AUSTIN, Texas — For more than 20 years, the Salvation Army's shelter in Downtown Austin has provided shelter to those experiencing homelessness. But now, it will close its doors for good.
People like Carolyn Williams, a resident of the downtown shelter, have no clear steps on where to go following the closure.
"I can't stress it enough. Please give us housing!” Williams said.
The Salvation Army announced the decision to close the shelter in February, stating that the organization "can no longer offer the level of quality and care our brothers and sisters need at this facility."
Some City officials within the area said that closing on the shelter on March 15 is too soon.
"I am extremely disappointed in the short notice given to the City, especially given the critical need of this service downtown,” Councilmember Zo Qadri (District 9) said.
Qadri said his office will work with the mayor's office to find a long-term solution for the shelter. Some options to help bridge the gap include having new owners of the building, creating a new entity or finding a new location for the shelter.
Austin Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced on Wednesday that the City is actively working with The Salvation Army on options to ensure guests at the organization’s downtown shelter have somewhere to go.
Some advocates think there is a larger issue at stake.
“The heart of this is a housing issue,” said Paulette Soltani, director of organizing for the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. “Until our city begins to invest in housing for people experiencing homelessness and permanent housing and real solutions, we are going to continue to see this kind of thing happen in Austin.”
Terry Cole, the founder and director of Street Youth Ministry, said that there's an even broader issue at hand: mental health. Cole explained that providing mental health services, guidance and future plan development can help those experiencing homelessness in the long-term.
"We really need a strategy that invests simultaneously in housing and a diverse range of housing options and wraparound services,” Cole said. “It's important that there be services that support people who understand homeless, who can come alongside these folks and help them grow, help them heal, and help them recover because they have a lot to offer Austin. This is a rich, diverse, wonderful place, and we need our homeless citizens to be fully contributing people.”
Mayor Kirk Watson expressed concern not only about the closure, but also the short notice residents were given.
“I’m disappointed that it’s taken this long for The Salvation Army to live up to the promise they made in January to take care of each and every resident that they’re displacing. I’ve been pushing them every step of the way and sent a letter to Major (Lewis) Reckline yesterday demanding that they fulfill their responsibility,” Watson said. “Last night, Salvation Army asked for help from the City to do so. Austin is home for these residents, and we will take care of our neighbors.”
Many questions still remain for the Salvation Army regarding what the residents and staff's futures will look like. Until those questions are answered, community advocates will continue to speak up.
KVUE reached out to the Salvation Army to ask additional questions, but the organization instead provided a statement saying it will work to relocate everyone.
Additionally, the Salvation Army stated that the closure will allow the organization to focus on serving families, women and children at the Rathgeber Center, which opened in 2020, and the Austin Shelter for Women and Children. Currently, the Rathgeber Center has an emergency shelter with 120 beds and 23 extended-stay suites.
Read the full statement provided by the Salvation Army and Major Reckline below:
"After several years of engagement, investigation and discussion with the City and with our leadership, we made the difficult decision to close this shelter. We can no longer continue to offer the level and quality of care our brothers and sisters need at this facility. We agree with our partners in this space, that the crisis of homelessness in our City remains an enormous challenge. In the short term, we are diligently working with each of the clients currently at the downtown shelter to help them relocate and access the care and services they need. In the long term, closing this facility allows us to amplify our focus on families and women and children who are experiencing homelessness. Through our Rathgeber Center for Families and the Austin Shelter for Women and Children, we operate 300 beds, continue to serve vulnerable families, and look forward to continuing to work with the city as a collaborative partner now and in the future."