of different needs. We have folks who are coming in are escaping domestic violence situations, folks recently lost their home or apartment and now sleeping under a bridge," said David Gray, Austin's interim homeless strategy officer. "[We will] have a complete campus with services. We can bring in clients connected [with] everything from case management to substance use help."
Gray said the shelter's opening is another step in tackling homelessness across Austin. ECHO’S's recent "Point In Time Count" showed that there are currently more than 1,200 people living outdoors in the city.
"This 150 helps with some of that but doesn't close the gap, so we are continuing to have conversations with provider communities looking for additional opportunities to add more to shelter beds to our system as we more to add more rapid rehousing," Gray said.
The facility is still owned by the Salvation Army, who is currently leasing it to the City until the City officially buys the facility and a nearby property for $15 million.
Part of the reason for the shelter's initial closure last March was due to the condition of the building.
Gray said over the last few months, the City has made significant changes and invested $450,000 into new improvements.
Gray said the facility is safe, and clients can stay for up to six months. The goal is to help clients find more permanent long-term housing.
"Give them safe space to sleep and night and ultimately end their homelessness," Gray said.