City to Launch Revised Homeless Encampment Management Plan in May

The City of Austin is scaling up its approach for managing homeless encampments with the goal of connecting people experiencing homelessness with supportive services while restoring public spaces and amenities so they are inviting and accessible to everyone.

Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations (HSO), in coordination with City departments and external partners, has developed the updated operational model for Homeless Encampment Management (HEM) and will be presenting the plan publicly at a City Council work session on May 5. Over the next few weeks, HSO staff will review the plan with City Council offices and community stakeholders to gather input and identify any necessary refinements.

The model is designed to improve the City’s ability to respond to encampments, maintain public spaces over time, and ensure a more consistent, coordinated approach to outreach, enforcement, and site restoration. The new effort is expected to launch in May, following time for feedback from City leaders and stakeholders.

The City currently receives an average of 775 Austin 3-1-1 service requests each month related to encampments and hundreds more follow-up inquiries to these reports. While current operations allow for periodic encampment response, existing staffing levels do not support consistent follow-up or maintenance of previously cleared locations. As a result, many sites experience recurring activity, limiting the City’s ability to maintain progress and public confidence. The updated model is intended to address this structural limitation by increasing operational capacity and establishing a system that balances initial response with ongoing site management.

“Our goal is to not just be responsive, but to maintain our progress in a way that helps us rebuild public trust and confidence,” Austin Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said. “At the same time, we won’t sacrifice our commitment to getting people off the street and connected with the healthcare, shelter and housing they need.”

The Homeless Encampment Management expansion plan will establish six dedicated HEM teams operating Monday through Friday, each with clearly defined roles and areas of focus:

• Three geographically assigned teams responsible for encampments in parks, greenbelts and residential areas, as well as maintaining designated “keep clear” locations.

• One team focused on transportation corridors and rights-of-way, including highway infrastructure and major roadways.
• One team dedicated to waterways and flood-prone areas, prioritizing locations with elevated safety and environmental risks.
• One team assigned to post-cleanup litter abatement to ensure sites are fully restored, allowing other teams to focus on higher-impact operations.

Each field team will include coordinated participation from relevant departments and, where appropriate, law enforcement personnel to support safety and compliance.

The structure is supported by enhanced administrative coordination, including centralized scheduling, site planning and performance tracking, as well as strengthened outreach coordination to ensure those living at encampment sites are contacted and offered services in advance of any enforcement activity.

This updated operational plan reflects a more structured and sustainable approach to encampment management. By aligning staffing, strengthening training and improving coordination, the City will be better positioned to maintain public spaces over time while continuing to prioritize outreach and connections to housing and services.

To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.