Austin – David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer for the City of Austin, has expressed gratitude to the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) for leading the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a federal requirement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This count quantifies the homeless population, both sheltered and unsheltered, on a specific night.
Gray reported, “The latest PIT Count shows nearly 600 more people are now indoors and off the street – a 50% increase compared to 2023.” Since 2023, Austin’s efforts to increase shelter capacity have included doubling capacity at Northbridge and Southbridge, maintaining the Marshalling Yard, opening the Eighth Street Women’s Shelter, and enhancing The Esperanza Community’s shelter space.
“This year marks the first time the PIT Count shows more people in shelters than unsheltered,” Gray highlighted, noting the positive impact of increased shelter options.
Despite these successes, Gray acknowledged the PIT Count’s limitations, including its focus on a single night in January and reliance on volunteers with varying experience levels. As a result, the Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) uses alternative methods to estimate unsheltered homelessness more accurately.
“The City of Austin remains focused on reducing homelessness by strategically investing in effective solutions,” Gray stated. Recent initiatives include a homelessness prevention plan and a landlord recruitment partnership with Housing Connector and Zillow, which has created 2,300 housing units for those exiting homelessness. Additionally, the Sunrise Wayfinder program has housed over 120 people in its first month.
In collaboration with Austin’s Housing Department, Gray announced the opening of hundreds of new permanent supportive housing units, including the newly launched 100-unit Cady Lofts community. However, he noted that these programs’ effects are not yet visible in the January 2025 PIT Count.
The Homeless Strategy Office became its own department in December 2023, gaining its first independent budget by August 2024. Despite its recent establishment, the office is showing progress. “Our team remains committed to collaborating with community partners, system funders, and others,” Gray concluded.
For more information on homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.
