Some good news on homelessness

325 new homes at a promising program.

Jack Craver

Jack Craver

— 2 min read
Some good news on homelessness
I didn't have a photo of Camp Esperanza handy, but this depicts the tent camp at Menchaca & Ben White that sprung up during the pandemic. It was later cleared out by the HEAL Initiative.

Last week brought some much-needed good news in the city's battle against homelessness. I'm surprised to see it hasn't garnered much (perhaps any?) coverage yet.

On Thursday the board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs voted unanimously to allocate $48.4 million in federal funds to support the expansion of Camp Esperanza, the community of micro-units overseen by The Other Ones Foundation for people exiting homelessness at a former TxDOT lot near U.S. 183 and SH 71 in Southeast Austin.

The funds will allow TOOF to add 325 units to its campus, which both I and the Fab Five from Queer Eye (Season 6, Ep. 8) have had the pleasure of visiting.

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