AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin has completed a thorough cleaning of a private property at 6706 Bluff Springs Road, which had been the site of a growing homeless encampment.

The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office and Development Services Department’s Code Compliance team led the cleanup effort with assistance from the Austin Police Department, Austin Animal Services Office, Travis County Constables Precinct 4, Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center and My Sister's Keeper ATX. The code compliance action followed extensive outreach by the City’s Homeless Strategy Office to connect individuals with social services.

The encampment, which borders an electrical substation serving southeast Austin, had grown rapidly in recent weeks while the City attempted to contact an agent of the private property’s owner, MT Properties LLC, of Delaware. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach a property agent and obtain voluntary compliance, the City of Austin determined that urgent action was needed to abate municipal code violations and protect public safety.

As part of the cleanup, 25 individuals and three dogs from the encampment were relocated to the City’s Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter, which provides on-site housing-focused case management and climate-controlled accommodations for pets. Additionally, the Austin Animal Services Officers relocated one cat to the Austin Animal Center, the nation's largest municipal no-kill animal shelter. The cat will be available for adoption after a 3-day hold. Adoption information can be found at https://24petconnect.com/ASTNFound/Details/ASTN/A927027.

The City will continue code compliance and abatement activities on the private property next week. Municipal Code requires property owners to maintain their land in safe and sanitary condition. Failure to do so may result in a fine, cost recovery for abatement, or legal action.

Residents who observe questionable conditions, tents, or temporary structures at 6706 Bluff Springs Road, are encouraged to request a Code Officer by dialing 3-1-1 or using the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app. The app is available for download on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness
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