Homeless: in the hands of voters | El Mundo Newspaper – News for Hispanics

T he indigent camp crisis in Austin, a situation that worsened during the pandemic, has caused discontent among the community in the capital city. To mitigate the situation, the Government of Austin approved the Homeless Encampment Assitance Link (HEAL) initiative, designed to relocate and provide housing, shelters and support services to the homeless, with the goal of preventing them from returning to the streets.

Under the proposal, the camps to be relocated are currently in four high-traffic areas of the city: elevated freeway intersections in downtown and south Austin; on the streets of the East, especially on the sidewalks that lead to the Terrazas Public Library on E. César Chávez St .; in designated customer and business areas in the Central District; and finally, at the high traffic and pedestrian intersections in Northwest Austin.

“HEAL is a collaborative initiative that will not only have an immediate impact on the lives of people living in unstable and inhumane conditions, but will also develop the capacity of the entire system to make homelessness rare, brief and Non-recurring. We will not close a camp immediately. The strategy is to relate closely with the people who live in the camps to offer them shelter and permanent housing ”, he comments to The World Newspaper, Diana Gray, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer.

Although there is will on the part of the local authorities, the relocation plan can be complicated. On May 1, Austin residents will vote for Proposition B to reinstate (or not) a ban on homeless people from camping in public places in the city.

If Proposition B passes, it will be illegal for homeless people to camp, sit, or lie on sidewalks, in certain public places, outdoor areas, and beg at night. “Our action will remain the same regardless of the vote; but if the proposal is approved it will be more difficult for us to do the job, “said Mayor Steve Adler.

It is timely to recall that on April 12, the Texas Senate Local Control Committee reviewed bill 987 – introduced by Republican Senator Dawn Buckingham – which proposes to impose fines, penalties and imprisonment for camping in public places throughout the Texas territory.

“The 987 ban on camping does nothing to get people out of the tents and off our streets. All it does is impose possible jail time for the homeless. At best, it will force those without shelter to hide and that is less safe. This bill, like Proposition B, offers no help or solution, ”Mayor Adler has said regarding these initiatives.

Meanwhile, protests against the homeless number in the dozens, especially among Northwest Austin residents unhappy with the recent hotel purchase, a strategy by Council officials to relocate those in need. Public complaints occur in the vicinity of an establishment located on Pecan Park Boulevard. The rejection is not only citizen: several local businesses near the hotels for the indigent have sued the City of Austin for possible economic damages generated by these shelters.

THE DATA

If you want to know more about Proposition B visit: www.saveaustinnowpac.com Election Day is May 1, but early voting runs from April 19-27.

MUST KNOW

Twelve million dollars of federal funds dedicated to the fight against COVID-19 will be used to house almost four hundred people. The relocation of the camps will take place next summer.

FIGURES

According to Save Austin Now, 78% of Austinites feel unsafe in the capital city.

–