The City of Austin's Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) has announced the compassionate closure of a sprawling encampment located on 37 acres of high wildfire risk land near the intersection of westbound Ben White Boulevard and Montopolis Drive. HSO relocated 32 people experiencing homelessness from the encampment to the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters.

“Through the HEAL Initiative, we are not just addressing immediate needs—we are working towards long-term solutions that create a safer, more resilient future for everyone. By tackling wildfire risks, providing crucial support to those in need, and prioritizing the well-being of all individuals, we are fostering a community that stands together,” said David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer.

HSO coordinated this effort with assistance from the Austin Police Department, the Development Services Department’s Code Division, and the Austin Fire Department.

The Austin Fire Department responded to 35 fire-related calls at the encampment last year. The land, densely wooded and burdened with illegal dumping, posed an elevated fire risk. The encampment borders a 4-million-gallon water storage and pump facility operated by the Austin Water Utility and is adjacent to critical infrastructure, including one of the largest Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers in Austin-Travis County, which serves low-income residents. The area also houses an inpatient psychiatric emergency facility and a commercial industrial supply center with potentially volatile materials.

A multi-department team determined that a major fire could disrupt essential services, require evacuations of patients, and impact one of the most frequented walk-up healthcare access points in Austin-Travis County. To mitigate the risk, the team acted quickly to close the site and relocate homeless individuals to the City’s Northbridge and Southbridge shelters, preventing the displacement of unhoused individuals into surrounding neighborhoods.

Since its inception, the City’s Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative has relocated 1,024 individuals into shelters, which provide comprehensive services including three nutritionally complete meals per day, laundry facilities, outdoor patio space, pet runs, 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 wildfire 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.