AUSTIN, Texas – Austin's homeless population is continuing to increase, according to a study by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition.
- Austin homeless population increases since 2018
- Youth homelessness has decreased
- Number of unsheltered homeless also increased
Since 2018, the number of homeless people in the city has increased by five-percent to 2,255 people. Each year volunteers gather to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in Austin and Travis County.
ECHO divides the numbers by the amount of homeless people who are sheltered versus unsheltered using the Homeless Management Information System.
Over the past five years, the number of unsheltered homeless people have also increased. This year, 500 volunteers found people in cars, tents, parks, under bridges, and on the streets.
- 2019 count: 2,255 total (1,086 unsheltered and 1,169 sheltered)
- 2018 count: 2,147 total (1,014 unsheltered and 1,133 sheltered)
- 2017 count: 2,036 total (834 unsheltered and 1,202 sheltered)
Decrease in Youth Homelessness
There was a 25 percent decrease in youths experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the study found that there was a 56 percent reduction in unsheltered youths.
The reduction comes after a 2017 grant of $5.2 million from the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project was given to 10 cities, including Austin.
“Ending youth homelessness requires a relentless and collaborative focus on providing safe, immediate housing options and access to the kinds of services our most vulnerable youth need,” LifeWorks Executive Director, Susan McDowell, said in the ECHO study.