Austin Business Leaders to Build, Operate Temporary Homeless Shelter

With a continued battle between the state of Texas and the city of Austin over the fate of the latter’s homeless issue, Austin business leaders are stepping up. To that end, the Austin Chamber of Commerce introduced a coalition of faith-based groups, businesses and philanthropic organizations called ATX Helps. The organization’s goal: To raise enough money by the end of 2019 to have the shelter built and running by early 2020.

The monetary goal is $14 million, which would go toward a Sprung shelter, a tent structure made from tensioned fabric, and often found in military barracks and aircraft hangars. The shelter’s exact location is to be determined, but will likely be built within a half-mile to a mile of downtown Austin.

The Austin business leaders said they hope to shelter up to 300 people at any given time, which would include dining and sanitation services, and access to social service providers.

Pictured: Example of a Sprung shelter (sprung.com)

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