Austin

Of the 7,000 people experiencing homelessness in Austin, 40 percent of them have been homeless for more than one year. In February 2017, Mayor Steve Adler and Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo partnered with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) to address homelessness in Austin. ECHO brought together members of the community and came up with a plan to expand the homelessness response system in the city and to make sure when citizens are homeless, it’s rare, brief and, non-recurring. Austin is creating a system that will help citizens learn more about homelessness and identify ways for volunteers to become more involved.

Austin has been a member of the Cities of Service coalition since 2009, when former Mayor Lee Leffingwell signed the Declaration of Service. Current Mayor Steve Adler reaffirmed the city’s commitment to service when he signed the Declaration again in 2015.