Austin’s latest report on efforts to manage homeless encampments found that most sites cleared by city crews don’t stay that way: Nearly three-quarters saw some return activity after cleanup.
From June 8 through Sept. 30, only 24% of the 653 distinct sites visited by city teams remained clear of return activity, according to a Nov. 3 report from Homeless Strategies and Operations Director David Gray. Teams made 2,347 visits—an average of 3.6 visits per site—and removed more than 732 tons of debris during those visits. The city received 2,906 encampment-related 311 requests, including duplicates, and averaged just over three days to make an initial site assessment.
The city’s numbers also show the difficulty of connecting people at encampment sites with services. Outreach workers contacted 493 people during the visits, with 136 connecting to a shelter and 84 to supportive services — meaning 45% of those contacted got connected to a service…