More than 100 unhoused residents sheltered ahead of holidays

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In an announcement Thursday, the City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) said it transitioned more than 100 of the city’s unhoused residents to housing in time for the holidays.

According to the HSO, 50 unhoused residents went to the Northbridge and Southbridge Shelters as part of the Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative. Another 55 individuals were offered safe accommodations at the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter.

HSO said the outreach effort focused on St. Johns and Riverside Meadows encampments.

“The closure of the encampments at the St. Johns and Riverside Meadows areas is part of the City’s broader strategy to address homelessness while returning public spaces to their intended use,” HSO said.