AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin began the relocation of people experiencing homelessness in encampments in the Gaines Creek area as part of the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative as of Tuesday, June 13. The HEAL Initiative carries out closures of homeless encampments that pose the highest public health and safety risks.

The City has been in close communication with neighboring residents and business owners, and the closure of the encampment is the result of extensive planning to coordinate work across city departments and social service providers. Preparation for the closure has included expanding capacity at the city’s Northbridge Shelter to accommodate additional HEAL program participants.

“I have toured this encampment, and the need to relocate was very apparent. There are many people living there in immediate need of emergency shelter and resources. With evidence of campfires for cooking or warmth, wildfire protection was a critical priority. This relocation is a positive development for the community that will promote public health and safety while connecting many to the vital services they need to strengthen their quality of life,” said City of Austin Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis.

People experiencing homelessness on site are voluntarily transferring from unsheltered encampments to city bridge shelters, where they are enrolled in longer-term housing programs. The City then carries out an extensive clean-up of the encampment location. The Austin Public Health Department’s Homeless Strategy Division is working closely with the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST), Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, Austin Resource Recovery, Austin Police Department and other community partners.

“The City and its partners have a multi-pronged approach to addressing unsheltered homelessness. The HEAL Initiative is one of our most important tools for simultaneously resolving the highest-risk encampments and connecting people to housing and services,” said City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey.

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