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South Austin Navigation Center proposal
The City of Austin is looking for organizations to run its South Austin Housing Navigation Center.
AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin is looking for organizations to run its South Austin Housing Navigation Center.
The backstory:
The city bought a building near I-35 and E. Oltorf last year. It was a former game room, and they plan to turn it into a resource hub for people at risk of being homeless. The center would help connect people to housing support and social services. Up to $250,000 in funding is available to help run the facility.
The project is facing pushback from some neighbors who say it’s too close to Travis High School and Travis Heights Elementary and that they’re already seeing more homeless activity in the area.
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New controversial homeless center approved by council
The Austin City Council voted 8-3 to buy a $4 million property on I-35 near Oltorf for a controversial new homeless center. Who will run the center hasn't been decided yet.
What they're saying:
"What we're looking for is an experienced operator, somebody who understands humans and human services and can also help people navigate the complex web of housing assistance and housing services. It could be one organization, or it could be a collaborative of organizations. We know that some organizations specialize in niche things, and they have partners who specialize in other niche things," said David Gray, director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations.
What you can do:
The application process to find an operator opens Monday, April 13.
For more information, click here.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King