The Austin City Council adopted a strategic direction on March 8, 2018, guiding the City for the next three to five years. Austin Strategic Direction 2023 outlines a shared vision and six priority strategic outcomes:
- Economic Opportunity & Affordability
- Mobility
- Safety
- Health & Environment
- Culture & Lifelong Learning
- Government That Works For All
As the COVID-19 pandemic became a serious global concern in early 2020, Austin deployed a citywide response. Visit our COVID-19 response pages to find everything from testing information to interactive dashboards, help for residents and businesses to resources for the homeless.
Rent Assistance During COVID-19
Austin is providing rent assistance for Austinites who can’t pay their rent due to the economic fallout resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about eligibility and the RENT (Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants) program here.
In August 2020, the City Council passed a historic budget to redefine public safety. Furthermore, the City Manager charged his Executive Leadership Team with creating a City-Community Reimagining Public Safety Task Force to consider new ways to help and support the community in times of crisis. The City of Austin is committed to implementing policy and cultural changes to address the disproportionate impact of police violence on people of color and other affected communities. Learn more at https://austintexas.gov/publicsafety.
Homelessness is a complex issue that is a priority for the City of Austin. Visit the Austin Homeless Strategy webpages to find out more about:
- Resources for the homeless during COVID-19
- Ways to get involved
- Dashboards and data about the City’s homeless population
- Information about initiatives
Winter Storm Uri After Action Resources
In February 2021, Austin experienced Winter Storm Uri. This unprecedented weather event left many without power for days, affected travel and mobility, and caused significant structural damage. The collective impact of this historic storm caused physical and emotional trauma throughout our community. As unprecedented as this storm was, the City must assess what occurred before, during, and after to ensure our community’s safety and resilience in the face of any future extreme weather event or disaster. Immediately following Winter Storm Uri, the City Manager directed staff to conduct a full analysis of the City’s actions in order to assist future planning efforts. The Winter Storm Uri After Action Resources page outlines the many activities central to this initiative.
Neighborhood Resilience Hubs are a series of community-focused locations that will support citizens with day-to-day services and needs during emergency situations. They will complement emergency operations and provide an additional layer of relief during extreme weather events or other emergencies.