The City of Austin's Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) is putting over $2 million on the table to give individuals and families struggling with homelessness new pathways to permanent housing, as the city’s push to alleviate the crisis gains momentum. According to a statement released by the City of Austin, this new financial injection is drawn from the United States American Rescue Plan Act and is split into two targeted efforts: one to coax more property owners into providing housing opportunities, and another to eradicate the financial hurdles that often prevent homeless people from attaining housing.
This latest initiative said to be vital by the HSO, aligns with two tangible objectives: eradicating obstacles thwarting people from snagging stable living arrangements and persuading property owners to come forward with housing options for those at-risk or in the grips of homelessness, David Gray, City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer, highlighted the importance of these goals stating, "The two goals of this funding – removing barriers to housing and increasing the number of available housing units – are essential to effectively help individuals and families exit homelessness,” and he emphasized the dual approach as a means to foster long-term stability for those finding themselves without a home.
The split of the $2.1 million pot is thus: $600,000 dedicated to the Property Engagement and Education program, which aims to build better bridges with local property owners and a more significant $1.5 million pumped into the Housing Barrier Reduction program, destined to provide immediate relief for those who can’t leap over the economic hurdles to secure housing. Those interested in tapping into these funds have a deadline looming; applications are due by October 3rd, 2024, and the starting shot for the contract executions is set for December 15th, 2024.
Details on who can apply and how to go about it are accessible, not obscured behind complicated bureaucratic walls but readily available: candidates need only navigate to the City’s PartnerGrants database or visit the City’s website where they can find the RFP HSO 2024-003 ARPA Property Engagement and Housing Barrier Reduction—interestingly, despite the broad timespan given to utilize the funds, all monies must be spent by December 31, 2026, the federal cutoff for procuring goods and services with the American Rescue Plan Act reserves
