North Austin News

The City of Austin’s Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) has recently launched a Medication Storage Program aimed at assisting individuals experiencing homelessness. The program, located at 505 Barton Springs Road, offers a safe and secure place for homeless individuals to store their prescription medications.

Jennifer Sowinski, Clinical Operations Manager at Downtown Austin Community Court, highlighted the importance of the program, stating, "The Medication Storage Program is a continuation of DACC’s approach to design services that are compassionate, person-centered, and effective to benefit the people we serve and the broader Austin community.”

The initiative is part of DACC’s Walk-in Case Management Services, which already serves over 70 people daily by providing various forms of assistance, including helping individuals sign up for public benefits, obtain and store vital documents, and access medical, mental health, and substance use services.

By offering a secure location for prescription medications, the program aims to address the challenges faced by homeless individuals when medications are lost or damaged due to weather conditions. This service helps individuals maintain stability, leading to better outcomes while reducing the burden on emergency response systems.

As part of the program guidelines, medications must be in their original prescription bottles, and while DACC staff can aid participants in reading the labels, no medical guidance will be provided. The court is also working on the second phase of the program, which will cater to prescriptions requiring refrigeration.

DACC’s homeless services play a crucial role in the community court model, serving as a preventative measure to avoid criminal justice involvement by addressing people's needs before they escalate. For more information about DACC and its services, visit www.austintexas.gov/communitycourt.