The City of Austin has identified a potential site for a new housing navigation center. The location at 2401 S. I-35 Frontage Road was formerly a motorcycle dealership and is currently leased to a gaming lounge. The City’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) is seeking neighborhood input from the outset of this project to determine how best to repurpose this site into a safe and supportive service center for households at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
A housing navigation center provides supportive services to individuals experiencing housing instability or homelessness:
A housing navigation center provides supportive services to individuals experiencing housing instability or homelessness:
- Housing Search helps a participant who is already experiencing homelessness locate, apply for, and move to affordable housing of their own.
- Crisis Response services provide for the day-to-day survival needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Housing Stabilization services help individuals to remain in their homes by preventing an episode of homelessness entirely.
“This project is still in the early planning stages, said David Gray, Director of the City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office. “We want to hear directly from the stakeholders in the neighborhood, and their feedback will guide how we move forward. Our commitment is to create a center that provides safe, supportive housing services for Austinites in need, while protecting the wellbeing of the surrounding community.”
The housing navigation center would serve as a centralized hub for intake, referrals, and access to critical services. The site provides ample indoor space for programming, as well as purpose-built outdoor areas. As a City-owned facility, HSO is able to and will ensure the site operates safely by incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles and implementing strong safeguards against non-sanctioned activities that disrupt public health and safety.
“The City of Austin is seeing real results when it comes to addressing our homeless population, said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “We are dedicated to a plan and process that appropriately gets people off the streets. A navigation center is a necessary component of this effort. As owner of the site, the City — through HSO— will maintain stronger oversight and accountability than current navigation center models that operate independently and have admittedly been the target of complaints. I’m very pleased we are moving forward with our homeless plan and making much progress.”
The location also creates opportunities to collaborate with nearby partners. For example, HSO may be able to offer expedited homeless shelter placements for individuals who need temporary indoor stays until a housing unit is available. This type of partnership helps reduce the amount of time people spend on the streets, supports stability during the housing process, and ensures that clients remain connected to case management and supportive services while awaiting their long-term housing solution.
"We are looking forward to continuing this discussion with the Homeless Strategy Office and the community on this potential new location for the center, said Council Member José Velásquez. "I encourage all residents to share their feedback and participate in upcoming community engagement opportunities, as your insights will help shape the direction of this project. My focus with this potential site is ensuring that we provide our unhoused neighbors with the necessary resources they need in a safe and effective manner, and that we are being good neighbors."
City Council is expected to vote on the property acquisition in early October. Following Council action, a lease agreement would be developed over several months while renovation and site enhancements move forward. The facility will operate under a lease with a selected service provider, guided by extensive stakeholder engagement and strict operational standards similar to those at the Austin Community Court. The navigation center would then be expected to open its doors in Spring 2026.
"We have a real gap in housing navigation services in Austin. By connecting people with services faster and more effectively, we can drive better outcomes for the entire community,” Council Member Ryan Alter said. “This is a major step forward—and I’m committed to continuing to work with HSO to expand and strengthen our prevention and response network."
Focused engagement meetings are already being scheduled with stakeholders in the vicinity of the proposed housing navigation center. Residents are encouraged to share their early feedback or questions by emailing homeless.input@austintexas.gov.
To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.