AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) has announced the compassionate closure of two encampments within the Colorado River Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby Govalle Neighborhood Park. With the help of outreach workers, 51 unhoused individuals voluntarily relocated to the City’s Northbridge and Southbridge shelters.

"We prioritized these locations because of the encampment’s growth within the floodplain, especially during flood season, posed a risk to both the sanctuary’s wildlife, public space access, and the individuals at the encampment,” said David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer. “Our mission is to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, and we are committed to providing support to help people relocate from the streets and into shelter."

The Colorado River Park Wildlife Sanctuary, located along the free flowing riverbank in East Austin, is a wetland ecosystem that features waterfowl, migratory songbirds, and armadillos, the official small mammal of Texas. HSO prioritized this location because the encampment was growing within floodplain and interfering with the sanctuary’s many natural inhabitants.

The Govalle Neighborhood Park was renovated throughout 2022, and features a new playground, upgraded outdoor sport amenities, and is the starting point of the Southern Walnut Creek Trail. To restore safe access to features that families rely upon throughout the spring and summer months, all encampment occupants were warmly offered entry to bridge shelter.

Austin Resource Recovery technicians recycled 700 pounds of metal and removed 183.87 tons of litter and debris from the Colorado River Wildlife Sanctuary. They also removed 10.1 tons of litter and debris from the Govalle Neighborhood Park.

HSO coordinated the operation with the assistance of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Watershed Protection Department, Austin Animal Services, Development Services Department, Austin Transportation and Public Works, Austin Police Department, Austin Resource Recovery, the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, the Hungry Hill Foundation, and other community partners.

Since its inception, the City’s Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative has relocated 1,075 individuals into shelters, which offer comprehensive services, including three nutritionally complete meals per day, laundry facilities, outdoor patio space, pet-friendly accommodations, parking, high-speed internet, navigation services to obtain vital documents, Medical Assistance Program (MAP) enrollment, and case management to support access to income, employment, rehabilitation services, and housing.

The Northbridge and Southbridge shelters operate under three guiding principles: partners are welcome, people thrive when their animal companions are well cared for, and privacy is dignity. This proactive and compassionate approach not only mitigates environmental risks but also ensures that vulnerable individuals are supported on their path to stability and safety.
 To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.
###