Welcome to Homeless Strategy Office

The Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) serves as a focal point for addressing homelessness comprehensively, strategically, and compassionately.

As part of the homelessness response, the City of Austin collaborates with agencies, community organizations, and individuals working to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Together we can realize the promise of a compassionate and thriving Austin for everyone.

Key Services and Information

	Call 3-1-1 If you are experiencing homelessness, call 3-1-1 for help and resources.
	Dial 9-1-1 If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition, dial 9-1-1 immediately.
	Services Find vital services offered by HSO.
	Shelters Find information about nearby shelters.
	Housing Find information about prevention and housing.
	Dictionary Explore terms related to homelessness.
	View City Policy View the latest City of Austin policy regarding homelessness.
	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Find FAQs about encampments in the City of Austin.

Featured Programs and Initiatives

Public Spaces Initiatives: As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our community, the City of Austin launched the cross-departmental Clean City Strategy in 2019. Through programs that engage people experiencing homelessness, the City helps to maintain clean, hygienic spaces for everyone.
Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative: The HEAL Initiative is intended to compassionately close the most unsafe encampments in our city by offering people experiencing homelessness a direct pathway to crisis shelter and opportunities to attain stable housing, sustainably reducing public camping in unsafe areas.
Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) Initiative: The HOST initiative is an interdisciplinary team comprised of members from the Austin Police Department (APD), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC), and Integral Care.
Strategic Direction: The Austin City Council identified homelessness as the top priority indicator in Austin’s Strategic Direction 2023 and adopted the Austin Action Plan to End Homelessness. The Action Plan aligns the City, County and service providers to create a holistic system of care for individuals experiencing homelessness that is more efficient and effective. Additionally, the City Council adopted Resolution 20190620-184 directing the City Manager to explore a variety of options to address homelessness.