The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness

The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Austin/Travis County (“the Plan”) was developed to support the federal government’s efforts to address the challenge of ending chronic homelessness. The Plan has been drafted by a committee of the Community Action Network Homeless Task Force with the help of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and JP Results Consulting. The Plan was approved by the Austin City Council in September 2004.

The Plan addresses chronic homelessness in four categories:

• Develop plans to end, rather than manage, chronic homelessness by collecting better data on local chronic homelessness, conducting a pilot study, and conducting outcome evaluations.
• Improve discharge planning for individuals exiting provide adequate substance abuse and mental health treatment.
• Provide adequate affordable housing with supportive services, help homeless individuals access income and employment, provide services using a “system of care” approach, and increase outreach to individuals with chronic substance abuse and mental health problems.
• Build the infrastructure to address the systemic problems that lead to poverty and homelessness. This task can be accomplished through removing barriers that prevent chronically homeless persons from obtaining housing, employment, access to services and public benefits.
• The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Austin/Travis County