'Southbridge' Program To Aid Those Experiencing Homelessness

AUSTIN, TX—The City of Austin unveiled its plans to extend a helping hand to individuals experiencing homelessness and as part of the City Council's Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) initiative. An announcement for the new 'Southbridge' Program was made on April 20, with the proposed 'bridge shelter' offering a temporary, transitional place to stay, for individuals offered permanent housing intervention, as the process for permanent housing in being arranged.

The plans, pending Council approval in May, include the bridge shelter operating from a former hotel now used as a Protective Lodging facility (ProLodge) designed to be used as a temporary place to stay for high-risk individuals needing to maintain social distancing and hygiene practices during the pandemic.

“Providing immediate access to very low-barrier shelter with direct connections to housing resources is integral to the success of the HEAL strategy to help end unsheltered homelessness,” said Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey, who briefed Council on the plan at Work Session on April 20. “The identification of this property is an important step forward to implementing the HEAL initiative. Southbridge will offer residents a temporary place as they are matched up with longer-term housing resources. We want to work with the local community to ensure this shelter can be a success for both residents and neighbors.”

Located at the former Rodeway Inn hotel at 2711 S. IH-35, the property, currently undergoing renovations, was purchased by the City in 2020, and has operated as a ProLodge since 2020. The proposed launch of the new bridge shelter is slated at the end of May 2021, with current ProLodge guests continuing to be offered accommodations at other area ProLodges located within Austin.

The Southbridge shelter will include features such as:

• On entering the shelter clients will be immediately connected with case workers tasked with linking them to rapid rehousing, which means they would ultimately move on to apartments across the city with rental assistance and ongoing case management supports.
• This is an invitation-only shelter and will NOT be walk-up, avoiding the need for people to congregate outside the property every day to secure a bed or seek other types of services. Clients will be offered rooms to stay in and receive assistance as they progress into permanent housing. Their expected stay at the bridge shelter is temporary, not indefinite.
• The property will have on-site security, staffed 24 hours a day, and a new fence will be installed.
• The property has 87 rooms and each room has a bathroom. Some rooms will be used as offices and meeting spaces. The capacity of the property is likely to be limited due to COVID-19.

Designed to address unsheltered homelessness in the City, a focus of the HEAL initiative looks to relocate residents through the provision of dedicated housing resources, with a preliminary budget of $4.3 million earmarked for outreach, shelter, case management, housing and other support. Identifying homelessness as the top priority for Austin, the investment for safe, easily converted living spaces for people experiencing homeless will help these individuals access the stability and care needed according to the Southbridge announcement. To learn more via the City of Austin, click HERE.