Homelessness Persists in Austin, Nationwide
Homeless advocates say services are much in demand in Austin. Photo courtesy flickr.com/jeffgunnA new study shows Austin is doing better than the nation when it comes to fighting homelessness, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.
A U.S. Housing and Urban Development study shows homelessness fell by just half a percent last year. In Austin, a homeless count held in January showed a 5 percent decline from 2011.
“But the demand for services is what, I think, really tells us the degree of instability in the housing of the lowest income and the neediest people,” said Ann Howard with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, the group that produces the local homeless count.
Homeless service providers here have had a busy year. “We have 12,000 people this year who have asked for help to keep a roof over their head,” Howard said.
ECHO’s next homeless count is January 25-26. The group relies on volunteers.
