City of Austin

The City of Austin has made significant progress in addressing homelessness in Austin and Travis County, according to the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition’s (ECHO) 2025 State of the System report. The annual report provides a comprehensive overview of the programs, people, and partnerships shaping the region’s Homelessness Response System (HRS).

The report uses data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a centralized database managed by ECHO. HMIS tracks individual needs and service outcomes across the region. The findings highlight how local agencies have collaborated to provide shelter, permanent housing, and critical support services to people experiencing homelessness.

The findings show that targeted investments in housing, shelter, outreach, and navigation have led to measurable improvements:

• Emergency shelter beds have increased by 70% since 2022.
• Permanent housing beds have grown by 35%, helping more individuals move from crisis to stability.
• Since 2019, total beds and units across the system have more than doubled, increasing by 108%.
• More than 3,000 people moved into housing last year with support from community partners.
• The average time from housing assessment to move-in has decreased by 25%.

“This report is an important tool for understanding how our community is responding to the realities of homelessness,” said David Gray, director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. “It reflects the hard work of local partners and provides a clear path forward for improving how we serve our neighbors.”

The report also shows promising early signs of progress in slowing the growth of homelessness. For the first time in five years, the number of individuals newly experiencing homelessness declined, indicating that the local prevention strategies are beginning to have a measurable impact.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Many individuals still wait for housing and support, underscoring the need for continued investment, coordination, and compassionate action.

“Progress like this doesn’t happen by chance,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “It is the result of tireless work by outreach teams, service providers, housing partners, and public servants who believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We must keep building on this momentum with accountability and compassion.”

Austin remains committed to working alongside ECHO and other partners to strengthen the homelessness response and ensure that more residents find safety and stability.

The full 2025 State of the System report is available at https://www.austinecho.org.

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

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